One of Australia's most picturesque mountain walks is finally set to welcome back hikers, but not until 2027, following a protracted five-year closure that sparked significant public debate.
A Long-Awaited Decision After Years of Dispute
Mount Warning, also known as Wollumbin, near Murwillumbah in the New South Wales Northern Rivers region, has been inaccessible to the public since a 'temporary' shutdown at the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020. What began as a health measure evolved into a prolonged closure, extended multiple times to protect the site's Indigenous cultural heritage.
Many feared the popular summit trail, once visited by around 120,000 people annually, would remain shut permanently. The controversial ban generated outrage among hiking enthusiasts and led to protests. Advocacy was spearheaded by figures including NSW Upper House MP John Ruddick and Marc Hendrickx, a member of the 'Right to Climb' group.
The Path to Reopening: Negotiations and Conditions
On Monday, NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe announced the closure would be overturned, but set a new timeline. Hikers will need to wait until July 2027 before they can legally return to the trail. Sharpe stated this extended period is necessary to develop a thorough plan that resolves outstanding issues.
'Over the past year, I continued constructive discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, including user groups, councils, the Wollumbin Consultative Group and other community members,' Minister Sharpe explained. 'These conversations highlighted Wollumbin's significance to Aboriginal communities and the wider public.'
She acknowledged the extended closure would disappoint some, but emphasised that practical challenges, such as ensuring safe access, must be addressed. 'The additional time will help us create a clear plan for the future of this special place that respects cultural responsibilities and safeguards visitor safety,' she added.
Mixed Reactions and Cultural Significance
Marc Hendrickx, who authored 'A Guide to Climbing Mt Warning' and has lobbied for years for its reopening, welcomed the news but expressed reservations. 'We will need to see what conditions are attached,' he told The Courier Mail. 'If people can visit the summit without having to pay exorbitant fees or be forced to join a tour then that's great news.'
The original 2020 closure was enacted after the Wollumbin Consultative Group, comprising Indigenous families and community organisations, successfully petitioned the then state government. The group stated the trail holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Bundjalung men, and argued that allowing females—including those of Indigenous heritage—onto the summit would compromise its cultural integrity.
Hendrickx himself was fined $300 earlier this year for breaching park regulations after joining a protest climb on Australia Day, becoming the first person penalised under the ban. The engineering geologist has previously argued that public access to such natural landmarks is fundamental to the Australian character.
The forthcoming reopening marks a compromise, aiming to balance public access with the preservation of the site's profound Indigenous heritage, a debate that has captivated Australia for half a decade.
