One of NSW’s most hotly debated track closures might finally have a light at the end of the tunnel. After being shut since 2020, the Wollumbin Summit Track in Northern NSW has been given a potential reopening window of mid-2027, following a late-2025 update from the NSW Government. It’s not a green light just yet, but it’s the first time in years there’s been a date attached to the conversation.
If you’ve spent any time around the Northern Rivers, you’ll know why this one matters.
Why Wollumbin matters to so many people
Wollumbin / Mount Warning isn’t just another hike. It’s the first place on mainland Australia to see the sunrise, a striking volcanic plug that dominates the skyline, and for decades it’s been a bucket-list walk for locals and visitors alike. At its peak, the summit track was pulling in up to 100,000 walkers a year. Sunrise climbs were practically a rite of passage if you lived anywhere near Byron, Murwillumbah or the Tweed.
But it’s also a deeply significant cultural site.
The summit is sacred to the Bundjalung people and was formally declared an Aboriginal Place back in 2014. That context has been central to everything that’s happened since.
Why the track was closed in the first place
The official closure came in 2020, driven by a mix of safety concerns and ongoing consultation with Traditional Custodians and other stakeholders. The steep final section, aided by chains bolted into the rock, had always been sketchy, especially with the volume of foot traffic it was seeing.
Since then, access has progressively tightened. The chains were removed, signage was installed asking visitors not to climb, and by late 2022 public access was formally banned, with fines attached.
From a management point of view, the Government position has been consistent: safety risks haven’t been resolved, and cultural responsibilities haven’t been adequately addressed.
The backlash, and why this hasn’t gone away
Unsurprisingly, the closure didn’t sit well with everyone. Advocacy groups like Right to Climb have pushed hard for continued access, arguing that outright closure was always the end goal rather than a temporary measure. Freedom of Information documents released in 2021 only poured fuel on that fire.
In 2024, Libertarian MLC John Ruddick added political pressure, tabling a petition with more than 10,000 signatures calling for the track to be reopened and debated in Parliament. In other words: this issue never died, it just simmered.
So what’s changed now?
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe has now flagged July 2027 as a possible reopening target, provided two big hurdles can be cleared:
- A safe access solution that genuinely addresses the risks
- An approach that respects cultural responsibilities to the Traditional Custodians
That wording matters. This isn’t about flicking the gate open and hoping for the best. Any future access will almost certainly look very different to the old summit.
Our take: expect a very different Mt Warning experience
If the track does reopen, don’t expect a return to pre-2020 conditions.
The smart money is on something more controlled: limited numbers, timed access, possibly guided climbs only, and infrastructure that doesn’t rely on rusty chains bolted into rock face.
From a broader perspective, this feels like a test case. How NSW handles Wollumbin will set the tone for how culturally significant, high-use natural sites are managed going forward – especially as outdoor recreation numbers continue to climb.
What happens next?
Between now and 2027, there’s a lot of work to be done. Consultation, design, risk management, and cultural engagement all have to line up. Any one of those falling over could push the date back again.
For now, the closure remains in place, and the request from Traditional Custodians not to climb still stands. But for the first time in years, the conversation has shifted from if Mt Warning might reopen, to how it could happen. And that, in itself, is a pretty big step.
1 comment
Having climbed Mt.Warning before its closure I can categorically state that this article referring to the Safety Chains being “rusty” and “sketchy” is not just an exaggeration, but an outright LIE. Please look at photos in an excellent overview, entitled “STEALING A MOUNTAIN” This closure is more about control and is just one of many sites off limits to most Australians, when we are supposed to all be equals. I feel the “cultural reasons” will be overcome by the payment of MONEY to the mob. It is no wonder that the so called “gap” is widening.