2026 National Muster Announcement

Registration for the 19th National Muster – Mudgee

opens via the ACC website on the 1 May 2026.

A feature of this year’s National Muster will be the four TAGALONGS:

The Drip and Hands on Rock (100km return)

The Drip walking track features a 35-meter-high sandstone ‘Great Dripping Wall’ that seeps water, creating a lush, shaded gorge with a swimming hole. The walk is 2.8km return, takes about 2 hours and is rated as a Grade 4. Enjoy a BYO morning tea and lunch in the picnic area There is no wheelchair access.

The Hands-on Rock walk is 1.2km from the car park and is a Grade 4 walk taking about 1 hour. These stencils of hands were made by the Wiradjuri people who occupied most of central west NSW were one of the largest of the Aboriginal language groups. The path has a few roots across it but is otherwise an easy walk for about four hundred meters before it slopes up steadily to the rock cliffs. There are steps along the way, however, some loose stones towards the end of the path require little care, particularly on the way down. There are no wheelchair access and no public toilets.

Gulgong (61km return)

Spencer Cocoa (just north of Mudgee) has Australian made, bean-to-bar chocolate produced by Luke & Thea Spencer and a small, dedicated team. They roast, grind, conch and temper the cocoa into lively and beautiful chocolate.
Gulgong – Morning tea about 11:00am at a local café. We will visit the Pioneer Museum which has photographic exhibits, machinery, printing equipment, textiles and early transport vehicles in historic buildings on 1.5 acres. Visit Stacks Down Under, Wear it Out (dress shop) and other venues if time permits. Purchase lunch in town and meet at Teresa Lane Park.

High Valley Cheese where small batch cheesemakers show respect to traditions established over thousands of years by using their hands to develop an individual feel for the product. It is this technique which provides the difference to our handmade artisan cheese. Enjoy a complimentary tasting. This boutique factory is powered by renewable energy.

Dunns Swamp - Ganguddy (176km return)

Drive to Kandos Museum. Included in your entry fee is a tour of the Museum and Morning Tea with scones. The museum is a community run permanent home for a collection of stories, objects and photographs that bring this history to life.

Dunns Swamp or Ganguddy. Stunning World Heritage area at Dunns Swamp-Ganguddy is a beautiful, serene waterway on the Cudgegong River in Wollemi National Park. The waterway was created when Kandos Weir was built in the late 1920’s. Some members may enjoy a walk-up Pagoda Lookout, 2.5km return 1hr Grade3. The walking track is a short but steep walk with incredible views over ancient pagoda rock formations. BYO lunch in the picnic area. There is no potable water at Dunns Swamp – Ganguddy.

Drive back to Rylstone for a quick stop then back to AREC via Capertee along the Castlereagh Hwy, passing Lake Windamere on the way.

Glen Davis Shale Factory (229km return)

Drive to the township of Rylstone where we stop for morning tea at the shops and pick up lunch if required.
Drive onto Glen Davis Park for BYO lunch. Meet up with our tour guide & drive to the ruins of the Shale Factory for a 2hr historic tour. The Glen Davis Shale Oil Works was a major, short lived (1940 – 1952) WW11 era plant created for national defense to produce petrol from shale. It featured a township of 2500 people, but it was closed due to declining shale supply. Drive back along the Castlereagh Hwy to AREC via Capertee and pass Lake Windamere.

Current and Upcoming Musters