Goulds Circuit walking track

How to get there

1. Same Pincham / John Renshaw Parkway access as the Breadknife. Vehicle entry applies — [VERIFY] $8.
2. Visitor Centre first for a free map and current track advice (9am–4pm daily, closed Christmas Day — [VERIFY]).
3. Start at Pincham; follow Spirey Creek about 1.8 km to the Goulds Circuit turn-off. Confirm the signed junction.
4. Screenshot local alerts. Official heading Open (snapshot 25 Sep 2026). The 21–23 Sep northern Uringery/FFPA close is off the official page.

How to do it (step by step)

1. Carry water, sturdy shoes, first aid, hat, sunscreen, a layer and a raincoat as NPWS lists. Visitor Centre map recommended.
2. After the 1.8 km Spirey Creek stretch the trail roughens and hills. Wallabies early and late.
3. Febar Tor rocky outcrop: views of Belougery Spire, the Breadknife and Bluff Mountain.
4. Macha Tor: near-vertical scramble — experienced hikers and climbers only (NPWS). Skip it without guilt.
5. Rejoin the main trail; about 2.8 km back to the carpark from that link. Budget the full 3 hours plus photo time.

Who this walk is for

Choose Goulds Circuit when you want High Tops views from Pincham without committing to the 14.5 km Grade 4 Breadknife loop. Official: 8 km loop, Grade 3, about 3 hours (re-checked 2026-08-15). No wheelchair access.

It sits between Fans Horizon (shorter, 1000+ steps) and the Breadknife (longer, steeper). Fit mixed groups who will skip Macha Tor belong here. Groups who want sealed and easy belong at Whitegum.

What to expect

Start at Pincham and follow Spirey Creek through dry woodland — king parrots and crimson rosellas if you look up. After about 1.8 km the Goulds Circuit turn-off starts a rougher, hillier trail. Red-necked and swamp wallabies show early and late.

Febar Tor is the friendly rocky outcrop: Belougery Spire, the Breadknife and Bluff Mountain. Macha Tor is a near-vertical scramble NPWS recommends only for experienced hikers and climbers. From the link back to the main trail it is about 2.8 km to the carpark.

Logistics

Same Pincham start as the Breadknife. Vehicle day entry applies. Carry the official kit list: water, sturdy shoes, first aid, hat, sunscreen, raincoat, snacks. Visitor Centre map is worth the stop.

Limited reception still applies. This is not a “leave everything in the car” 8 km. Agree whether Macha Tor is on the table before you leave the junction — not halfway up a near-vertical pitch.

Macha Tor and reverse

Skipping Macha Tor is competence, not failure. Febar Tor already delivers the volcanic skyline. If anyone is unhappy on Febar, do not start Macha.

Reverse or rejoin the main trail when energy fails. Do not invent a link onto the Breadknife loop without the Grade 4 kit and the daylight.

Pairing

Do not stack this after or before the full Breadknife the same day. A Whitegum stop on the way out is the only honest extra if legs remain. Next-day upgrade is the Breadknife, not Bluff Mountain.

Printable first-visit plan is Fans Horizon. Use Goulds when the group wants more ridge than Fans but less than a six-hour Grade 4.

Map (orientation)

Pin may be approximate. Confirm trailheads, parking and track status on NSW National Parks before you drive.