Thursday 30/10/2025 Cudgegong River – Quarry Lake – Turtle Island
Mudgee, NSW
Wiradjuri Country (Wiradjuri people)
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
The circuit through Putta Bucca Wetlands begins at the edge of the Cudgegong River, where a well-maintained path traces the water before curving towards Quarry Lake. Over a total distance of 2km, the route winds through a tapestry of restored wetlands, tall reeds, and open woodland, offering clear sightlines across open water and floodplain. The walking is comfortably flat, gaining only 8 m in elevation across the loop.
Max elevation: 445 m
Total climbing: 9 m
Total descent: -9 m
Average speed: 2.99 km/h
Total time: 01:02:59
The walk includes a couple of bird hides, and we found there was plenty of birdlife around. The hides are a good place to shelter from any adverse weather, and sit quietly watching the behaviours of many species as they come and go. There are fantastic opportunities for great bird photography, as I hope you can see in the photos I was able to take during our short visit.
Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus)
Passing Quarry Lake, the trail skirts the water’s edge, with open grassy faces and abrupt rises that hint at the site’s quarrying history. The path alternates between compacted gravel, grassy approaches, and sections of boardwalk where it approaches water or low-lying areas. Heading east, the track transitions through denser stands of wetland vegetation before crossing shallow channels at Turtle Island—a natural rise surrounded by water, accessible by a narrow land bridge.
A brief circuit of Turtle Island takes in broad views over the main wetland bodies and adjacent bushland. Here, the subtle changes in terrain and plant life are most noticeable. After rejoining the main path, the walk continues southwest to complete the loop, returning beside the upper reaches of the Cudgegong River.
Facilities at the start are modest, with parking, information signage, and shaded benches available. No water or toilets are found within the reserve.
Amongst other photographically recorded observations during this walk, we were able to confirm sightings of each of the following species: White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis), White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos), Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum), Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus), Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
Clickable icons on this world map will open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries
Information on Parks signage along the way
Wandering Water
The Putta Bucca Wetland Reserve contains two key features; the Cudgegong River and two large wetland ponds. Water in the ponds comes from aquifers (areas of underground water). The water in these aquifers comes from the Cudgegong River. Water moves from the Cudgegong River, under our feet and into wetland ponds!
Water in the Cudgegong River comes from a catchment encompassing Rylstone, Kandos, Lue, Mudgee and surrounding towns. From Putta Bucca, it flows into the Macquarie River and eventually into the Murray River, where it joins the ocean in South Australia. So while Putta Bucca Wetland Reserve is on our doorstop, it’s broader impact is far more reaching.
Wasteland to Wildlife Wonderland
The Putta Bucca Wetlands Reserve hasn’t always looked like this. It’s changed from it’s small beginnings as a quarry and sewage ponds, and developed it’s current important function as a habitat for wildlife and an important recreational space.
History: What was the wetland used for?
The Putta Bucca Wetlands Reserve has a rich and varied history. See if you can find evidence of this history as you walk around the reserve.
Traditional caretakers
Putta Bucca Wetlands Reserve was first cared for by the Mowgee people from the Wiradjuri Nation. Many of the names of towns and villages within the Mudgee region are derived from the Mowgee language, including Putta Bucca. The word ‘Putta’ is thought to be derived from ‘puttaba’ meaning ‘a hill near a creek’ and Bucca being derived from the word ‘Bugga’, meaning ‘stinking fish’.
Areas next to creeks and rivers like the Cudgegong were important spaces for the Mowgee people as they provided areas for gathering food and collecting resources. For example, the bark of the River Red Gum, which is a common tree species, was used extensively for building canoes. The flowers were also soaked in water to make a drink.
European history
The area surrounding the Putta Bucca Wetland was first settled by William Lawson around 1820. In 1827 Lawson took up 2428 ha of land at Bombira. From that period until now, the Putta Bucca area has mostly supported grazing.
More recently, the wetland has been used as sewage ponds, as a Council landfill site and for quarrying gravel. The large wetland ponds are the direct result of quarrying for sand and gravel products.
River habitat along the Cudgegong River
Due to the presence of water and nutrients, areas fringing creeks and rivers often have taller trees and thicker vegetation. These features create unique habitat. Large River Red Gums provide sheltering and feeding habitat, whilst understorey shrubs and reeds provide habitat for small birds.
The river channel provides habitat for fish and platypus which swim in the deep pools, other small fish and birds use the shallows. Even the muddy banks of the river can be habitat for animals.
Wetland habitat around the ponds
The other type of habitat at Putta Bucca are the wetlands themselves. These are not natural features (they’re actually quarry pits), but due to their shallow nature they make great habitat for a number of bird species. The muddy nutrient rich ponds and fringing thick reeds make fantastic homes for birds, crustaceans and fish. Some of the plants you’ll see in this area include Common Reed (Phragmites australis) and Knot Weed (Persicaria decipiens).
These plants form dense thickets which provide shelter and protection for a range of different species.
The local landscape features, geology, scenic highlights, flora, fauna, Indigenous history, white history and other nearby walks in the area (Perplexity AI Model)
Landscape Features and Geology
Putta Bucca Wetlands Reserve, situated just north of Mudgee town centre and adjoining the winding Cudgegong River, occupies the bed of a former aggregate quarry and incorporates a permanent oxbow lake (Quarry Lake), ephemeral wetlands, sand spits, remnant river channels, and Turtle Island—a vegetated rise amid open water. The underlying geology is composed of recent alluvial sands, silts, and black soils, replenished by seasonal flooding. Quarrying in the twentieth century shaped the current hydrology, now managed for habitat complexity and biodiversity. Riverine banks feature steep erosional edges and gradual re-vegetation, while Turtle Island and other high ground protect remnant woodland patches.
Scenic Highlights
The site is famous for its intimacy with water: boardwalks, bird hides, and flat trails provide vantage points over mirror-like wetlands, reed beds, and mudflats teeming with birdlife. Quarry Lake offers crystal reflections, aquatic plants, and basking turtles, while Turtle Island supports shaded rest spots. Picnicking, birding, and sunset watching are popular, and the Cudgegong River’s flowing water brings sound and visual drama, especially after rainfall or seasonal flood.
Local Flora
Since 2011, extensive re-vegetation has established stands of river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens), along with rushes, reeds, and aquatic grasses around open water. Sedges, Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta), Acacia, and Melaleuca species add structure and habitat to the wetland margins. Revegetation projects target both native woodland and riparian plant restoration; native bee gardens and wildflower meadows have been created for pollinators. Removal of invasive willows and ongoing weed management are central to ecological health, with native herbs and flowering shrubs returning in spring and summer.
Local Fauna
Putta Bucca Wetlands hosts over 160 recorded bird species, including Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca), black swan (Cygnus atratus), bar-shouldered dove (Geopelia humeralis), dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis), mistletoe bird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), little friarbird (Philemon citreogularis), and numerous ducks and waders. Eastern long-necked turtles (Chelodina longicollis) are abundant on Turtle Island; platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) have been sighted in the Cudgegong River. Wallabies, water rats, echidnas, and native bees are noted, and revegetation has also supported frogs, insects, and small mammals.
Indigenous History
Putta Bucca is Wiradjuri country: “puttaba” means “hill near a creek” in Wiradjuri, and the reserve is important for its ongoing Aboriginal heritage, with links to traditional river and billabong usage and to ochre mining. The river corridor provided Aboriginal ancestors with year-round water, fishing, yam-gathering, hunting, and ceremony. Archaeological evidence, cultural knowledge, and Wiradjuri language enrich understanding and interpretation of the site, which is managed with respect to living culture as well as ecological values.
White History
The site’s early European use included intensive gravel and sand extraction, conversion to a waste ground, and adjacent development for agriculture and urban growth. Rehabilitation commenced in 2011 through council and community initiatives, transforming the abandoned quarry into a 32-hectare wetland reserve focused on biodiversity, recreation, and education. Traditional owners and volunteers have overseen environmental restoration, weed removal, and the creation of amenities—making Putta Bucca a model of ecological and cultural renewal in post-industrial landscapes.
Clickable icons on this world map will open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries
