Arkstone 8829-4N Topographic Map 1:25,000

Detailed NSW Central Tablelands Topographic Mapping | Arkstone, Abercrombie River National Park, Retreat River, Licking Hole & Historic Goldfields | Paper, Waterproof Tyvek® & Laminated

🏞️ Explore the Rugged River Valleys and Historic Goldfields of Arkstone

Discover the dramatic river gorges, forested mountain ridges and historic goldfields of the New South Wales Central Tablelands with the Arkstone 8829-4N Topographic Map, sourced from the official NSW Spatial Services Topographic Map Series.

Covering the Arkstone district and surrounding country south of Oberon, this detailed map provides valuable geographical information for bushwalkers, four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, environmental professionals, rural landowners, surveyors, engineers, conservation managers and emergency services.

The Arkstone region occupies a distinctive landscape within the Abercrombie River catchment, where steep hills, deeply dissected valleys and extensive native forests form part of the transition between the elevated Central Tablelands and the more rugged country towards the Southern Tablelands.

The surrounding countryside combines rocky ridgelines, steep riverbanks, secluded creek gullies, open eucalypt woodland and scattered rural properties. Its significant changes in elevation make detailed topographic mapping particularly valuable for understanding the terrain.

The map provides geographical coverage relevant to Arkstone, Abercrombie River National Park, Retreat River, Felled Timber Creek, Licking Hole and the surrounding mountainous catchments.

The Abercrombie River is the defining geographical feature of the wider district. Rising in the elevated country of the Great Dividing Range, it flows through rugged valleys and forested hills before joining the Lachlan River system.

The river and its tributaries have carved an intricate network of valleys, rocky slopes and narrow drainage corridors through the surrounding landscape.

These waterways have influenced settlement, agricultural development, historical gold mining and transport routes across this remote part of New South Wales.

One of the region's most important natural attractions is Abercrombie River National Park, which protects extensive areas of native woodland, river valleys and rugged mountain country.

The national park is particularly renowned for its remote four-wheel-drive trails, riverside camping areas, bushwalking opportunities and historic gold-mining remains.

Its deeply dissected terrain contains steep slopes, rocky ridgelines and a complex network of creeks and tributaries, making accurate topographic mapping especially valuable for understanding the landscape.

The Retreat River is one of the significant waterways associated with the Arkstone district. Its valley and adjoining drainage systems provide important geographical reference points for interpreting the surrounding terrain.

Nearby, Felled Timber Creek forms part of the intricate drainage network that has shaped the local forested hills.

These waterways illustrate the relationship between geological structure, erosion and landscape development, with steep gullies and rocky slopes creating natural obstacles to movement across the region.

The map also identifies distinctive local geographical features such as Bald Hill, Long Nose Ridge, Lofty Range, Freds Rock Spur and Swan Hole Spur.

These ridgelines and spurs are particularly useful when navigating through steep and heavily wooded country, where identifying high ground, saddle points and creek junctions can help establish position.

The historic Licking Hole district provides a fascinating connection with the nineteenth-century gold rushes that transformed parts of the Central Tablelands.

Gold was discovered throughout the Abercrombie River district during the second half of the nineteenth century, attracting prospectors to remote creek valleys and river flats.

The landscape still contains evidence of historical mining activity, including abandoned workings, water races and sluicing sites.

Within Abercrombie River National Park, visitors can explore areas associated with the early goldfields, including the historic Licking Hole locality and the remains of a former miner's cottage.

The relationship between the area's geology, waterways and steep terrain helps explain why early prospectors concentrated their efforts along particular creeks and river terraces.

The broader district also contains geographical features such as Bingham Creek, Hickory Gully, Chain O'Ponds Creek, Oaky Creek and Reedy Creek, illustrating the density of the local drainage network.

The region's vegetation is dominated by native woodland and forest communities, with riverine vegetation concentrated along watercourses and sheltered valleys.

The landscape provides habitat for kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas and numerous bird species, while waterways support aquatic wildlife and important riparian ecosystems.

To the north, the elevated country around Oberon forms part of the wider Central Tablelands landscape, characterised by agricultural land, plantation forests, native bushland and dissected mountain valleys.

To the south, the neighbouring Fullerton district continues through rural highlands and forested catchments towards the Southern Tablelands.

The combination of protected national park, historic goldfields, rural properties and remote forested terrain makes the Arkstone region particularly important for catchment management, conservation research, emergency planning and outdoor recreation.

At a scale of 1:25,000 (1cm = 250 metres), the map provides the detail needed to interpret contours, identify waterways, recognise ridgelines and examine roads and access routes through this challenging country.

Whether you're exploring Abercrombie River National Park, studying the Retreat River catchment, investigating historic goldfields, navigating forest roads or undertaking professional fieldwork, the Arkstone topographic map provides an excellent geographical reference.

Professionally printed by Mapworld and available in paper, waterproof DuPont™ Tyvek® and laminated finishes.

🗺️ Map Content & Features

The Arkstone topographic map includes:

• Contours & Elevation – Detailed terrain information showing steep river valleys, forested mountain slopes, rocky ridgelines, narrow spurs, gullies and elevated tableland country.

• Rivers & Waterways – Retreat River, Felled Timber Creek, local tributaries, waterholes and drainage systems associated with the Abercrombie River catchment.

• Roads & Tracks – Rural roads, national park access routes, fire trails, four-wheel-drive tracks and recorded management routes where mapped.

• Buildings & Infrastructure – Selected rural buildings, homesteads, roads, historic site features and geographical reference points.

• Vegetation & Landforms – Native eucalypt woodland, forested ridges, rocky hillsides, river flats, sheltered creek valleys and rural grazing country.

• Place Names & Landmarks – Arkstone, Licking Hole, Bald Hill, Long Nose Ridge, Freds Rock Spur, Retreat River and surrounding geographical features.

• Grid References – Coordinates and geographical reference information for map-and-compass navigation, GPS interpretation and professional fieldwork.

🧭 Format & Material Options

To suit a range of field and display needs, this map is available in multiple durable and practical formats:

🧾 Standard Paper (Folded or Flat)

• Traditional option for lightweight use, archival storage, and indoor reference

• Suitable for framing, classrooms, or desktop use

💧 Waterproof / Tearproof Tyvek®

• Made from 100% polyethylene fibres, Tyvek® has the appearance of paper but is water-resistant, tear-resistant, and flexible

• Ideal for backpackers, bushwalkers, rangers, and search and rescue teams

• Can be folded or rolled repeatedly without damage

• Withstands snow, rain, mud, and UV exposure

🛡️ Laminated (Encapsulated)

• Fully sealed between two sheets of 80-micron gloss laminate

• Dry-erase compatible: Write temporary notes with a whiteboard marker and wipe clean

• Use Mark-It-Dots to highlight key coordinates, routes, or activity zones

• Excellent for field planning, vehicle dashboards, workshops, classrooms, and incident control centres

📐 Map Specifications

🎯 Ideal For

• Bushwalkers & Nature Explorers – Detailed terrain information for exploring forested hills, rugged creek valleys and remote landscapes around Abercrombie River National Park.

• Four-Wheel-Drive Enthusiasts – Geographical reference for understanding fire trails, steep gradients, ridge routes, river crossings and surrounding terrain in the Abercrombie district.

• Goldfield Historians & Prospecting Enthusiasts – Explore the geographical setting of nineteenth-century gold mining, including Licking Hole and the waterways associated with historical alluvial deposits.

• Rural Landowners & Property Managers – Mapping for understanding property access, slopes, waterways, drainage patterns, forest boundaries and surrounding terrain.

• Environmental Scientists & Ecologists – Geographical reference for Abercrombie catchment assessments, vegetation surveys, habitat monitoring, erosion studies and conservation research.

• Surveyors & Civil Engineers – Terrain and infrastructure information for preliminary site investigations, rural access planning, drainage assessments and professional fieldwork.

• Emergency Services – Detailed geographical reference for bushfire response, remote-area search-and-rescue operations, flood planning and incident management.

• Geography Students & Researchers – Explore the relationship between river erosion, mountain topography, historical gold mining, settlement and environmental conservation across the Central Tablelands.

📍 Official NSW Mapping Source

This map forms part of the NSW Spatial Services Topographic Map Series, providing authoritative geographical information about natural and built features across New South Wales.

The series includes elevation contours, waterways, roads, tracks, vegetation, buildings, geographical features, place names and coordinate references.

View the Official NSW Spatial Services Topographic Map Viewer

For current national park access, four-wheel-drive conditions, walking tracks, closures and visitor information, consult Abercrombie River National Park – NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

For information about the park's natural environment, historical goldfields and recreational opportunities, explore Abercrombie River National Park – Learn More.

For regional roads, rural property information and local services, consult Oberon Council.

The Arkstone region contains remote forested terrain, steep mountain slopes, rocky riverbanks, creek crossings and waterways subject to rapidly changing conditions. Heavy rainfall can cause flash flooding and make river crossings and low-lying access tracks impassable. Some national park trails require high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles and may be closed during wet weather or periods of high bushfire danger. Historical mining areas may contain unstable workings, shafts and disturbed ground. Prospecting activities require appropriate permissions and must comply with NSW legislation. Always check current park alerts, respect private property and access restrictions, and carry suitable navigation and communication equipment. Topographic maps are not substitutes for cadastral surveys, official flood studies or current road access information.

🌏 Explore More with Mapworld

Discover our complete collection of NSW 1:25,000 Topographic Maps, providing detailed topographic coverage across New South Wales and adjoining regions.

For practical advice on interpreting contour lines, understanding grid references and navigating Australian landscapes, explore our guide to How to Read a Topographic Map in Australia.

For additional geographical coverage immediately south of Arkstone, the adjoining Fullerton 8829-4S Topographic Map provides a useful companion sheet, extending coverage through the rural highlands and forested catchments of the wider Abercrombie district.

Professionally printed by Mapworld, the Arkstone 8829-4N Topographic Map combines authoritative NSW Spatial Services mapping with premium material options, making it an excellent resource for bushwalking, four-wheel-drive exploration, historical goldfield research, rural property management, environmental assessment, surveying, catchment planning, geographical education and professional fieldwork.