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Category: National Park

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Newnes Industrial Ruins Walk

Bee Hive Kilns Newnes Industrial Ruins Wollemi National Park

Newnes Industrial Ruins Walk

Located in the Wollemi National Park the Newnes Industrial Ruins Walk takes you through the decaying ruins of a once thriving shale oil processing plant. Established in 1902 and closed in 1932 due to the availability of cheaper crude oil, all that remain are decaying buildings and processing plant.

Getting There

The drive from Lithgow to the ruins takes a little over an hour. Road quality varies from excellent sealed road, narrow winding road down to the Wolgan Valley and dirt road for the final 12km. The views from the road as you descend from the top are amazing but, unfortunately there are few spots to stop and take advantage of them.

If your car is a two-wheel drive, it must be left just past the Newnes kiosk, as the creek crossing is passable by four-wheel drives only.  Stepping stones allow hikers to cross the Wolgan River and continue to the start of the walk. Allow an additional 30 minutes if you have to hike the extra distance. It is flat and well graded, so an easy walk.

Stepping Stones Over the Wolgan River Newnes Industrial Ruins Wollemi National Park
Stepping Stones Over the Wolgan River

The Walk

A locked gate is at the start of the walk along with a detailed map of the industrial ruins. The first ruins are the most interesting, a row of brick bee hive kilns. There are still 13 kilns in good condition with the other 80 odd kilns in various states of decay.

Also in the area are the remains of retaining walls and ruined buildings. It takes about two hours to walk around and take in the atmosphere of the place.

Bee Hive Kiln Newnes Industrial Ruins Wollemi National Park
Bee Hive Kiln
Bee Hive Kilns Newnes Industrial Ruins Wollemi National Park
Bee Hive Kilns

What Did We Think?

A totally different type of walk in the Wollemi National Park.  Who would expect to find industrial ruins here?  The beehive kilns are something unique and worth seeing in themselves. Even the narrow winding road in and the dirt road add to the experience of being here.

If time had permitted, this would be a great place to stay overnight and enjoy the national park for a bit longer.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Glow Worm Tunnel Wollemi National Park

Entrance to Glow Worm Tunnel Wollemi National Park

Glow Worm Tunnel

The Glow Worm Tunnel is located in the Wollemi National Park. There are several ways to get to the tunnel, but we chose the one from Lithgow and via the Glow Worm Tunnel Road. This option was an hour’s drive from Lithgow with a 20-minute walk.

The tunnel is a disused rail tunnel originally built to access the Newness industrial area. With a realignment of the rail line it was never used. Instead it has been colonised by glow worms and become a tourist attraction.

Getting There

The road in is all dirt and when we used it was in need of maintenance because of the numerous pot holes. At times it is very narrow, and you must stop to let other vehicles pass coming from the other way. The road is passable by two-wheel drive vehicles, but you will need to be careful. On the drive in you pass through some old cuttings not much wider than the road, giving a great additional experience to the drive. You also have to drive through an old tunnel which is even more fun.

  • Road into Glow Worm Tunnel Wollemi National Park
    Road into Glow Worm Tunnel
  • Old Rail Tunnel Before Glow Worm Tunnel Wollemi National Park
    Road Through Old Rail Tunnel

The Glow Worm Tunnel Road takes you all the way to a car park, where the road ends and the walking track begins. This car park is very small, with limited spaces. We arrived very early and were the first there. When we left, the car park was full, and cars were parking on the access road in, further narrowing the road. One person brought a camper trailer in and had great difficulty turning it around.

Walking Track

The walk to the tunnel is fairly easy, but with several sets of steps to negotiate. Being a National Parks and Wildlife responsibility, it is well maintained. Walking in provides some great photo opportunities as the walkways and surrounding bush look amazing.

  • Steps to Glow Worm Tunnel Wollemi National Park
    Steps to Glow Worm Tunnel

The Glow Worm Tunnel

The tunnel is stated as 400m long and horseshoe shaped, although it didn’t seem that long to us. Maybe it meant 400m return. We walked through the tunnel without spotting any glow worms, possibly because of the noise made by some people. The advice given about the tunnel, is to be quiet so as not to scare them. The far side of the tunnel was very pretty with a small creek and ferns. After looking around for a while we retraced our steps and stopped half way in. With torches off and after a short wait, the glow worms came out and we were treated to a great sight.

  • Entrance to Glow Worm Tunnel Wollemi National Park
    Entrance to Glow Worm Tunnel
  • Glow Worm Tunnel Wollemi National Park
    Glow Worm Tunnel Wollemi National Park
  • Far Side of Glow Worm Tunnel Wollemi National Park
    Far Side of Glow Worm Tunnel

What Did We Think?

We had been worried about missing out on the glow worms but were more than happy with what we saw. Remember to take a torch, be careful on the road and try and be quiet in the tunnel.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Tomaree Head Summit Walk

Xenith Beach Tomaree Head Summit Walk

Tomaree Head Summit Walk

The Tomaree Head Summit Walk is part of the Tomaree National Park near Nelson Bay New South Wales, Australia. This is a great bush walk to the summit of Mount Tomaree, which can be very steep in places, so take your time. Rest and enjoy the fantastic scenery and stunning views from the top as well as along the way. From the summit you can see out to the surrounding islands and waterways.

The walkways are very well constructed and maintained by the 
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.  At the base of the mountain they are paved changing to metal gratings, railings and natural rock paths as you get higher. There are several stairways and narrow walkways, so be patient and let others pass.

  • Tomaree Head Summit Walk
    Tomaree Head Summit Walk
  • Steps on the Track Tomaree Head Summit Walk
    Steps on the Track
  • Metal Walkways Tomaree Head Summit Walk
    Metal Walkways

Parking

The car park at the start of the track is quite small and on weekends and during school holidays it can become full quickly. Some people park on the road or on one of the side-tracks, but even these can become full.

Xenith Beach

The entrance for Xenith Beach is a near the start of the Tomaree Head Summit Walk. If you don’t want to go onto the beach you get fantastic views from the top of the walk.

  • Xenith Beach Tomaree Head Summit Walk
    Xenith Beach

World War 2 Gun Emplacements

The track to the World War II gun emplacements leads off from the Tomaree Head Summit track. We took this track after coming back down from the top of the mountain. The walk around to the gun and placements is flat and consists of an old bitumen road, so is very easy after the climb to the summit. The emplacements themselves date from World War II and are of concrete construction. Although dismantled, leaving only the outer shells, they are still interesting to visit.

If you’re interested in World War II and the fortifications built in Australia at that time this is a great place for you to visit. As an additional bonus you get some great views over the surrounding ocean and out to the islands.

  • Fort Tomaree Tomaree Head Summit Walk
    Fort Tomaree

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.