Destination's Journey

Tag: Bush Walking

  • Glow Worm Tunnel Wollemi National Park

    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.

  • Great North Road Convict Trail

    Great North Road Convict Trail

    Built between 1826 and 1834 by convict labour the Great North Road was one of the first great projects undertaken by the colony of New South Wales. It was built to connect Sydney with Newcastle and the Upper Hunter Valley. Some of the stonework for culverts, buttresses and bridges can still be seen today.

    Getting To the Great North Road

    We drove down part of the northern section from Singleton as far as the Circuit Flat Walking Track Bridge. The total driving time, one way was about 90 minutes, but took much longer with stops to examine remnants of the road.

    As well as the road, the scenery is great, and you drive through some historic towns, such as Wollombi.

    Great North Road Map Convict Trail
    Great North Road Map

    Thompson’s Bridge

    Flanked by a stone retaining wall, Thompson’s Bridge is about 15 km south of Laguna. The stone walls on each side are course rubble work which is not like the other stonework in this area, which is mostly close fitting dry stone construction. This has led to debate as to whether this is original or later work.

    • Thonpson's Bridge Embankment Great North Road Convict Trail
      Thonpson’s Bridge Embankment
    • Thonpson's Bridge Great North Road Convict Trail
      Thonpson’s Bridge

    Murray’s Run Culvert

    Murray’s Run Culvert is one kilometre south of Thompson’s Bridge. This culvert has an elaborate decorative arch that supports the retaining wall above. A sign post helps you find this culvert, but the obvious old road off to the side is easy to spot.

    • Murray's Run Culvert Great North Road Convict Trail
      Murray’s Run Culvert

    Fernances Culvert

    Fernances Crossing culvert is just beside the present road and located about seven kilometres north of the original Buckety intersection. We found it to be well sign posted and easy to find. Parking off the road is available. Constructed in 1830 by Road Party 27 it consists of a curved stone retaining wall with a rectangular culvert that carried the road across a small gully.

    • The Furnaces Crossing Culvert Great North Road Convict Trail
      The Fernances Crossing Culvert

    Buckety Precinct

    The Buckety Precinct was the largest of the Great North Road relics that we visited.  Situated at the intersection of the Great North Road and George Downes Drive, the area is approximately 400m long. The Buckety Wall is a very nice preserved section of dry stone retaining wall and is the first thing you see when entering the area.  Walking up hill from here, is a large section of the original road surface, as constructed by the convicts.

    • Buckety Wall Precinct Great North Road Convict Trail
      Buckety Wall Precinct
    • Original Pavement Great North Road Convict Trail
      Original Pavement

    St. Alban’s Road Ramp

    This large retaining wall was the tallest that we saw on our trip.  Still used to support the current roadway the road ramp is worth the stop to admire.  There is a signpost marking the spot, but the wall is on the opposite side of the road, over the embankment.

    • St Alban's Road Ramp Great North Road Convict Trail
      St Alban’s Road Ramp

    Circuit Flat Bridge

    The turn-off to get to Circuit Flat Bridge is sign posted as Mt Manning Intersection.  If you follow this track for about 3 kilometers in your car,  you will arrive at the remains of the bridge. We chose to drive further down Wollombi Road to the Mogo Camp Ground.  From here there is a nice three kilometer walk to the bridge, which took us about 45 minutes, with a further 30 minutes to walk back via the road.

    • Circuit Flat Bridge Great North Road Convict Trail
      Circuit Flat Bridge
    • Mt Manning Marker
      Mt Manning Marker

    Wollombi

    We stopped at Wollombi on our way home for afternoon tea.  There are several cafes and restaurants in the village as well as the famous Wollomi Tavern.

    After a refuelling stop, we walked around the village and admired the old buildings, notably St Michael’s Church and the buildings along the main street.

    • The Historical Town of Wollombi in the Hunter Valley
      Wollombi
    • St Michael's Church Wollombi
      St Michael’s Church Wollombi
    • Old Wollombi Police Station
      Old Wollombi Police Station
    • Wollombi Tavern
      Wollombi Tavern
    • Wollombi
      Wollombi

    Sights Along the Road

    As you drive along there are some great sights on the side of the road.  One of the best was this rhinoceros sculpture just outside Wollombi.

    • Rhino Sculpture Outside Wollombi
      Rhino Sculpture Outside Wollombi

    We really enjoyed our day out along the Great North Road, following the Convict Trail.  As well as doing some bush walking and learning some convict history, we were able to see some historical buildings all in a very picturesque setting.

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

  • Boarding House Dam Walk

    Boarding House Dam Walk

    Getting There

    The Boarding House Dam Walk is in the Watagans National Park west of Newcastle. We drove in via Cessnock and found most of the drive to be easy. However, the last section of road into the Watagans is dirt and very rough in places. Take care because of the corrugations and holes in the road.

    Apart from the road the scenery as you drive into the National Park is very nice with beautiful trees along the road. There are several lookouts that provide views over the surrounding countryside and the forrest.

    Road into the Watagans Boarding House Dam Walk
    Road into the Watagans

    Boarding House Dam Walk 

    The walk starts at the Boarding House Dam picnic area which is nicely set up with covered picnic areas and bar-b-q sites. There are seats near the creek, so you can sit and relax by the water while in the shade.

    Creek Near Boarding House Dam Picnic Area Boarding House Dam Walk
    Creek Near Boarding House Dam Picnic Area

    The Boarding House Dam Walk is very easy and only takes about 15 minutes. The walk forms a loop so that you leave on one side of the creek and return on the other. The scenery along the way is nice and the walk culminates at the moss wall which is the highlight.

    Moss Wall Boarding House Dam Walk Watagans
    Moss Wall

    When we went there had been little rainfall resulting in only a small flow in the creek. This was a pity as there is a weir that would have looked amazing with water spilling over it.

    Creek on the Walk Boarding House Dam Walk Watagans
    Creek on the Walk

    Even with the poor road condition we were very pleased that we did this walk. It was quiet and shady with A very nice moss wall at the end.

    Kitchener

    On our way home we stopped at Kitchener to look at the preserved
    poppet head structure from the Aberdare Central Colliery. Coal mining is still important for the Hunter Valley but historically was located around Cessnock. As these mines were exhausted, mining operations moved further up the valley. To maintain a link with their past a residents’ group organised the preservation of this structure. If you are passing through it is a great place to stop for a break, let kids run around and read about the poppet head preservation on the signs placed there.

    Aberdare Poppet Head Kitchener New South Wales
    Aberdare Poppet Head Kitchener

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