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Abercrombie Caves and Bushrangers

Walkway inside Cathedral Cave Abercrombie Caves

Abercrombie Caves

Abercrombie Caves offer a great self guided as well as several accompanied tours of their caves. Use care when driving on the access road down to the caves, as it is windy and narrow, with many blind spots. Camping sites are available and a large car park next to the park’s office is for day visitors. Purchase your tickets ($20.00 per person in 2018) at the office.

Archway Cave

We chose to do the self guided tour of the Archway Cave, because it looked interesting and exploring was at our own pace. The attendant gives a comprehensive overview of the caves and the history, which helped in our understanding of the area.  You receive a pamphlet describing each area you pass through describing the history, geology and local wildlife. The walk is great, passing through attractive bush land and crossing a suspension bridge.

Part of the attraction of the caves is the association with bush rangers and signs point out places connected to them. The”Ribbon Gang” of escaped convicts used the area as a hideout, keeping their horses in the nearby Stable Arch.

Inside the caves, you follow the tracks in any order, looking at the formations. There is another rope suspension bridge here, which you can cross and imagine yourself as Indiana Jones. This bridge crosses a small creek that flows through the cave.

What Did We Think?

It is unfortunate that the guided tours run infrequently as they offer a more interesting experience, but the self guided tour is not bad. It is certainly better than some we have been on. If you have never been in a cave before, this is a great first experience.

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

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.

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.

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.