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Tag: Lithgow

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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.

  • Limestone Cliff Abercrombie Caves
    Limestone Cliff
  • Pathway Down to Cathedral Cave Abercrombie Caves
    Pathway Down to Archway Cave

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.

  • Entrance to Cathedral Cave Abercrombie Caves
    Entrance to Archway Cave
  • Stream inside Cathedral Cave Abercrombie Caves
    Stream inside Archway Cave Abercrombie Caves
  • Walkway inside Cathedral Cave Abercrombie Caves
    Walkway inside Archway Cave
  • Suspension Bridge inside Cathedral Cave Abercrombie Caves
    Suspension Bridge inside Archway Cave
  • Suspension Bridge inside Cathedral Cave Abercrombie Caves
    Suspension Bridge inside Archway 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.

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Small Arms Factory Lithgow

Rifle Display in Semi Circular Outlay Small Arms Factory Lithgow

The Small Arms Factory in Lithgow is a reminder of Australia’s industrial past when the country was self reliant and able to produce its small armaments. Now disused the factory is merely an empty shell, although Thales still operate part of the site. However the old administration building is now a museum displaying items once manufactured there. In addition it displays over 800 handguns in the Hayes Gallery, which is one of the best in the country, housing some rare and unique items.

Parking

Parking is off street in the old employee car park, which provides plenty of space. Entry is via the main doors back on the street, just follow the signs. Once inside, pay the entrance fee to the attendant who will then give you a brief overview of the museum.

The Small Arms Factory Displays

The first room displays some of the non military items manufactured when the demand for guns was low. These ranged from sewing machines, sheep shearing handsets and hand cuffs to medical implants . This leads into some of the larger projects including track shoes for the Leopard tank and M113.

  • Handcuffs Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Handcuffs
  • Sewing Machine Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Sewing Machine

The second floor houses the gun collection with contains a comprehensive display of machine guns, rifles and handguns. Several uniquely Australian items are on display including prototypes and pre-production guns.

  • Taisho Type 14 Nambu The Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Taisho Type 14 Nambu
  • Machine Guns Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Machine Guns
  • Bren Light Machine Gun Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Bren Light Machine Gun
  • Rifles on Display Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Rifles on Display
  • Double Barrel Percussion Pistol by Deanne's of London Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Double Barrel Percussion Pistol by Deanne’s of London

The exit through the gift shop, where there is an opportunity to purchase die cast guns, mugs, beer coolers and other souvenirs.

  • Rifle Display in Semi Circular Outlay Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Rifle Display

What Did We Think?

Whilst small, it is certainly a great piece of Australian military and industrial history worth seeing when in Lithgow. Another part of Lithgow military heritage is at the Bowenfels gun emplacements which were built to defend the Small Arms Factory.

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

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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.