This interesting little walk is not far from Seal Rocks on the New South Wales Mid-North Coast. Around an hour and 45 minutes north of Newcastle, the Neranie Cemetery Walk is a good spot to stop for a break. The sign for the start of the walk is old and hard to see, but is just after the turn off to the Neranie camp ground.
The 350m walk to the cemetery is uphill and was overgrown with long grass when we visited. Although we didn’t see any snakes, they might be a problem on a hot day if the grass is long.
The remaining monuments in the cemetery date from the late 19th to early 20th century, which coincides with the time a sawmill operated in the area. Now abandoned and heritage listed, it has a great view over the Myall Lakes.
This was an easy walk with an interesting cemetery at the end. Parking was easy in a small, cleared area, but it’s an easy place to miss if you are not careful.
Faded Sign PostThe Overgrown Track Neranie CemeteryHeadstone in the Cemetery
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Driving from Mittagong to the Mount Gibraltar Lookouts takes you past some spectacular houses, although if you’re driving you may not see much of them. This is because the road is narrow and windy, so you need to pay attention to the road.
At the top of the hill, one of the residences has an old cart outside, so we stopped to take a photo of it. Further around, Mittagong lookout provides views over the town. Parking is on the road and limited, so you may need to drive around until you can find a spot. From the road, a stone path leads to the lookout. Here, a sandstone shelter and viewing platform overlook the valley below.
Not far from the first lookout, Jellore overlooks more of the valley. Again, parking is at a premium. At the lookout trees have grown, blocking most of the view.
The final stop (or first if you came from Bowral) is the Bowral Lookout. By far the largest, with picnic tables, garbage bins and a toilet it is the easiest to get to.
We didn’t find any of the views to be particularly special, although if you are in Mittagong, it’s something you can do to fill in time. The lack of parking and narrow roads are also a significant issue.
Old cart on Oxley DriveWeather Shelter at Jellore LookoutView from Mount GibraltarMittagong From the LookoutView over Mittagong
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Originally a coal mining area dating from the 1840s, little remains to remind you of its past. Following its closure in the 1980s, rehabilitation and dedicated work by the Minmi Heritage Landcare Group have removed many of the scars. Plantings of native trees, the eradication of invasive plants and the installation of barbecues and picnic facilities have produced a beautiful community park. The Heritage Walking Track winds through the regenerated bushland.
Located near the outer western Newcastle suburb of Minmi, the park has plenty of parking and a small toilet block. The walking tracks are shown on an information board near the car park.
The Track
We chose the Heritage Walk because it includes the brick tower of an old ventilation shaft from the coal mine. Starting at the end of the car park, the track immediately splits into two paths. There are no signs to show which way to go, but the correct direction is to the right of the large white tyre. Not far from here, a track leads off to the left. Fortunately, there are two signs here showing that this is the way to go.
From the left turn, the well-maintained path follows a shady route through regenerated Australian bushland. We didn’t see any wildlife but could here plenty of cicadas.
The trail intersects another track, where you will find the brick tower. This remnant of the old coal mine used to provide ventilation to the mine’s underground workings. Turn right at the intersection, where another well-formed track takes you back to the car park.
Only a few minutes’ walk from the car park is the old Minmi Cemetery, where you can see the graves of many of the mine workers and their families.
What Did We Think?
A simple easy walk, it only took us 45 minutes, including stops for photos. The well-maintained path and shady trees made the walk enjoyable.
Blue Gum Hills Regional Park Info BoardDecorated Toilet BlockPlayground Mine EntranceMazeTake the path to the right of the big tyreSign to the Heritage WalkSign to the Heritage WalkThe Heritage WalkBrick Tower Ventilation ShaftHeritage Walking Track
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
