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Tag: Wollemi National Park

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Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park

Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park

Dunns Swamp

Dunns Swamp in the  Wollemi National Park is a beautiful lake rather than a swamp and is a great place to camp, bush walk or go swimming. Located only 30 minutes from Kandos, it is a great getaway for a day trip or overnight stay. Created by the Kandos Weir, the lake is full of bird life and surrounded by reeds and trees, making it a really beautiful place.

Campsites are available for overnight stays as well as plenty of day visitor parking. The camp site has covered eating areas and toilets available for use.

  • Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
    Dunns Swamp
  • Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
    Dunns Swamp
  • Walking Track Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
    Walking Track

Pagoda Lookout

As well as the lake, bush walking is available around the area. We chose to walk to the long cave, while looking at the Kandos Weir and pagoda lookout on the way. The turn off to pagoda lookout is about 1km from the camp ground. This short 150m Walk is marked for experienced bush walkers only, so be careful if you decide to do it. The difficulty is because of the steep rock faces, narrow paths and lack of barriers at the cliff faces. The view from the top is great and you are able to see some of the weathered rock formations that look like pagoda temples.

  • Pagoda Lookout Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
    Pagoda Lookout
  • View From Pagoda Lookout Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
    View From Pagoda Lookout

Kandos Weir

The walk then continues along the Cudgegong River, which gives you some excellent views of the surrounding bush land. Several sections of steep stairways need to be negotiated, with two sections also having handrails and chains to assist going up and down. The Kandos Weir is a concrete dam wall and spillway. Unfortunately access onto the dam wall is prohibited, but you can walk to the base of the downstream face of the dam. From here it is possible to take some great pictures,

  • Kandos Weir Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
    Kandos Weir
  • Kandos Weir Spillway Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
    The Spillway at Kandos Weir
  • Kandos Weir Down Stream Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
    Kandos Weir Down Stream

Long Cave

The long cave is only a few hundred metres from the weir, along a flat access road. The cave is really a rock overhang that has the base eroded by the river when it floods. So don’t expect to see a cave. It is still an interesting spot to investigate and take pictures.

  • Long Cave Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
    Long Cave Dunns Swamp
  • Long Cave Track Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
    Track to Long Cave

Dunns Swamp is a great place to visit either for a day trip or a camping expedition. There are other walks in the area besides those we did that would keep you entertained.

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.