Wollemi National Park is only 100kms from Sydney and makes a great weekend trip because of its proximity. The Wollemi National Park consists of 492 976 ha and is the largest wilderness area in NSW — a spectacular maze of canyons, cliffs and undisturbed forest.

This trek begins in Windsor and ends at Newnes and covers some of the South Western side of the Wollemi National Park.

The road out of Newnes is unsealed and of varying quality. The descent is long, narrow and spectacular so drive carefully. Caravans/trailers are manageable but better in dry weather. Newnes is a good place to stop for lunch or camp overnight. Its located in the Wolgan Valley and is surrounded by high, inaccessible cliffs. Newnes was at one stage in the early 1900's a bustling mining town with its own railway system to transport the shale oil and later coal into Sydney. The Wolgan River runs through the old town and some ruins remain and its now part of the Wollemi National Park.

There is a camping area but no facilities are provided other than a pit toilet. Its advisable to carry your own drinking water. There are a couple of good walks to do from Newnes including a self-guided tour of the mining/town ruins and the Glow Worm Tunnel, formed for the old railway to pass through. Now the Glow Worm Tunnel is home to the larvae of insects who spin silken threads that glow a blue colour to attract mosquitoes.

Camping permits from NSW National Parks & Wildlife Services.
Dunns Swamp - Camping NSW National Parks & Wildlife Services (Mudgee office) Phone: (02) 6372 7199
Newnes - Camping NSW National Parks & Wildlife Services
(Blackheath office) Phone: (02) 4787 8877

Access to Wollemi National Park is currently free of charge. Backpack camping is permitted throughout the park. Bookings and permits for backpack camping are not required.

Canyons, cliffs, undisturbed forest, great walks.