Newnes Glow Worm Tunnel

Smurf,

Yes, lowering your pressures will definitely make a big difference. Mid - high 20's depending on you load should give you a good ride. 16-20 is better for slower sand running.

Where you went is the closest access to the tunnel. Access from the Newnes side is over the river and a 4.5 K walk. You may have got closer in the past but there is a locked gate at the river crossing, or at least there was when we were there 2 years ago.

Regds

Bill

PS: Congrats

There is a walking track that you take off the Newnes (spelling) road about 10 kms before you reach the camping grounds. Still a bit of a walk. I think the camping ground is called Capatree. There's also the industrial ruins of the old shale oil plant to see.
If you want a good view and prepared for a medium difficalty track there's a track that runs north from the Newnes road abot 10 15 kms off the highway. Goes through the Garden of Stones National Park. Fun drive and magnificent view of the valley.

Hi Smurff,

I'm hoping to be up that way on the Saturday of the June long weekend.

The carpark you describe, just after a tunnel, is the one that's supposed to be 1km from the glowworm tunnel.

I'll be dropping pressures on the Jackaroo to about 28psi.

Gday Smirff
I did thesame drive as what you did....(to the eastern side of the tunnel) and then went round to camp at Newnes. (The road you drove on was the old Railway from Newnes refinery to the junction.)
Anyway, you can walk back from Newnes camp ground 12kms following the railway from that end if you like walking and beautiful views, or there is the Coach road that was the original way in there b4 they constructed the railline. It goes over the top of the range.
Have a surf on the net for "Wolgen Valley" and Shay locomotives.
Andrew

Smurff,
Sorry for not being clear. I've just looked at my maps.
a) The road to Newnes (Industrial Ruins and Camping Grounds) is north of Lithgow and north of the road you would have taken to the Glow Worm Tunnel.
Turn right around Lidsdale off the 86 which heads up to Mudgee. Wallerawang Power Station in the distance to the west (on your left). You drive out past Angus Place colliery on a bitumen road which turns into a good gravel road and eventually to the camping ground - great spot on the river. The walking trail is on your right as you travel north about 10 kms from the camping ground.
b) The track up on to the hills is not sign posted at all. From memory it's off to the left as you drive north just past a turn off to Black Fellows Hand (I think that's what its called)
c) I came in from the north at a point where the 86 crosses the railway line at Ben Bullen. Again not sign posted until you get a bit down the raod where a sign suggest 4WD recommended (i wouldn't like to have taken a normal sedan along this track - needed a bit of clearance in a few spots). A good track but watch out for trail bikes. I nearly had one as a mascot on my Bull Bar. I was doing no more than 10kph at the time but the bikie was hooting.

I can give you approximate GPS co-ordinates from my oziexplore maps if it's of any help.
Hope this explanation is clearer.

Rosscoe

Thank you to everyone that replied, you have been most helpful!

i am going to have to go out one day and buy the other half of my 4WD so that i may come along on some adventures sometime with you guys!