Newnes Glow Worm Tunnel
Submitted: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 10:50
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SMURFF
Hello People!
Well, on the weekend i went up to the Blue Mountains and proposed to my Fiance at the Mt Tomah Botanical Gardens!!
Anyways, down to more important things.....
I thought i might go and
check out the
Glow Worm Tunnel while i was there so i headed off from the Zig Zag Railway in Clarence along the Dirt road. I tell you what, the road was as rough as guts (like driving on corrugated iron) so much so i nearly bounced straight off the road a couple of times!! I ended up at a small
carpark just after a tunnel where there was a
gate approx. 3km from the
Glow worm tunnel.
The reason for this postis that i have a few questions about the location and also driving on such rough roads. Any help, recommendations etc would be greatly appreciated.
1.) If i let down my tyres to about 15-20psi, would it improve the ride a little?
2.) Is there any way of getting closer to the tunnel by car? I had read many articles where they spoke about crossing a river and then having to walk only 1 km to the tunnel.
Thank you.
Reply By: Rosscoe - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 12:30
Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 12:30
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.
AnswerID:
60055
Follow Up By: SMURFF - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 12:35
Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 12:35
Hi Rosscoe,
Which end are you talking about? Is it coming from Clarence or
Lithgow?
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - DOZER- Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 15:16
Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 15:16
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
AnswerID:
60081
Follow Up By: SMURFF - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 15:36
Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 15:36
Thanks very much for the
feedback!
I will be going back soon and hopefully i will have more time! When i went there on Saturday i set off from the Zig Zag railway at about 3:45pm so it go very dark very quickly! I got to the
gate and turned back immediately.....it is not very pleasant being out there with no communications, maps etc oh an my spare was stolen so i didn't have that either! I didn't really worry too much as the army was set up at a few points along the road!
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Reply By: Rosscoe - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 16:01
Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 16:01
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
AnswerID:
60087
Follow Up By: Rosscoe - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 16:55
Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 16:55
The track about which I speak, runs through the Garden of Stones National Park.
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