Have a dreamy getaway in Wollemi National Park

Nestled deep in the Wolgan Valley, surrounded by soaring sandstone walls, Newnes campground is the perfect hideaway. The cliffs keep the sun off your tent for a sleep in, but don’t bet on the birds staying quiet for that dawn chorus.

Wildlife’s the theme – be sure to pack your food up nice and tight because the local wallabies will be more than keen to try your lunch.

It’s a hard slog into the campground, roughly a 10km walk, carrying all your supplies including drinking water. But you’ll understand why it’s all worth it at night when the high cliffs at Newnes block out the light from Sydney, making the stargazing truly extraordinary. 

Newnes Glow Worm Tunnel

Glow worms are nature’s fairy lights. These incredible critters are the ultimate crowd pleaser, but ironically, one of the best places to see them is a man-made tunnel. Originally for trains to the shale mining town of Newnes, the Glow Worm Tunnel offers just under 400m of prime glow worm habitat.

You can see these fellas do their best Milky Way impression as part of the 9km, 4-5 hour Glow Worm Tunnel via Wolgan Valley loop. On this epic walk, you’ll climb out of the valley, marvel at rugged pagodas, and soak up clifftop views before things get dark and magical.

Newnes Industrial Ruins

When the shale miners left the Wolgan Valley they abandoned their buildings and ovens, leaving the clean-up job to the bush. Now the ruins make for a strange sight amongst the gums. Brick walls crumble and coke ovens from a hundred years ago resemble igloos made of stone.

To take a stroll through the historic Newnes Industrial Ruins, walk from Newnes campground up to the ford in the river and rock hop across. It’s about a 3.5km round trip from the campground. Make sure you stick to the path so you protect the relics and stay safe (you don’t want to risk falling down a hidden abandoned mine shaft!).

Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp campground is truly spectacular. A 100-year-old weir created a large body of water in the shadows of the iconic rock pagodas and cliffs that dot Wollemi National Park. With no marked spots you’re right to find a nook to set up adventure HQ.

Pagoda Lookout walk and the Long Cave circuit

Wollemi National Park’s iconic pagodas can’t be missed. The 2.5km Pagoda Lookout walk starts with the Weir Walk, where you can admire the scribbly gums and spot water birds like the purple swamp hen. Take a peek into the water near the weir, you might even see long-necked turtles or a platypus!

Halfway to the Weir, the walk climbs steeply for 120m to the top of the pagoda outcrop, this is where grippy shoes and your undivided attention will come in handy. If you’ve come prepared with some water and food, you can continue along the Long Cave circuit to total a 4.5km journey.

Short walks dot the Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp campground. One that leaves from the picnic area passes Aboriginal hand stencils thought to be 1000 years old.

Have a swim in the Cudgegong

After a big walk is when camping next to water really comes into its own. Take a dip in the river, or if you’re really cluey, inflate that lilo you packed and float your troubles away.

Or dip a paddle in at sunrise

If you really want to find some seclusion, there’s no faster way to get up the river than in a kayak. Sunrise is the time to go. Listen to the birds wake up, watch the mist rise off the water, and feel the sun warming the cliff walls around you.