TRIP REPORT :Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

[120GXV6 Member Find all posts View Profile Close 120GXV6]

NSW Lithgow area, Family trip, Easy grade mainly on gravel roads, Day trip only or overnight

Saturday, 21 Feb 09

:arrow: Meet at Clarence 0900 for morning tea at my workshop - see http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...ett/A-TMap.jpg
:arrow: Drive to Glow Worm Tunnel - ~ 2km walk & Picnic Lunch
:arrow: Drive to Newnes via Black Fellows Hand Rock (departure point for day trippers)

:arrow: Camp at Newnes (camper trailers OK): old shale mine area in Wolgan Valley, north of Lithgow - see http://users.tpg.com.au/newnes/

Sunday, 22 Feb 09

:arrow: Drive through Gardens of Stone NP - Baal Bone Gap through to Ben Bullen (some Grade 3 sections - trailers OK)

Camper trailers can be left at my workshop and picked up on our way back from Glow Worm Tunnel (minor detour), as Glow Worm Tunnel road is not suitable for trailers.

For anyone wanting to join me on this trip - please post below. Please note TRIP WARNING.

Attendees - updated 08 Feb, 20:50
:arrow: 120GXV6 (Matthew & family) - overnight
:arrow: Dobbo - overnight
:arrow: Dobbo's friend (Mark - Discovery) - overnight
:arrow: 120GXV6 friends (Gregor & Edwina) - overnight
:arrow: 120GXV6 friend (Lee & Family) - overnight
:arrow: Mike + son + mate/s - overnight
:arrow: Rhino120D4D, Reinoud +4 - overnight (trailer)

Maybes
:arrow: JeffH - overnight

[JeffH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JeffH]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Assuming I can get the weekend off work (which shouldn't be a problem) I'll come along, happy to camp overnight too.
I've been in to the Glowworm tunnel (from Lithgow side) but not through any of those other areas yet, been meaning to do Newnes for a while now.

Cheers,
Jeff

[Dobbo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dobbo]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Count me in as well for an overnighter.
I' ve lost count of the number of times I've travelled that way over the years and not strayed off the highway so it'd be good to have a look around 8)

Dobbo

[Dobbo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dobbo]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Hi Matt,
A mate of mine and his family are keen to come along as well. He has a Discovery SE V6.
I told him it should be ok to tag along as long as he stays in the dust cloud at the rear and remains out of sight of any photo shots :P
Their names are Mark, Alison & 2 kids.
cheers,
Dobbo

[120GXV6 Member Find all posts View Profile Close 120GXV6]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Dobbo,

That's no problem - I am not brand anal, having owned various Toyota, Mitsubishi, VW, Ford, Holden, Suzuki, Subaru, Honda, Daihatsu, Mazda and Leyland vehicles over the years!

There will probably be a couple of Tritons along as well.

[120GXV6 Member Find all posts View Profile Close 120GXV6]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Don't be sorry - we'll still have fun without you!

[Mike Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mike]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Hi Matthew

I'll come along on the Saturday and Sunday with the overnight stay. My son Russell will probably also be there with a mate or two.

Mike

[JeffH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JeffH]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Cr@p, looks like I'm going to have to pull out of this one thanks to everyone else in the group at work deciding that they want that weekend off too and their plans apparently being more important than mine :evil:

There's a slight chance I'll still be able to make it if the weather turns bad on the Saturday but I wouldn't know until early that morning.


Have a good trip and I'll be in touch if things change and I can make it.

[Rhino120D4D Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Rhino120D4D]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Hi Matthew,

If I can add myself and family to your trip, then count me in with the family for an overnighter with trailer.

Reinoud +4

[120GXV6 Member Find all posts View Profile Close 120GXV6]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

It has been pretty wet up here for the last week or so, but looks like clearing up somewhat for the weekend.

See http://www.weatherzone.com.au/nsw/ce...lands/clarence for a forecast.

At this stage the trip is still on, but I will assess some of the tracks later in the week and advise.

I don't believe in uneccessarily damaging muddy tracks, so will postpone the trip if this will be the case.

[120GXV6 Member Find all posts View Profile Close 120GXV6]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

The sun has been out all morning so far and weather forecast looks OK for the weekend, so the plan is still good.

I will be heading out to a pump site in the Newnes Forest tomorrow morning, so will do a track assessment and report.

Worst case, we can still do the Glow Worm Tunnel and some driving, then camp at my place at Clarence (My house is in the middle of 30 acres of bush!).

[120GXV6 Member Find all posts View Profile Close 120GXV6]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Confirming that this trip is on as described!

[tileys Member Find all posts View Profile Close tileys]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Looking forward to the report guys...have a good and safe trip.

I did Baal Bone gap once a couple of years ago before they regraded it and it was a bit rocky and nobbly in spots - car (was then a Paj NP) grounded itself ramp-over on a steep descent (as did a GU patrol w/ camper trailer we were with) - had to reverse it off back up a couple of meters. We had to give up (and all the cars with campers had to turn round at the top and come back down) due to a bush fire advancing.

The next time we went (after it had obviously been graded or at least somehow maintained) it was easy as - had a good friend in a Mazda Tribute with us and he had no problems.

I've camped at Newnes a few times and it's such a great spot - so much room - it rarely feels crowded even if it can get a bit lively on a public holiday weekend The kids love the water splash just before the main campground area

Have a great one guys.

[120GXV6 Member Find all posts View Profile Close 120GXV6]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Well, another PradoPoint weekend away has come & gone - and all without incident!

Thanks to everyone who came - it is always interesting to meet some new people and take them new places.

[Dobbo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dobbo]

Re: NSW 21-2 Feb 09 - Glow Worm Tunnel / Newnes

Many thanks to Matthew for organising this trip.
Bit of a mixed bunch of cars on this trip. We had 5 Prados, 1 Discovery SE, 1 Subaru Forrester and a Triton but all great people.
The weather was a bit patchy but the rain managed to stay away whilst we visited our first port of call, the Glow Worm Tunnel. This was originally an old rail tunnel but now because of the thousands of glow worms that now live in it, it has now become a local tourist attraction.
While we were having lunch back in the car park, the dark clouds started to gather and distant thunder grew louder so we headed off to visit the Blackfellows Hand rock. Not long after we set off the heavens opened and it absolutely pissed down, the hail started beating down to the point that we were getting a bit anxious about our cars.
Reinoud and Matthew and Mark left us a this point to go back to Matthews workshop to pick up the campers and meet us back at Blackfellows Rock. In some patches along the track through the forest the recent hail so was thick on the ground that it looked like snow.
A fallen tree blocked our progress at one point but with the help of a handy tool called a portable chainsaw it was soon removed and we were on our way again. There were also some nice deep puddles for the more adventurous to dive into.
After checking out the rock art at Blackfellows Hand rock, we were joined by the others and we set off to Newnes to set up camp. Despite the constant light drizzle we managed to light a fire and sit around with a beer or two while the kids cooked marsmallows and played.
Next morning the rain held off so after having breakfast and breaking camp, we set off to check out the historic Newnes Hotel then on to the industrial ruins where they used to refine the shale oil from the rock that was brought in by rail.
Matthew then took us to another track where we at last had to select low range and head up some steep rocky climbs to the plateau where we stopped for lunch before heading down into the Gardens Of Stone National Park and the lookout to Baal Bone Gap, eventually coming out at Ben Bullen on the western side of Lithgow where we all said our goodbyes and headed off for home.
Here are a few photos of the weekend.

[IMG]http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk291/dobbo60/NewnesTrip003[img]