National parks and karst conservation areas of the Greater Blue Mountains Area Blue Mountains • Gardens of Stone • Jenolan Caves • Kanangra-Boyd • Nattai • Thirlmere Lakes • Wollemi • Yengo

Gardens of Stone National Park is a national park in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia.

Understand

History

The Newnes Plateau region was proposed for conservation in 1932 as part of a Greater Blue Mountains National Park by the National Parks and Primitive Areas Council. Lobbying for protecting the area increased after the establishment of Wollemi National Park in 1979. The National Parks Association proposed its extension westwards in 1984, which developed into a detailed proposal of an 18,030-hectare (44,600-acre) park in 1993, which was ultimately successful. The Gardens of Stone National Park was established in 1994; however, the initial park only covered 11,780 hectares (29,100 acres), omitting areas which contain coal deposits. It was later enlarged to 15,080 hectares (37,300 acres). Environmentalist groups seek to protect more of the surrounding area, which includes pagodas, canyons, heathland and elevated swamps.

In November 2021, it was announced that over 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) of land will be gazetted as a national park, expanding the national park, which includes Australia's longest zipline and elevated canyon walks. In the eyes of the NSW government, it's expected to be "the new Katoomba", but who knows how far they'll go?

Flora and fauna

A total of 423 native plant species have been recorded in the park in 30 different plant communities. Most of the park is covered in open forest or woodland dominated by eucalypts. In the west of the park, there are ironbark (Eucalyptus fibrosa and E. crebra) and yellow box (Eucalyptus melliodora) woodlands that grow on clay loam and are a habitat for the rare regent honeyeater and turquoise parrot. There is white box (Eucalyptus albens) woodland in the southwest and scribbly gum (Eucalyptus rossii and E. sparsifolia) woodland on the park's eastern borders.

The plant and animal communities of the pagoda formations are fragile and easily irreversibly damaged by human activity. Collection of bush rocks for gardens and landscaping removes habitat for reptiles.

Climate

Typical climate of the Blue Mountains.

Visitor information

• NSW Parks and Wildlife Service website

Get in

Getting to Gardens of Stone National Park is hard and can only be reached by car, via long unpaved roads. From Sydney, use Bells Line of Road (B59) from South Windsor, and then after around 70 km (43 mi), turn onto Old Bells like of Road and then onto Glow Worm Tunnel road, and continue on the unpaved road until you reach the park. None of the road is suitable for those who cannot stand winding roads, and these roads are more windier than a usual road crossing the Great Dividing Range.

Fees and permits

All vehicles must be a 4WD, but apart from that, there aren't any fees or permits.

Get around

When there's a 4WD trail, use it, but apart from those, walking is the only way around the hiking trails

See

• 1 The Newnes Plateau Cliffs, Secret Crag Road, Newnes Plateau. Has breathtaking views of down below, and the highlight of the park. Getting here is very tough though, as it can only be reached via long and narrow bush paths. Nevertheless, the views are worth the trek. (updated Sep 2021)

Do

• Bicentennial trail: Crown Creek fire trail. 8.2km one way and takes approximately five hours. Part of the 5330km Bicentennial trail from Cooktown in Queensland to Healesville, near Melbourne. (updated Sep 2021)
• Ben Bullen trail. 4WD and mountain bike trail, takes approximately 3 hours, and also forms part of the Bicentennial trail. (updated Sep 2021)

Eat

No places to eat. Bring your own food.

Sleep

• 1 Newnes campground, Wolgan Rd, Newnes. A small campground although this area was heavily affected by the 2019-20 bushfires, and most of the effects can still be felt in the campsite today. 80 campsites, has toilets, but bring firewood and water. (updated Sep 2021)

Stay safe

There is limited mobile reception in the park, and that's only Telstra. Optus and Vodafone do not have any coverage in the first place.

The 2019-20 bushfires have significantly impacted the area, and even well after the fires ended. Take extra care about the area.

Go next

• Wollemi National Park is right next door, but Blue Mountains National Park is a bit further south