Bathurst continued

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Sunday 10/11/2013

Decided to go back into Newnes today and walk into the Glow Worm Tunnel. We were breaking the law as Wollemi National Park is closed because of the recent bush fires but after talking to locals yesterday who said there was really no reason not to as the fires had been on the other side of the mountain, and as today is overcast and threatening rain so no danger of fresh fires we took the risk.

The walk into the tunnels is mostly easy walking with 2 steep sections and a couple of rock scrambles. The walk is really stunning after reaching the top of the hill the walk follows the old railway line that went into Newnes. 

On the left is the escarpment and on the right you look almost straight down the gully. Most of the track is dry and dusty with sparse tree coverage but every now and then you come across rich green grottos of luxuriant ferns where there are springs seeping out of the rock-face.

When you reach the tunnel there is a creek you walk beside. 

It was very lush and green and suddenly the entrance to the tunnel appears, 

as you walk into the tunnel it gets darker and darker (a torch is needed) you turn the torch off and glow worms are blinking all around your head. It doesn't matter how many times I see glow worms I am entranced and filled with wonder. 

Once through the tunnels you follow the remains of the old coach road that goes around the back side of the escarpment minus the deep gully til you pick up with the beginning of the track where you started from. While on the walk we got to see our first Lyre Birds in the wild and we saw not 1 but 5, so was just a tad excited also saw 3 Gang Gang Cockatoos.

Back in the car and down to Newnes, put the truck into 4wheel drive for the first time and drove through the creek and up to the remains of the Commonwealth Oil Shale Corporation that operated there from 1906 to the 1930's. 

There is a self guided tour around the remains with the usual storyboards but sadly most were in disrepair so didn't learn much.

Then had a very late lunch, Mother Nature was very kind to us and kept the rain to a light on and off drizzle until we had eaten. 

On the drive back out we stopped to watch a wombat feed for a little while before he decided he didn't want me taking his photo and waddled away

then in was onward to Bathurst via a scenic drive through Wallerawang, Portland and Sunny Corner.

Worked out we walked about 15kms today so bet my legs are going to be sore in the morning