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Glowworm Tunnel
Grade: Medium. Time: 4 hrs (round trip)
The Glow Worm Tunnel is one of two railway tunnels of the now disused railway line which serviced Newnes 100 years ago. The Glow Worm Tunnel is the most popular walk from Newnes. It leads through a great variety of landscapes and offers excellent views. The walk through the tunnel and the rainforest gorge leading to it are an unforgettable experience.
School Chimney Walk
Grade: Easy. Time: 45 minutes (round trip)
This is an easy walk which brings you through open bush with stands of Cypress Pine, the rocky and eroded landscape around the former school, the fern gully of Little Capertee Creek and the open grass land of the camping ground.
The Philosopher's Walk
Grade: Medium. Time: 1.5 hrs (round trip)
This is our latest discovery and it’s a stunner. It leads you along the bottom of the cliffs of ‘Old Baldy’, through a garden of massive rocks which have fallen off the cliff millions of years ago. Now they lie around the landscape covered in mosses and orchids, sculptures from a long gone time. Three quarters into the walk you can climb a hill which provides for another grand view back to the hotel and over Little Capertee campground.
The Manager's House Round Walk
Grade: Medium. Time: 2.5 hrs (round trip)
This is our favorite walk. It leads you through open bush and beautiful ‘rock garden landscapes’ down to the river. There are great views of the cliffs on the southern side of the Wolgan River and up Petries Gully and you will see the historic remains of the Manager’s Residence and the chimneys of some more Company Houses.
The Ruins Walk
Grade: Easy. Time: 3 hrs (round trip)
his easy walk leads you through the Newnes industrial complex which was the basis of this township. The complex comprises a large refinery where shale oil was refined to an amazing number of different oil products. The extend of the structures is surprising and one wonders how they did all this with the tools they had at the time. The millions of bricks were all made here and the hundreds of men who worked here had families and children in the township. It is hard to imagine today that one hundred years ago this was such a busy place.
Mystery Mountain Climb
Grade: Difficult. Time: 4 hrs return
This is a more challenging walk but once up top you are rewarded with a most breathtaking view over Newnes and the surrounding wilderness of Wollemi National Park. The track is steep and littered with loose stones and rocks which is more tricky on the way down. However, there is no rope or chain climbing involved and the average fit person is able to do this walk.
Echo Lookout Walk
Grade: Medium. Time: 4.5 hrs return
This is a medium walk which brings you through open bush and river landscapes with spectacular views of the Wolgan River gorge to a lookout above the river, downstream from the ruins of the refinery. From the lookout you get great views of the Wolgan River and the cliffs above the ruins. Also, there is an amazing quadruple echo as the sound bounces back from the surrounding cliff faces.
Pipeline Track to Glen Davis
Grade: Medium. Time: 8 hrs (round trip)
This is a long walk which leads you along the old pipeline which once connected the Shale Oil refinery at Glen Davis with Newnes Junction. The 3 inch pipeline was built in 1938/39 after the Newnes railway ceased to operate and it was used to pump ‘motorspirit’ from Glen Davis to Newnes Juntion where it was loaded onto the railway. You will find many relics of that time along the route.
Petrie's Gully
Grade: Difficult. Time: 4 hrs (return)
This is a great walk for a hot day. The cool shade of the rainforest gully with pools and gurgling water is the best spot on a hot day. You will see giant Stringy Bark trees, rockorchids and ferns of all shapes and sizes. The walk follows a former logging track but because there are so many trees and rocks over the track we class this walk as difficult.