The Newnes Plateau and South Wolgan area is riddled with fire trails, and the first time you head out there it is easy to get lost. The directions below should make for easier navigation to the various canyon trackheads in the area. All distances are in kilometres.
The directions are designed for use with the map at right. Routes referred to below are in dark brown on the map. Other fire trails, of which there are many, are in orange. Not all are navigable by car.
Most canyon trackheads are accessed from fire trails off the Glowworm Tunnel Road. There are two main ways of getting to the Glowworm Tunnel Road.
The first route - via Old Bells Line of Road is best if you are coming from the east - from Sydney, or the main part of the Blue Mountains. This runs between the currently closed Zig Zag railway at Clarence, and the Glowworm Tunnel Rd. This route used to deteriorate a lot after rain, but for the past 10 years or so has been kept fairly well maintained for mining and logging trucks.
The second route is from Lithgow, via State Mine Gully Rd, which becomes the Glowworm Tunnel Rd. This route makes more sense if you are already at Lithgow, or are coming from west of the Blue Mountains.
These routes both lead to the junction of the Glowworm Tunnel Rd with the Old Bells Line of Road from Clarence/Zig Zag - a place I’m going to refer to as Paddys Creek Corner for brevity, since it is right at the head of the Paddys Creek drainage. This can be found at MGA398984 (Lithgow map). Most of the remaining directions below start from there.
The routes listed below are generally suitable for 2wd cars with plenty of clearance. Low clearance vehicles may have difficulty on some roads if they have not been graded recently. Low clearance vehicles will likely have trouble accessing the Natural Bridge and Deep Pass at all times. Note that the routes are all dirt roads, and need regular grading. The fire trails can deteriorate significantly between gradings, and may become difficult or even impassable for certain vehicles. There are a couple of sections of clay on the main Glowworm Tunnel Rd which can be difficult for all vehicles after heavy rain and some traffic. Use common sense at all times, regardless of your vehicle.
23 Jan 2021 - State Mine Gully Road is in good condition. The Glowworm Tunnel Road from Paddys Creek Corner is in good condition. Old Bells Line of Road is in very poor condition for the first couple of kilometres, and in average condition after that. Some signposts may be missing post the 2019-20 bushfires.
Zig Zag to Paddys Creek Corner via Old Bells Line of Road
| 0.0 | Turn north off Bells Line of Road at Zig Zag railway turnoff. This is not signposted, as the Zig Zag Railway is currently closed. The turnoff is opposite the junction of Bells Line of Road and Petra Ave at Clarence. |
| 0.1 | Turn right, signposted Newnes Forest Rd, following the railway tracks |
| 0.5 | Turn left across the tracks |
| 0.6 | Keep right at a Y-intersection to avoid entering the sawmill |
| 4.8 | Turn left at a sharp bend - the Dumbano Fire Trail (currently unsignposted) turns off to the right. |
| 8.8 | You reach Paddys Creek Corner, at a T-junction with the Glowworm Tunnel Rd. |
Zig Zag to Dumbano Fire Trail via Old Bells Line of Road
This route is generally not suitable for 2wd vehicles at around the 7km mark, and possibly at any time after turning off Old Bells Line of Rd. This road is useful for accessing the upper reaches of Dumbano and Yarramun Creeks, as well as parts of the upper Wollangambe River.
| 0.0 | Turn north off Bells Line of Road at Zig Zag railway turnoff. This is not signposted, as the Zig Zag Railway is currently closed. The turnoff is opposite the junction of Bells Line of Road and Petra Ave at Clarence. |
| 0.1 | Turn right, signposted Newnes Forest Rd, following the railway tracks |
| 0.5 | Turn left across the tracks |
| 0.6 | Keep right at a Y-intersection to avoid entering the sawmill |
| 4.8 | Turn right at a sharp bend on to the Dumbano Fire Trail (currently unsignposted) - Old Bells Line of Road heads left |
| 6.0 | Turn left at a clearing |
| 7.2 | Turn right as the main trail goes straight ahead. About 700m along here is a steep rocky ascent, probably the most rugged |
| 11.1 | Keep left at a Y-intersection |
| 14.1 | You reach a locked gate at the end of the trail |
Lithgow to Paddys Creek Corner
| 0.0 | Start at the intersection of Main St and Bridge St in Lithgow, and head north to cross the bridge over the railway tracks |
| 0.1 | Turn right on to Inch St immediately after you cross the bridge over the railway tracks |
| 1.3 | Turn left into Atkinson St, as Inch St goes around a right hand bend |
| 2.0 | Turn right on to State Mine Gully Rd, which immediately crosses a level crossing and a bridge. It then becomes a dirt road as it heads steeply up a hill, and becomes the Glowworm Tunnel Rd at the top of the hill |
| 8.3 | You reach Paddys Creek Corner, at the junction with Old Bells Line of Road (on your right) |
Paddys Creek Corner to Waratah Ridge car park (Hole-in-the-Wall car park)
| 0.0 | Continue north on Glowworm Tunnel Rd |
| 2.3 | The Glowworm Tunnel Rd swings to the right at the old Bungleboori Picnic area - avoid a turnoff to the left on to the Blackfellows Hand Trail |
| 5.4 | Turn right at Waratah Ridge Rd (currently unsignposted - there is a signpost opposite pointing to Western Boundary Road) |
| 9.0 | Keep left on Waratah Ridge Rd at the intersection with Eastern Boundary Rd (currently signposted) |
| 9.4 | Turn right, still on Waratah Ridge Rd, at Two Trees Rd intersection (signposted) |
| 11.4 | Keep right at a Y intersection |
| 12.4 | Keep straight ahead at a 3-way intersection |
| 13.0 | You reach the Waratah Ridge car park at the locked gate |
Paddys Creek Corner to Galah Mountain car park (Rocky Creek car park)
| 0.0 | Continue north on Glowworm Tunnel Rd |
| 2.3 | The Glowworm Tunnel Rd swings to the right at the old Bungleboori Picnic area - avoid a turnoff to the left on to the Blackfellows Hand Trail |
| 5.4 | Keep straight ahead at Waratah Ridge Rd (unsignposted) |
| 15.7 | Turn right at Galah Mountain Rd (signposted to Rocky Creek) |
| 16.0 | Pass Barcoo Swamp camping area on your right |
| 16.1 | Veer left at a Y intersection |
| 20.8 | Turn right at a locked gate. This is the trackhead for a number of canyons, including Surefire and Heart Attack |
| 21.1 | Pass a locked gate on your left. This is the trackhead for a number of canyons, including Breakfast Creek, Closet and Galah |
| 22.2 | Reach the Galah Mountain car park |
Paddys Creek Corner to Old Coach Road car park
| 0.0 | Continue north on Glowworm Tunnel Rd |
| 2.3 | The Glowworm Tunnel Rd swings to the right at the old Bungleboori Picnic area - avoid a turnoff to the left on to the Blackfellows Hand Trail |
| 5.4 | Keep straight ahead at Waratah Ridge Rd (signposted) |
| 15.7 | Keep straight ahead following signs to Glowworm Tunnel at Galah Mountain Rd (signposted) |
| 20.2 | Turn right at a Y-intersection on to the Old Coach Road (signposted). |
| 24.3 | Reach the Old Coach Road car park on your right. |
Paddys Creek Corner to Glowworm Tunnel car park
| 0.0 | Continue north on Glowworm Tunnel Rd |
| 2.3 | The Glowworm Tunnel Rd swings to the right at the old Bungleboori Picnic area - avoid a turnoff to the left on to the Blackfellows Hand Trail |
| 5.4 | Keep straight ahead at Waratah Ridge Rd (signposted) |
| 15.7 | Keep straight ahead following signs to Glowworm Tunnel at Galah Mountain Rd (signposted) |
| 20.2 | Keep straight ahead at a Y-intersection (Old Coach Road, signposted) |
| 26.9 | Reach the Glowworm Tunnel car park |
Paddys Creek Corner to Deep Pass
| 0.0 | Continue north on Glowworm Tunnel Rd |
| 2.3 | The Glowworm Tunnel Rd swings to the right at the old Bungleboori Picnic area - avoid a turnoff to the left on to the Blackfellows Hand Trail |
| 5.4 | Pass Waratah Ridge Rd (unsignposted) on your right |
| 11.7 | Turn right at the end of the pine plantation into Eastern Boundary Rd (unsignposted). |
| 12.3 | Turn left at the second intersection at a large clearing. Note that another route - the Deep Pass Trail - continues straight ahead from here. This leads to Deep Pass South. Deep Pass South can also be used to access Deep Pass. |
| 12.8 | Veer right at a Y-intersection |
| 14.9 | Keep straight ahead as a fire trail turns off to the right |
| 15.4 | Turn right at a Y-intersection. A sign points left to Mt Cameron, right to Deep Pass. |
| 16.3 | Keep straight ahead as a fire trail turns to the right. A sign points straight ahead to Deep Pass. |
| 16.4 | Keep straight ahead where a road heads left |
| 17.5 | Reach the Deep Pass car park |
Paddys Creek Corner to Natural Bridge
| 0.0 | Continue north on Glowworm Tunnel Rd |
| 2.3 | The Glowworm Tunnel Rd swings to the right at the old Bungleboori Picnic area - avoid a turnoff to the left on to the Blackfellows Hand Trail |
| 5.4 | Pass Waratah Ridge Rd (signposted) on your right |
| 11.7 | Turn right at the end of the pine plantation into Eastern Boundary Rd (unsignposted). |
| 12.3 | Turn left at the second intersection at a large clearing |
| 12.8 | Veer right at a Y-intersection |
| 14.9 | Keep straight ahead as a fire trail turns off to the right |
| 15.4 | Turn right at a Y-intersection. A sign points left to Mt Cameron, right to Deep Pass. Note that while you can take the Mt Cameron trail at this point, it crosses Dinner Gully, a 60m descent and ascent, and this route is not recommended for any vehicle. |
| 16.3 | Keep straight ahead as a fire trail turns to the right. A sign points straight ahead to Deep Pass. |
| 16.4 | Turn left on to a fire trail. There are numerous fallen trees in this section that the trail detours around. |
| 17.8 | Turn right as you rejoin the Mt Cameron fire trail. This is just after a steep rocky downhill, the most difficult section of the route. |
| 18.7 | Pass the park boundary sign. A closed fire trail branches off to your right. |
| 19.1 | Reach the Natural Bridge car park. There are a couple of steep water bars in this last section, and 2wd cars are likely to bottom out on these. You can park in a number of places before the actual car park. |