Mon, 19th October, 2015 Lake Wallace, Wallerawang (Lookouts and Glow Worm Tunnel)

20 degrees in the van – cloudy. Said bye to Ken and Roslyn.

The clouds cleared as we headed into Lithgow. Headed up to Hassans Walls Reserve (770.48 hectares). The escarpment in the reserve was named by Governor Lachlan Macquarie after its resemblance to the hill forts of northern India, where he saw active service from 1803 to 1804. The lookout is 1136 metres above sea level and is higher than any of the lookouts in the adjacent Blue Mountains escarpment. A new boardwalk has been installed and named after Sir Joseph Cook who worked as a coalminer around Lithgow and become Prime Minister for 1913 and 1914.

It overlooks the Hartley Valley. This camera doesn’t take great photos!!

Obviously people used to be able to walk out further – hence the other fences.

An old Reserve sign dated 19^th Oct, 1929.

Follow the road along and found Second Lookout. Great view of the escarpment further around.

Looking back to the first lookout.

Further down the road we came to Bracey’s Lookout which was named after the family who owned and operated a department store in Lithgow for four generations. The Bracey family provided money for the establishment of the lookout which offers sweeping view of the Lithgow. Took photos of the info boards but the video camera doesn’t take clear photos like my old one so I can’t zoom in and read the info!!

Looking over Lithgow.

Zoomed in on where the Blast Furnace was.

Pagoda rocks are made up of sedimentary shale and sandstone, mainly Permian and Triassic.

Realised that I should have charged my camera battery. Back through town and past the Blast Furnace on our way to find the Glow Worm Tunnel. Travelled through huge area of Newnes State Forest which is on the Newnes Plateau. Pulled over as a loaded truck whizzed by. Saw a machine which picked up the cut logs and put them in his basket and then took them up to put them on the huge pile by the side of the road. Didn’t take any photos to keep the battery for glow worms.

Into Wollemi National Park then into Gardens of Stone National Park then back into Wollemi – very confusing.

Drove through a very black curved tunnel first for 200m which is part of the railway that once existed between Clarence and Newnes Junction.

Used my phone to take photos of the info – then had to work out how to get the photos off it!!

Onto the track which was the old railway line. All the tracks were taken up and used during WW2 for barriers on the beaches. The first bit was built up over a lowlands, creek area presumably with all the dirt out of the tunnel. Nice walk slowly descending down from the 830m elevation at the carpark. The tracks must have crossed over a bridge which has now disappeared. We crossed over a little bridge further down then up some stairs between the rocks.

Into the tunnel which is 400m long. It was a bit wet underfoot but solid.

Looking back out as we head around into the total black section.

Stopped in the middle in pitch black and the walls were dotted with little green lights. Not hundreds but enough so your eyes could see a bit. One was beside us so tried to get a photo. Just managed to get the worm on the top right – not sure what the spider was.

Kept going out the other end. The wet underfoot built up into a little stream that flowed into the creek outside.

Lovely lush rainforest area with tree ferns and small ferns under the imposing walls protecting the creek. I just marvel out how they worked out to dig through the tunnel to the other side especially as it curves and to know where it would come out. Smart cookies back then.

Stopped and chatted with a couple who said ‘walk on further to see great rainforest’. Steve said we are used to that being from Cairns. They were from Bundaberg and when I said Steve’s parents were from there and Woodgate they said they were actually from Woodgate. When we said Geck they said they knew Erica and Terry as they are part of their caravan club. Will ring Erica tonight to say we met Phil and Maralyn Mullins. What a small world.

Kept on walking following the creek down – the rainforest wasn’t as good as ours of course!! We think they must have built the track over the creek for a while as it was very narrow through the canyon.  Must have been a weir here at one stage.

Phil said it was a good walk back to Newnes – glad we did the long drive and short walk version!! Back into the tunnel for the walk uphill back to the truck – it is a one in 25 gradient.

Cute lizard along the way. We also saw a lyrebird.

Had our lunch in the shade – certainly a change to be looking for shade to cool down. Nice 27 degrees today.

Headed back out the dirt road and stopped where I saw a sign. It was Deane’s Siding. There is a walk out to Deane’s Lookout but it looked a bit far on the map!! The siding was a water stop for the shay locomotives. A small weatherboard station was built here. The site was named after Henry Deane, chief construction engineer for the Wolgan railway. The 32 mile line negotiated a 700m drop into the Wolgan Valley and required numerous cuttings and two tunnels. The project was completed in 1907 after an 18 month construction period. Truly amazing feat.

Turned off further along the road to follow the road to Galah Mountain which is apparently above Rocky Creek, which we found out when we got to the end of the road. Rocky Creek has carved through the Newnes Plateau sandstone to form one of the most spectacular gorge and canyon systems in the Blue Mountains. The main canyon is one of the most popular canyon trips in the mountains – but it does involve long, cold swims, rock scrambling and navigational challenges.  It is a 7-8 hour hike – shame we don’t have the time!!

Stopped a picked a waratah flower – they are so beautiful. The dark clouds are closing in so we headed back. Sounds of rumbling thunder greeted us as we headed back into the State Forest area. Just as we got to where the timber workers had been piling up the logs the heavens opened and down it came. Truck will need a wash now!!

Rain stopped as we came to the Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park and Railway – unfortunately it is only open on weekends. Stopped to get a photo of the info board on the railway siding and over the complex. It was one of the biggest coal suppliers in NSW.

As we came back through Lithgow the heavens opened and it pelted down as we made our way back along the highway to Lake Wallace. At least the truck is getting a wash after having to go through the wet dirt road we were on.

Back into the van as the thunder clapped over our head making the van and us shake. The lightning flashes are so bright and it is only 4.30pm. The ducks don’t seem worried at all.

Made a cuppa and settled in to work on my blog as the lightning and thunder flashed and rumbled around us. The rain eased but the lightning flashes continued – fabulous – though I jumped every time the thunder crashed on us!!

Storm has passed over and given everything a good drenching.

Rang Erica to tell her about the Mullins and to catch up.

Rebecca and Clive rang for a chat – been out in their motorhome again to the Tablelands. Glad they are enjoying it and Clive is all good.