Two new walking tracks open in NSW

Families can lace up their walking shoes this spring, with two brand new tracks opening in the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area in New South Wales.

Spring has sprung in Sydney, with warmer tempertures and sunny days bringing an abundance of blooms to the city streets and beyond. This season is one of the best times to get out and about in the state’s national parks, with drier trails, wildflowers and ideal weather for long walks in the bush. Exploring the national parks of New South Wales just got even more inviting this spring, with the opening of two new walking tracks in the dramatic Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (SCA). Opening just in time for the school holidays, the tracks take in sweeping views across the Blue Mountains and offer families the chance to experience towering sandstone cliffs, winding gullies, colourful wildflowers and the region’s mysterious pagoda formations first hand.

Broad Swamp Loop Walk

For an easy day out, families can wander along the new six-kilometre Broad Swamp Loop Walk in the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, meandering through shady eucalypts and blooming wattles. Along the way, walkers can take in the beauty of Broad Swamp, while also learning about its role as an endangered ecological community now better protected through the trail’s design.

Broad Swamp to Birds Rock Walking Track

Families with older children and adventurers craving a challenge can set off on the 17.5-kilometre Broad Swamp to Birds Rock Walking Track in the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. This bushland journey traverses creeks, gorges and clifftops, ending at Birds Rock carpark. Once just an eroded informal path, the trail has been transformed into a world-class track, the result of 18 months of careful work.

The new walks form part of a $49.5 million program enhancing visitor experiences at Gardens of Stone SCA. Upgrades at the popular Lost City precinct, including a new carpark, toilets and road improvements, have also been completed, with further projects, such as Bungleboori Picnic Area and Forest Campground, on the way. 

How to get there

The quickest and easiest way to reach Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area from central Sydney is to drive west via the Great Western Highway. The trip takes around 2.5 hours, passing through the Blue Mountains and on to Lithgow, the main gateway to the park. From Lithgow, it’s only a short drive to key sites such as the Lost City precinct and the new walking tracks. While public transport is available to Lithgow by train, you’ll need a car to explore the conservation area’s trails and lookouts.

Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and check the NPWS Alerts page before heading out.

Keep reading:

• Australia’s best kid-friendly bush walks
• Tips for hiking with young kids
• Best free campsites in NSW

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