Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area

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Overview

Discover towering sandstone pagodas, mining relics, and walks from Lost City when you visit Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. Only 2.5hrs from Sydney and 5km from Lithgow the park makes a fantastic day trip.

Read more about Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area

Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area links Wollemi, Blue Mountains and Gardens of Stone national parks. The reserve is on Wiradjuri Country and includes Newnes Plateau, the highest-elevation sandstone plateau, in the Blue Mountains.

There’s an abundance of geological features to marvel including dramatic gullies, deep slot canyons, and sandstone cliffs. But the most iconic are the fragile and nationally significant sculptural ‘platy’ pagodas with their distinct ironstone banding. 

You can admire these rare, ancient pagodas from lookouts along Lost City walking track which makes an ideal day trip for families. You’ll also find heritage dams and relics that are a reminder of Newnes’ mining heritage. 

Rich eucalypt forests and woodland offer a peaceful escape for visitors and a refuge for plants and animals. The area protects endangered Newnes Plateau shrub and Montane peatlands and swamps. The Newnes Plateau geebung is only found here on the Newnes Plateau.

The park is home to more than 80 rare and threatened animals like glossy black cockatoos, koalas, spotted-tailed quolls, regent honeyeaters, Giant Dragonfly and Blue Mountains water skinks.

The park has limited opportunities for 4WDing and cycling on specific roads and management trails. There are vehicle-based campsites in a few areas. To find out more please contact the park office.

If you’re planning a trip to Glow Worm Tunnel in Wollemi National Park then a visit to Lost City is recommended and will be directly on your way from Lithgow. 

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/gardens-of-stone-state-conservation-area/local-alerts

Contact

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area.

Getting there and parking

Directions from Lithgow, via State Mine Gully Road

  • Follow signs to Wollemi National Park from the corner of Bridge Street and Main Street Lithgow.
  • From Bridge Street, turn right at Inch Street.
  • Turn left at Atkinson Street and after 750m, turn right onto State Mine Gully Road.
  • Continue past State Mine Heritage Museum on State Mine Gully Road for 2km until your reach the park entry.

Directions from Lithgow, via Clarence 

  • Take the B59 (Chifley Road) to Clarence (Zig Zag Railway).
  • Turn left at Petra Avenue and continue onto Old Bells Line of Road.
  • You’ll enter the park after about 2km on Old Bells Line of Road.

Parking

Road quality

  • State Mine Gully Road is an unsealed gravel road. While 2WD vehicles can access this route in dry weather, 4WD vehicles are highly recommended in case of changing weather conditions. Access is by 4WD only in wet weather or after long periods of rain.
  • Trucks frequently use Old Bells Line of Road for infrastructure works. Please drive carefully.

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • Most roads require 4WD vehicle
  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • 4WD required in wet weather

Best times to visit

Autumn

Crisp mornings and mild days provide the stage for family trips to Lost City and the adjoining parks, including Wollemi National Park and Gardens of Stone National Park.

Spring

Waratahs, boronias and Sunshine Wattle are in bloom and temperatures are perfect for walking and cycling.

Summer

The summer sun casts interesting shadows across the landscape making for dramatic photographs but be ready hot weather.

Winter

Cool days are ideal for exploring walking tracks and fire trails surrounded by flowering wattle.

Facilities

Visitor info

Safety messages

However you discover NSW national parks and reserves, we want you to have a safe and enjoyable experience. Our park and reserve systems contrast greatly so you need to be aware of the risks and take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of those in your care.

Bushwalking safety

If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

Camping safety

Whether you're pitching your tent on the coast or up on the mountains, there are many things to consider when camping in NSW national parks. Find out how to stay safe when camping.

Cycling safety

Hundreds of cyclists head to our national parks for fun and adventure. If you're riding your bike through a national park, read these mountain biking and cycling safety tips.

Fire safety

During periods of fire weather, the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service may declare a total fire ban for particular NSW fire areas, or statewide. Learn more about total fire bans and fire safety.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Wildlife safety

Keep yourself and our wildlife safe by understanding the risks of wildlife encounters and how to avoid them.

What's permitted

4WD touring is permitted on public roads and selected trails with a valid permit. Please avoid driving after heavy rainfall to minimise road and trail  damage.

Camp fires and solid fuel burners

Permitted when there are no TOBANs or park fire bans.

Camping

Vehicle-based camping is allowed in previous camping areas only. Remote, backpack camping for overnight bushwalks is also permitted.

Cycling

Cycling is permitted on existing roads and management trails. Please keep to the trail and avoid cycling after heavy rainfall to minimise trail damage. 

Horses

Permitted on roads and management trails only. 

What's prohibited

Single track and off-trail motorcycle and 4WD activity is not permitted in this park.

Drones

Flying a drone for recreational purposes is prohibited in this area. Drones may affect public enjoyment, safety and privacy, interfere with park operations, or pose a threat to wildlife. See the Drones in Parks policy.

This area may be a declared Drone Exclusion Zone, or may be subject to Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) rules for flying near airports, aerodromes and helicopter landing sites. See CASA's Drone Flyer Rules.

Commercial filming and photography

Commercial filming or photography is prohibited without prior consent. You must apply for permission and contact the local office.

Fishing

Gathering firewood

Pets

Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

Nearby towns

Lithgow (5 km)

Hassans Walls Lookout, near Lithgow, is the highest in the Blue Mountains. Admire Mt Wilson, Mt York, Mt Tarana and Mt Blaxland as well as the pretty Hartley Valley below. To the south are the Kanimbla and Megalong valley and Mt Bindo. While there, go for a walk or ride around the lookout.

www.visitnsw.com

Learn more

Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • Bare-nosed wombat. Photo: Keith Gillett

    Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

    A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.

  • Yellow-tailed black cockatoo. Photo: Peter Sherratt

    Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

    The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.

  • Koala. Photo: Lucy Morrell

    Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

    One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.

Plants

  • Flannel flowers in Wollemi National Park. Photo: © Rosie Nicolai

    Flannel flower (Actinotus helianthi)

    The delicate flannel flower is so named because of the soft woolly feel of the plant. Growing in the NSW south coast region, extending to Narrabri in the Central West and up to south-east Queensland, its white or pink flowers bloom all year long, with an extra burst of colour in the spring.

  • Grass trees, Sugarloaf State Conservation Area. Photo: Michael Van Ewijk

    Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)

    An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.

  • Old man banksia, Moreton National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

    Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)

    Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.

  • A red triangle slug on the trunk of a scribbly gum tree in Blue Mountains National Park. Photo: Elinor Sheargold/OEH

    Scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)

    Easily identifiable Australian native plants, scribbly gum trees are found throughout NSW coastal plains and hills in the Sydney region. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark.

  • Close up photo of a waratah flower, Blue Mountains National Park. Photo: Simone Cottrell/OEH.

    Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)

    The beautiful waratah is not only the NSW floral emblem, it's also one of the best-known Australian native plants. This iconic Australian bush flower can be found on sandstone ridges around Sydney, in nearby mountain ranges and on the NSW South Coast. The waratah has a vibrant crimson flowerhead, measuring up to 15cm across, and blossoms in spring.

Environments in this park

What we're doing

Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. View the detailed park and fire management documents.