NEWNES PLATEAU – 25 October 2026
Yes, it’s been a while since I last posted, August 10 in fact, but I’m baaack!!! Had a bit of a fall whilst doing some SRT training back in at the end of August and it took a long time for me to recover even though it was only soft tissue damage – my sons want me to reassess my life choices and cut out the more adventurous activities LOL. So, to get back on the horse I selected a very civilised 1/2 day walk to the Lost City!
A little bit of history – for many years we’d driven out to Newnes Plateau to the Gardens of Stone State Forest. A number of years ago, the State Forest had felled all the pine trees and eventually handed the property over to National Parks, who after many years decided that they would do something with the Gardens of Stone (a lot of proposed infrastructure and quite a bit of commercial projects – like supported walks etc). The Lost City walk is probably the first of the walks that has opened – although the Northern Entrance is not yet open. So, on the way to an MSS event, seven of us decided to check out the walk.
The track we are using starts at the South gate carpark, and the road to the lookout is very civilised, big enough for 2 vehicles to pass each other (but there’s a locked gate, so this is only for NPWS vehicles I think).
This is the view from the lookout and shows the way ahead. Whilst the view is pretty good from the lookout the photo doesn’t do it justice.
The route down through the pagodas, a good solid metal railing and a lot of carved steps through the pagoda rocks.
About 50m from the down-climb we took a small side track to the first lot of mining infrastructure (probably installed in the 1920s). There’s a lot of equipment left, one wonders what the fireplace in the middle of the image was for … a cottage?
Back on the track and down towards the valley. This area was devastated in October 2013 by the State Mine fire (started by an explosives training exercise by the Defence Forces), the burned tree is probably a relic of the fire.
Lookout for a small waterfall (very small LOL).
The group, John, Kathy, Onni and Trish – Jeff has disappeared – probably forging ahead as he usually does.
National Parks have gone all out for the creek crossings, these stepping stones aren’t going to be washed away in any flood!
Trish walking along the path just above the creek, with evidence of the eroded cliff-line, some good floods would have passed through here in years gone by.
Onni examining the mechanics of the first dam – there are two of them and they were built in the 1920s to supply water to Lithgow until the 1980s. The dams are now part of the mining heritage I hope that eventually interpretation signs are placed on the walk.
The water overflow – covered in mossy slimy stuff.
Looking at the waterfall and the pagoda on the banks of the dam.
Onni decided that he could climb up to the dam wall.
So, I decided that I could do it too – challenging myself after the fall.
In actual fact, you could get onto the dam wall by walking on a track (but the climb was fun anyway).
The beach at the influx of the dam, looks inviting but a bit hard to get to.
Further up the track a nice view down into the valley that we’d just walked through.
Walking up to another viewing spot and some lovely pagodas, we had our lunch behind these pagodas where we could admire the view.
Jeff ahead of us walking down the track, I have to say that it’s good that there’s a well formed track, I’d hate to see a plethora of tracks through this lovely heath.
And here’s the second dam.
Looking at the dam from the distance.
After the second dam the track went for another k or so and then we had to trudge up the track back to the lookout where we’d started.
The walk is a 6km return route, and National Park advise that it will take 2 – 4 hours. We did it in just over 2.5 hours, but we were pretty quick. Whilst it’s a round trip at the moment when the Northern area is finished at may be done as a through trip.
I’d highly recommend this walk if you’re passing through the area (like if you’ve done a short day canyon). I was pleased with my performance after 2 1/2 months off, now have to challenge myself with something a bit longer!
Big thank you to John & Kathy, Trish, Onni, Jim & Jeff, always a pleasure walking with you guys!
Good to see you back on deck Marilyn I’ll go down and have a look hope it’s geriatric friendly HaHa 😝
Hi Denis, it’s “sort of” geriatric friendly, take a walking pole, the only real challenge for us geriatrics is the descent in the pagoda, but there’s a railing although some of the “steps” are iffy!
Good to hear you’ve recovered, and as always an inspiring, professional report !
Thanks for an inspiring, professional report, good to hear that you’ve recovered.
Thanks Ash, yes, good to be back on the horse!
So sorry to hear you had a injury!!! Glad to hear you are ok. Thanks so much for blogging this trip. It really does look so scenic! I am so impressed with all the infrastructure! You said they were built it in the 1920’s, I wonder how they managed to get all their equipment in. Does not look like you could get a horse and cart into that area and they did not have helicopters.
Also FIY the beautiful area in Mt Ettalong where they used to run abseil training was involved in a bush fire a few weeks ago that kept re-igniting for 3-4 days. Apparently investigation shows it was caused by fire crackers. 🙁