Sydney is filled with incredible day trips, but few feel as otherworldly as the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. Just 2.5 hours from the CBD and five kilometres from Lithgow, this remarkable reserve is home to dramatic slot canyons, hidden mining relics and peaceful bushwalks through one of NSW’s most unique landscapes.
Following years of restoration work, the conservation area now features newly opened walking tracks that make it easier than ever to explore these ancient rock formations while protecting the fragile environment for future generations.
Ideal for a family-friendly walk or weekend escape, this underrated reserve is well worth the drive from Sydney.
Wander through the spectacular Lost City
Lost City showcases some of the reserve’s most remarkable scenery, with towering sandstone pagodas rising above the bush like the ruins of an ancient civilisation. These fragile rock formations hold national significance, with distinctive ironstone banding and sculptural shapes carved over millions of years.
The easy Lost City Walking Track offers the best introduction to the landscape, with lookouts showcasing the remarkable pagodas alongside heritage dams and mining relics that tell the story of Newnes’ industrial past.
The walk reopened following extensive rehabilitation works and has already become one of the area’s most popular attractions, attracting up to 2,000 visitors each month.
New walking trails in previously inaccessible landscapes
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has invested almost $50 million restoring degraded sections of the reserve as part of a long-term plan to transform the area into a world-class nature tourism destination.
One of the newest additions is the 17.5-kilometre Broad Swamp to Birds Rock Walking Track, the first stage of a planned three-day hiking experience. The trail winds through dramatic clifftops, dense forest and sweeping views of the reserve’s distinctive pagoda formations.
“It is really a walk of many different personalities,” Senior Project Officer Lou Wallace said. “It captures dense landscapes, some of the unique birdlife around Broad Swamp, [and] opens up access to new views.”
Visitors looking for something shorter can tackle the six-kilometre Broad Swamp Loop Walk, which circles a rehabilitated endangered swamp ecosystem. Once heavily eroded, the area has been restored with improved drainage and around 3,000 native plantings to improve habitat and reduce erosion.
A haven for rare wildlife
Gardens of Stone also protects some of the state’s rarest ecosystems. The conservation area safeguards 25 threatened plant species, including the Newnes Plateau geebung, which grows nowhere else on Earth.
It also provides habitat for more than 80 threatened animals, including koalas, glossy black cockatoos, spotted-tailed quolls, regent honeyeaters, Giant Dragonflies and the endangered Blue Mountains water skink.
NPWS continues to manage weeds and pest species while working alongside Traditional Custodians to protect Aboriginal cultural sites and strengthen interpretation of the area’s cultural significance.
What else is nearby?
Make the most of the trip by exploring more of the Lithgow region while you’re there. The Glow Worm Tunnel in nearby Wollemi National Park is one of the area’s best-known attractions and sits conveniently along the route to Lost City.
You can also visit the historic village of Newnes, explore the lookouts around Lithgow, or continue into the Blue Mountains for waterfalls, bushwalks and scenic viewpoints. If you’re staying overnight, the region also offers camping, mountain biking, cycling trails and designated 4WD routes within the conservation area.
Getting there
Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area is open year-round, although sections may close temporarily during severe weather or periods of high bushfire danger. Located just outside Lithgow, the reserve makes an hassle-free trip from Sydney or an ideal addition to a Blue Mountains weekend itinerary.
