Nature

Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens Mt Tomah
Bells Line of Road, Mt Tomah 2758
Tel: 4567 3000; Restaurant / Kiosk 4567 2574
Email: tomah@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
Hours: 9am – 5pm 7 days a week.
Visitors Centre opens from 9.30am – 5pm daily.
Australia’s cool climate botanic garden. Major features of the gardens include the Explorers Walk, Gondwana plants, conifer and rhododendron gardens and the Wollemi Pine, the Jurassic plant found only in Wollemi National Park.

Bracey Lookout
Hassans Walls Road, Lithgow (6km South of Lithgow PO)
Recently revamped Bracey Lookout gives a 180 degree view of the Lithgow Valley.
The lookout gives panoramic views of Blast Furnace Park area and the rolling hills that surround Lithgow.

Capertee National Park
North of Lithgow, Capertee National park is an outstanding area for animal encounters.
For a unique wilderness holiday, head to Capertee National Park, Located west of the Blue Mountains. Capertee protects a range of wildlife and plants found nowhere else on earth. Independent campers and adventurous families enjoy walking and mountain hiking through this unique region.

Evans Crown Nature Reserve
Evans Crown Nature Reserve, Honeysuckle Falls Road, Tarana 2787
32km west Lithgow PO
Tel: (02) 6336 6200 NPWS Oberon Office
Evans Crown is located 3km south East of the village of Tarana. Access is from Honeysuckle Falls Road off the Lithgow, Tarana, Sodwalls Road. There is an information board at the start of the walking track.
The reserve comprises 425 hectares with spectacular granite formations. The summit at Crown Rock is 1104 metres above sea level. Evans Crown is a nature reserve because of its outstanding geomorphology, but it also conserves a range of native fauna. As a nature reserve the plants and animals are regarded as the most important aspect. This means that recreational uses are only permitted if they don’t compromise the area’s vast natural resources.

Gardens of Stone National Park
North of Lithgow PO.
Be inspired by the dramatic landscape at Gardens of Stone. This World Heritage area features stunning rock pagodas, sandstone cliffs, canyons and breathtaking scenic views. The extraordinary rock shapes, the stunning scenic views over the valleys and the mesa of Pantoneys Crown make this area of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area a must for photographers. There’s plenty to see while enjoying a leisurely walk. Along the way, you can admire rare yellow pagoda daisies bursting from the rocks, blue tongue lizards, and wood geckos basking on the warm stone. You may even be lucky enough to spot a koala in the east of the park,

Glow Worm Tunnel
Glow Worm Tunnel Road Newnes Plateau Wollemi National Park 38km north Lithgow PO
The tunnel was a rail link to the Newnes Oil Shale Mine; the rail lines were dismantled during WWII. Today, the tunnel is home to Glow Worm Flies. The tunnel area offers magnificent views of rock formations, extensive flora and a wide array of native wildlife including kangaroos and wallabies

Hassans Walls Lookout
Hassans Walls Road 3km south Lithgow PO
Hassans Walls Lookout is the highest scenic lookout in the Blue Mountains at approximately 1,100 metres above sea level. Look out to Mount Wilson, Mount York, Mount Tarana and Mount Blaxland and the whole Hartley Valley below. To the south are the Kanimbla and Megalong Valleys and Mount Bindo (1,363 metres).

Jenolan Caves
Jenolan Caves Rd Jenolan Caves
Tel: 1300 76 33 11
Email: reception@jenolancaves.org.au
Web: www.jenolancaves.org.au
Hours: 9am to 5pm daily
Explore the wonders of the underworld, with a guided tour through the limestone caves at Jenolan

Lake Lyell Recreation Area
578 Magpie Hollow Road, South Bowenfels 2790
Tel: 6355 6347 (resident caretaker)
Email: lakelyell@bigpond.com
Office Hours: Monday to Thursday 8am – 6pm, Friday 8am – 7pm, Saturday & Sunday 8am – 6pm
A recreational lake with facilities including Kiosk, boat ramp, amenities block with hot showers, toilets and disabled toilet, covered BBQ areas, kayak hire, picnic benches, children’s playground, designated swimming area, powered or non- powered campsites suitable for vans, tents, camper trailers, caravans and motor homes. Camping & entrance fees apply. Open daily.

Lake Wallace
Barton Avenue, Wallerawang 12km north-west of Lithgow PO
A recreational area, visitors to Lake Wallace can fish, sail or swim.  No powerboats are allowed.  BBQ facilities and a playground are available. Open daily

Maiyingu Maaragu – Blackfellows Hands Reserve

Maiyingu Maaragu – Blackfellows Hands Road 24km north of Lithgow PO off the Wolgan Road to Newnes.

Maiyingu Maaragu – Blackfellows Hands Cave was a meeting place for the Aboriginal tribes of the area. The rock overhang features a number of hands and weapons painted onto the cave. The area is a reserve under the control of National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Marrangaroo National Park
North-west of Lithgow via Rydal or Mt Walker
The park follows Cox’s River between Lake Wallace and Lake Lyell, with deep waterholes and shady trees. The peaks in the park reach almost 1200m above sea level where snow gums may be seen. The park is the home of the purple copperwing butterfly that can be seen in the spring.
Camp along the banks of the Cox’s River in one of the many small campsites such as Marrangaroo campground. Enjoy swimming or relaxing while platypus spotting on the river banks. One of the best ways to see the park is on a mountain bike. Walk to the top of Mount Walker and enjoy the 360 degree views of the Lithgow area. Fishing is possible along the banks of the Cox’s River. Flat-water canoeing in Lake Lyell is possible at all times.

Pearson’s Lookout
Castlereagh Highway, Capertee 2846
30km north Lithgow PO
Pearson’s Lookout, just south of the village of Capertee affords one of the best views of the majestic Capertee Valley below. There are 180 degree views of the Valley with Pantoney’s Crown dominating the ground below. View the Gardens of Stone and Wollemi National Park to the south and up towards Kandos and Rylstone in the North. The Capertee Valley is the second largest enclosed canyon in the world and to get a bird’s eye view there is no better or more easily accessible place than Pearson’s Lookout.

Turon National Park
Castlereagh Highway Capertee 2846
30kms north of Lithgow PO
Turon National Park is great for remote bushwalking and camping, trout fishing, birdwatching, swimming, mountain biking or canoeing on the gorgeously crystal clear stream that is Turon River. You’ll also encounter plenty of interesting birds and animals, such as powerful owls hooting away at night and red wallabies sunning themselves on the sandstone tops during the daytime before descending to the valley at dusk.

Wollemi National Park
North of Lithgow
Wollemi National Park is the largest wilderness area in NSW.
Vast areas of Wollemi National Park are covered by wilderness: pristine, rugged landscapes that remain basically unchanged by modern human activity. The park encompasses and protects pagoda rock formations, basalt capped mountains, deep gorges and winding river valleys, canyons, hanging swamps, waterfalls and sandstone escarpments. It was here that the ancient Wollemi pine was discovered in 1994, in a hidden rainforest gorge.