General comments -
- As well as looking at the beautiful scenery when heading to Newnes, do take a note of possible driving hazards
(such as sharp or blind curves), as they will still be there when you drive out again. For some reason, some people
like to drive faster when going home.
- DON'T SPEED!
There is an 80km/h speed limit on this road, which is the maximum advisable on the best parts, provided
conditions are good. On the section along the Wolgan River, we recommend that you stay under 60. If you cannot see
around the next bend or over the next crest, then stay under 40 or you may be in for a very nasty surprise.
- There are several blind corners and crests on this road, while cattle, wallabies and wombats are additional road
hazards, particularly in the late afternoon and at night. 4WD vehicles are particularly unstable at speed, while most
modern 2WD vehicles with front-wheel drive can become undrivable with even minor front-end damage.
- KEEP TO THE LEFT!
Frequently in the Wolgan Valley, you will need to pass vehicles coming the other way. At a few places the road is only
one car width and these need to be taken with care. At all other places, please drive on the left-hand side of the
road, particularly on corners and crests, where you need to SLOW DOWN!
- Please make sure you car is roadworthy and carrying normal spare parts such as tools and a spare tyre. Also, make
sure you have enough petrol, as fuel is not sold at Newnes. The nearest service stations are at Lidsdale, Wallerawang
and Marrangaroo, which are from 35km to 45km from Newnes.
Wolgan Road to the Bottom of Wolgan Gap (bitumen, 12.5km) -
- From the Castlereagh Highway, the turnoff to Newnes is at Lidsdale, just past the power station and immediately
before the turnoff to Wallerawang. There is a service station on the corner. The turnoff is marked for both Lidsdale
and Newnes, but only "Lidsdale" appears on the advance warning signs.
- Please keep to the left of the centre line over crests and around bends on this road.
- The road to and just past the Angus Place Colliery is mostly good bitumen, although some rough repairs have been
made to it in places.
- Starting about 900m north of Angus Place Colliery and continuing to the foot of Wolgan Gap, the bitumen is old, is
heavilly patched and often has numerous potholes caused by rain and traffic.
- The road down Wolgan Gap is fairly steep, very narrow and winding. Watch out for fallen rocks on the road when
descending this section, particularly after rain.
- Roadworks may be in progress to upgrade this section of road. See bottom of this page for more details on what is
planned.
The road in the Wolgan Valley as far as the "Newnes Hotel" (graded gravel or earth, 22.5km) -
- Current road conditions are posted on the Current Conditions Page which should
be checked before visiting Newnes.
- The road in the Wolgan Valley, from the foot of the gap to Newnes, is unsealed and conditions can vary.
- The first 14km of this section of road to the entrance of the Emirates resort is gravel.
- The remaining 8.5km along the Wolgan River into Newnes is earth formed and can become badly corrugated when the
road is due for regrading. In sunny weather, drive carefully through shadows as dappled light may conceal damaged
sections of road. This section of road is also subject to flooding after very heavy rain.
- Take particular care in wet weather, as the road can become slipery in some places.
Roads beyond the pub (earth formed, 1km) -
- The road to the Little Capertee Camping Area is usually in fair/good condition, but watch out for oncoming traffic.
- There may be a pool of water in the creek crossing into the Little Capertee Camping Area, which may be daunting to
drivers of 2WD vehicles. If taken with care, it is normally passable to most vehicles by driving slowly but
steadily around the edge. Pedestrians can easily walk round this crossing.
- The Wolgan River crossing (on the right, 200m past pub at Newnes) is very sandy and is recommended for 4WD vehicles
only. This is the best point for pedestrians to cross, although you will get your feet wet.
- Do not cross the Wolgan River AT ALL following heavy rain or if the river is in flood. The river can rise very
quickly and it could cut you off.
- Please note that there are no facilities at Newnes to extract bogged vehicles.
- When driving through any water, use lowest gear, drive SLOWLY and STEADILY across. DO NOT SPEED (you could get
water into your engine) and DO NOT STOP midway!
The Wolgan Road Upgrade:
The Wolgan Rd upgrade is being carried out over three (3) stages.
- The first stage (now complete) provides an all weather gravel pavement from the bottom of Wolgan Gap to the
Emirates Development entrance, a distance of approximately 14 km. This work involved the placement of approximately
25000 tonnes of RTA specification roadbase, minor widening where necessary and the installation and widening of
approximately 60 sets of concrete pipe culverts.
- Stage 2 involves selected sections of the bitumen road between the Angus Place Colliery and the top of Wolgan
Gap. Pavement rehabilitation, pavement strengthening and widening will commence in July 2008.
- Stage 3 will involve pavement rehabilitation and safety improvements on the 2.6km of Wolgan Gap including the
installation of guardrail or some other similiar barrier treatment. This work will commence after completion of Stage
2 and should be completed by the end of 2008.
(Our thanks to Stephen Darlington, Operations Manager, Lithgow City Council, for supplying this information)
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