SOME BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT NEWNES

What is on this page:
Location Background When to Come Camping Accommodation Day Tripping
Weather Fires! Things to do Precautions Some things don't work at Newnes!
Go to the bottom of this page for links to other pages on this web site.

Location:
Newnes is located in New South Wales, Australia, some 200km from Sydney. It is in the Wolgan Valley north of Lithgow and at the north-west end of the Blue Mountains. (The Wolgan River joins with the Capertee River to become the Colo River, a tributary of the Hawkesbury River that enters the sea at Broken Bay, north of Sydney.) Newnes is at the south-west edge of Wollemi National Park, part of the World Heritage listed Greater Blue Mountains area. Newnes is adjacent to the Wollemi Wilderness, the second-largest wilderness area in New South Wales.
See Getting to Newnes page for access details and sketch maps.

Background:
From about 1906 to the early 1930s, Newnes was the site of an oil-shale industrial development. At its peak, there were probably up to 2000 people living in the town, although for most of its operating life, numbers would have been considerably less. With the closure of the industry, the town died and today the last remaining building of the mining era is the old hotel. Even this has been relocated and de-licenced. A kiosk operates here on weekends, but during the week it is private residence. There is little else left of the town itself, but there are extensive ruins remaining of the old industrial area.
See A Short History of Newnes page for details about the history of this area.
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When to come:
Wattle in bloom August-September is Wattle blossom time at Newnes
  • The best times for camping are Spring and Autumn.
  • Winter is also a good time for a day visit, although days are short and it does get cold at night if you are camping.
  • Many people like to come in summer, but this is generally not recommended as it is a time of heat, flies and total firebans - so be suitably prepared.
  • Most people visit Newnes at weekends, and it can get crowded on long weekends.
  • Watch out for wet weather. The Wolgan Road in the valley is unsealed and road conditions can deteriorate fairly quickly when wet. Also, the river can rise quickly, so do not cross it in extended wet weather.
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Camping:
Newnes is a popular place for campers.
A small charge is now being levied on campers using the river flats near the hotel (this is private land). It includes use of the private toilet facilities at the hotel and well-behaved dogs are allowed. On weekends, book campsites at the kiosk on arrival. During the week, the owner of the property will be in the kiosk area.
Currently, camping in other areas at Newnes is free, although the NP&WS intends to charge for camping within the national park at some future date. Facilities are limited, with only pit-toilets in the main camping area and another near the track leading to the oil shale ruins. Please note that pets are not permitted in any National Park areas.
For more details and tips concerning camping at Newnes, see the Camping & Accommodation page.
At ALL times and in ALL areas, please be careful with fire.
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Accommodation:
NEWNES HOTEL HISTORIC WILDERNESS RETREAT
Cabin accommodation is now available at Newnes in a style that adds considerable comfort to your stay. Two cabins are now available. Both have hot water, shower, septic toilet, kitchen area with fridge, gas stove and microwave oven, flued gas heater, plenty of storage room and views from the front porch.
• The "Wolgan" cabin sleeps up to six people, has disabled access and there is also an external barbeque area.
• The "Capertee" cabin can sleep up to 4 persons and is ideal for a couple or a family with up to two small children.
• For both cabins, you will need to bring your own linen and food.
For more details, visit the " Newnes Hotel Historic Wilderness Retreat " web-site.
To book your Newnes accommodation, ring (02) 6355-1247.
There is very limited alternative accommodation at Newnes or anywhere else in the Wolgan Valley. However, accommodation is available elsewhere in the Lithgow district and there is also a full range of accommodation, from budget to luxury, in the Blue Mountains.
A brief list of nearest accommodation away from Newnes is given on the Camping & Accommodation page.
For a comprehensive list of places to stay in the Lithgow district, visit the Lithgow Visitor's Centre web site.
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Day Tripping:
  • Newnes is a great place to spend a day, particularly if you are staying somewhere in the Blue Mountains or in the Lithgow district.
  • Newnes can also be reached in a day trip from Sydney, although it is a bit over three hours drive each way.
  • A fine day in winter is probably the best time to visit, but Autumn and Spring can be quite good as well.
  • Facilities are very limited and the only public toilets in the area are the pit-toilets located in the camping area and near the track leading to the oil-shale ruins.
Please remember to bring your own lunch
The kiosk is usually only open on weekends and then only sells soft drinks and some confectionery.
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Some notes on the weather at Newnes
  • Newnes is located in the "Central Tablelands" weather district. Details for this area are usually listed in the Sydney Morning Herald daily weather page and sometimes in other papers.
  • The weather in Sydney (and even in Lithgow) is often different to weather conditions at Newnes, so a wet day in Sydney could well be a fine one at Newnes.
  • It is usually drier and less humid at Newnes than in Sydney.
  • The valley location of Newnes acts as a heat trap, so day temperatures are usually higher than (say) Lithgow.
  • In winter, avoid camping in the shadow of the cliffs - these places do not warm up during the day!
  • In winter, days are quite short, so don't start that long bushwalk too late in the day.
  • Do not start long walks if the weather looks as if it might rain.
  • Remember to bring your insect repellant! Flies are usually about during the day in all but the coldest weather, with possibly mosquitoes at night.
See the Current Conditions Page for details of weather at Newnes last weekend.
For on-line weather forecasts, see Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology .
For on the spot information (Saturdays and Sundays only) ring 6355-7355 during shop hours.
See next section for Bushfire and Fire Ban information & links.
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Lighting Fires at Newnes
  • At Newnes it is recommended that you use gas fires for cooking wherever possible and avoid lighting "open" (wood) fires, regardless of whether a fire ban is in force or not.
  • During the bushfire season, only certain types of fires are allowed without a permit (see below for details).
  • No fires of any type are allowed when a TOTAL FIRE BAN is in force.
  • Firewood is often difficult to find at Newnes, although the National Parks Service does supply scrap pine offcuts from time to time. If you must have an open fire, it is strongly suggested that you bring your own firewood.
"TOTAL FIRE BANS"
  • Bushfire danger increases with hot, dry and/or windy weather. When conditions become extreme, a "Total Fire Ban" is usually declared.
  • "Total Fire Bans" are usually declared on a day-by-day basis, at short notice and often without prior warning. You should bring a radio and listen to it for weather reports.
  • No outdoor fires of any type (and that includes cigarettes) are permitted on a declared "Total Fire Ban" day.
  • Penalties for lighting fires on a "Total Fire Ban" day are up to $5500.00 and/or up to 12 months inprisonment. Ignorance is no excuse.
  • A "Total Park Fire Ban" is often imposed on the entire Wollemi National Park for the whole of the (October to March) bushfire season, regardless of the weather.
Permits to Light Fires (as applicable to Newnes)
  • A permit is not required for fuel stoves or gas barbeques.
  • A permit is not required for open cooking fires, provided that they are within the barbeque rings located at various places in the NPWS camping ground.
  • Permits are required for big campfires and open fires in other areas.
  • Permits are obtained (after justifying the need) from the Lithgow Fire Centre or the RFS brigade at Lidsdale; they are not issued at Newnes.
LINKS TO ON-LINE BUSHFIRE INFORMATION SERVICES:
Other Sources of Information regarding bushfire danger and "Total Fire Ban" periods:
  • Weather report pages in newspapers (Sydney Morning Herald recommended).
    Newnes is in the "Central Tablelands" weather district and the "Central Ranges" bushfire district.
  • Weather reports on local radio (ABC=549AM, 2LT=900AM)
  • Beyond Lithgow, bushfire warning "clocks" are located:
    • on the Great Western Highway at Marangaroo,
    • on the Wolgan Road in Lidsdale shortly after the turnoff to Newnes,
    • at Newnes itself.
  • These local "clocks" are usually accurate, although the "clock" at Lidsdale sometimes has a tendency to be left unchanged after severe weather conditions.
  • The "clock" at Newnes is also usually accurate, but it is usually maintained on weekends only.
At all times, please be careful with fire. Watch what you do with that cigarette butt!
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Some things to do at Newnes:
Most walks in the Newnes area will be within Wollemi National Park. However, there is private land in the area so do not cross fences unless there are signs allowing this.
  • Explore the ruins of the oil-shale works.
  • Walk to the Glow-worm Tunnel.
  • Try one of the many other walks in the Newnes area.
  • On weekends, an information kiosk operates in what used to be the bar of the old Newnes Hotel.
  • Other activities, such as off-track bushwalking, rock climbing and canyoning are popular, but these are high-risk adventure activities that require adequate preparation and equipment, and competent leadership. It is strongly recommended that you contact your nearest bushwalking or rock-climbing group for further details and advice, as these activities are beyond the scope of this web-site.
  • And, of course, you can do nothing at all. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery (Grade = very easy!)
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Some bushwalking precautions:
  • Wild Dogs:
    There have been sightings of wild dogs in the Newnes area. These dogs are not Dingos as such, but cross-breeds with domestic dogs. They are often large animals, are not very friendly, and they hunt in packs. If walking alone and confronted by them, do not run, but stand your ground and they can be beaten off. Do not let small children in your party go wandering off alone in the bush.
  • Bushfire affected areas.
    Bushwalkers should take care when walking in areas that have been burnt by bushfires.
    Canyons:- Most canyons north of the Wolgan River, including Starlight Canyon, were severely affected by ash, debris and sediment during a bushfire in Jan/Feb 2003. Extra care is now needed.
    One report about Starlight Canyon suggests that debris deposits have made some parts in the top end of this canyon a squeeze for big people. Just in case, make sure you can backtrack any descents.
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Some activities that you probably will NOT do at Newnes:
Some visitors have asked about the following, but they cannot be recommended them for the reasons stated:
  • Fishing - Sorry, the Wolgan River is not stocked with fish, but some other rivers in the Lithgow district are. For a brochure, see the Lithgow Visitor's Centre. You could also visit the Archvale Trout Farm at Marangaroo.
  • Canoeing - You will find that the Wolgan River is too shallow and rocky at normal river levels. When in flood, the river below Newnes becomes over 100km of continuous grade 6 rapid with no side exit!
  • Swimming - There are no waterholes deep enough for "swimming". HOWEVER, in summer, younger chidren can have great water fun in some shallow sandy reaches near the camping area while you watch from a nice shady spot nearby (see "do nothing at all" above).
  • Gold Panning - Newnes is not in a gold-bearing area. (At Newnes they mined for oil-shale, not gold.)
  • Mobile phones - They don't work at Newnes (and we like it that way). If you must make that "urgent" call, do so before you enter the Wolgan Valley. There is no public phone at Newnes (the nearest is at Lidsdale), but we can contact local emergency services by land line, if required.
  • Extended 4WD and trail-bike riding - Once you are at Newnes, there are very few 4WD tracks available, although a 4WD vehicle is useful for crossing the river to get to the works if you don't want to get your feet wet. The main 4WD areas are not in the Wolgan Valley, but there are several tracks in the Newnes State Forest on the Newnes Plateau. This area is accessed from the south and is not directly accessible from the Wolgan Valley. Two suggested 4WD drives in this area are Blackfellows Hand fire trail from Wolgan Gap to Bungleboori (see Access to Newnes page for map) and another trail that runs from Wolgan Gap to Ben Bullen via Baal Bone Gap. See also Places near Newnes page for Lost City and Deep Pass.
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Links to the information pages on this web site:
Newnes Basics Getting to Newnes Oil-shale Ruins Glow-worm Tunnel Other Walks Other Places
Newnes Kiosk Camping & Accom. Emirates Project Tours to Newnes About us Other Web-sites
Current Conditions Return to Home Page for links to other pages on this web-site.
This page last updated 22Nov2006