NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

Gardens of Stone SCA update – September 2025

The Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (SCA) is Wiradjuri Country.
We acknowledge and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and respect
the Country on which we work.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is establishing new visitor facilities and infrastructure, guided by the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area master plan and plan of management. The visitor program improves access to and amenity of the reserve, while enhancing biodiversity and conservation outcomes across the park.

You are receiving this email because you registered your interest on the Gardens of Stone SCA project webpage or have been identified as a key stakeholder. We appreciate your interest and involvement as the project develops.

Walking track updates

Gardens of Stone Pagoda Walk

Work is complete on the first section of the Gardens of Stone Pagoda Walk following an 18-month works program to transform an eroded informal trail into a world-class walking track. 

Starting from Broad Swamp, the new 17.5 kilometre Broad Swamp to Birds Rock walking track is a Grade 3 track which showcases remote creeks, gorges and clifftop views, finishing at Birds Rock carpark.

The new track marks a major transformation for the area, improving access to stunning scenery while enhancing protection of sensitive landscapes. 

Construction on the next stage of the Gardens of Stone Pagoda Walk has commenced, with work to continue over the next 18-24 months. Once completed, the 30-kilometre two-night, three-day walk will connect Broad Swamp to Glow Worm Tunnel. 

Broad Swamp

The Broad Swamp Loop walk is now open following a major remediation program to repair damaged landscapes and enhance protection of the largest swamp in the SCA. The 6-kilometre family friendly track highlights the rich biodiversity of Broad Swamp and tells the unique story of the area with visitor interpretation of local flora and fauna.

Lost City walking track

The Lost City walking track has been positively received by visitors and the local community, with more than 1,500 visitors recorded at the site each month. The newly established walking track and lookout opened in December 2024, providing access to iconic pagoda landscapes and heritage sites which were previously difficult to access.

A significant milestone has now been achieved with the completion of the Lost City car park and access road, improving safety and access for park visitors. The new car park provides 38 spaces, including accessible and long-vehicle parking, visitor signage, seating, and toilets. 

These upgrades replace temporary facilities which were in place to support the first 10 months of operation of the Lost City walking track. Further improvements, including a new accessible lookout and an alternative entry point via Lost City North Road are planned over the coming months. 

Visitor area updates

Forest Campground upcoming works

The Forest Campground precinct is currently closed for improvement works to support construction of the visitor precinct. Commencing with upgrades to Camp Road, improvements will be followed by the construction of Forest Campground, featuring 50 bookable sites, drive-in camping suitable for small caravans, a designated group camping area, and a picnic area.

The closure is expected to remain in place for approximately 12 months. During this time, there will be no access to Western Boundary Road, Red Hill Road, or the former Afforestation Camp.

Forest Campground concept plan

Bungleboori picnic area 

Over the past year, the Bungleboori picnic area has undergone significant improvements. Invasive pine trees have been removed and repurposed as mulch and logs to help close damaged tracks. The area has been replanted with native species propagated by the Lithgow Community Nursery, enhancing biodiversity outcomes and supporting the local ecosystem. 

Planning for further upgrades is well underway, with future amenities to include accessible toilets, ample parking, shelters, and visitor signage. Construction will commence in late 2025.

Bungleboori pine removal

Glow Worm Tunnel 

Visitation to the Glow Worm Tunnel Precinct has boomed following the completion of upgrades in mid 2024, with visitor numbers totalling more than 40,000 over the past 12 months. 

Major track repairs, tunnel improvements and visitor interpretations have created a safer and more enjoyable experience for visitors, while also protecting the delicate glow worm habitat. 

In late May 2025, a significant rockfall occurred on the Glow Worm Tunnel walking track beyond the tunnel. NPWS is currently working with geotechnical engineers to develop a remediation plan, with the goal of safely reopening the track in the future. In the meantime, the track is temporarily closed from the tunnel exit to the intersection known as "4-ways" (Old Coach Road).  

Road updates

Old Bells Line of Road sealing

Clarence Sands Quarry has submitted a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the proposed sealing of a 5 km section of Old Bells Line of Road within Gardens of Stone SCA to improve road safety, reduce erosion, dust and sediment runoff. The REF is currently under review. 

Trail closures

NPWS has now finalised an access strategy for Gardens of Stone SCA to provide a framework for safe and sustainable vehicle access in accordance with the reserve’s plan of management and Vehicle Access Policy. As noted in the strategy, the extensive network of unauthorised trails which were developed in the state forest has had damaging impacts on the natural and cultural values of the area – resulting in soil compaction, erosion, sedimentation in creeks and vegetation removal.

NPWS is in the process of finalising the implementation plan for vehicle track rationalisation and rehabilitation.  High priority areas have been identified, and works are currently underway to close and rehabilitate eroded trails.

Conservation

Swamp monitoring

NPWS is continuing to progress a targeted swamp management program to monitor swamp health, working with leading ecologists to guide conservation and rehabilitation priorities across the reserve.

Building on conservation and monitoring efforts that began in 2014, NPWS engaged a specialist in 2024 to conduct regular assessments of the ecological health of selected swamps within the Gardens of Stone SCA. NPWS is committed to continuing this work, with plans to implement programs that strengthen the resilience of vegetation communities, key habitats, and threatened species.

These efforts are especially important given the ecological significance of the area. The complex rocky landforms of Gardens of Stone SCA support a wide variety of habitats and rich biodiversity. Among these are the Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamp (NPSS), which occurs on long, low-gradient drainage lines at elevations above 900m. These swamps are a rare example of montane peatlands, formed under very specific geological and climatic conditions, making them highly sensitive to changes in hydrology.

NPSS is a critical habitat for a wide range of fauna, including two endangered species - the Blue Mountains Water Skink (Eulamprus leuraensis) and the Giant Dragonfly (Petalura gigantea).

Broad Swamp aerial view

Protecting the Blue Mountains water skink

Three sites within Garden of Stone SCA have been declared Assets of Intergenerational Significance (AIS) for the endangered Blue Mountains Water Skink (Eulamprus leuraensis). An AIS is an area of land (declared site) within the national park estate that has exceptional environmental or cultural values that warrant special protection.

This semi-aquatic skink is found within Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamps, a unique peatland ecosystem within Gardens of Stone SCA. The skink's range is limited to the highland swamps of the Blue Mountains region, which provide the wet habitat that is critical to the species' survival. 

A Conservation Action Plan has been prepared by the NPWS conservation team which outlines threats to the species and management actions to be undertaken to address these threats. The AIS declaration provides another level of protection for the skinks and their habitat.

Blue Mountains water skink

Weed and pest control

Over 3,000 hours of weed control has been delivered across Gardens of Stone SCA, targeting key areas such as swamp systems, former pine compartments, and road corridors. These efforts are helping to protect sensitive ecosystems and improve habitat quality. Weed treatment will continue into 2025 to build on this progress.

Two FAAST (Feral Animal Aerial Shooting Team) programs have now been carried out in the reserve, using aerial surveillance and control to reduce the impact of feral animals on priority landscapes. The aerial program covered Long Swamp, Jews Creek, Baal Bone Creek, and surrounding areas. As a result, pest animal numbers in the SCA have been significantly reduced. 

Volunteers

Volunteer events continue across the reserve, with the most recent being a successful pine sapling removal day along Camp Road. Eight returning volunteers provided a lending hand to clear pines from approximately 500m² of bushland. Upcoming events later in the year will include additional pine removal days and tree planting activities.

If you are interested in joining the Gardens of Stone Guardians volunteer program, please register your interest HERE.

Volunteer pine removal