National park · Australia
Wollemi National Park
Go for one full day from the Blue Mountains: drive to Newnes or Dunns Swamp on gravel roads, walk the ruins or the Glow Worm Tunnel, and be out before dark — no entry fee, no public transport, no phone signal.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
5,017 km² (1,937 sq mi)1,937 sq mi (5,017 km²)
approximate
Established
1979
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 5,017 km² (1,937 sq mi)1,937 sq mi (5,017 km²)
- About 5,000 km² of sandstone plateau, gorge and river country north-west of Sydney; the boundary is complex and figures vary slightly by source (check).
- Established
- 1979
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Sydney
Wollemi is the wilderness half of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area: about 5,000 km² of sandstone plateau, gorge and river country starting roughly 100 km north-west of Sydney, with no entry fee, no gate and no public transport. Most visitors use one of three ends — the Glow Worm Tunnel walk on the old railway formation, the Newnes shale-oil ruins in the Wolgan Valley, or Dunns Swamp on the Cudgegong River for canoes and easy lakeside paths. Everything is reached on unsealed but formed roads that a 2WD handles in dry weather, and phone signal usually ends at the last town. The park also holds the Wollemi Pine, a species known from fossils until living trees were found here in 1994; the surviving groves are secret and closed to all visitors.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2000Part of the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage property.
Size and age
5,017 km² (1,937 sq mi)1,937 sq mi (5,017 km²) · national park since 1979
About 5,000 km² of sandstone plateau, gorge and river country north-west of Sydney; the boundary is complex and figures vary slightly by source (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Sydney.
Why go
- The largest wilderness area in New South Wales, an hour and a half of gravel road from the Blue Mountains towns.
- The Wollemi Pine, a tree known from fossils and found alive here in 1994; the surviving groves are secret and closed to visitors.
- Two easy, family-sized days out — the Glow Worm Tunnel walk and the Newnes ruins — plus the Dunns Swamp water country for canoes.
- Backpack camping is allowed across the park, so multi-day gorge routes are possible without permits.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanHot; 35 °C (95 °F) plus in the gorges, fire riskHot; 95 °F (35 °C) plus in the gorges, fire risk
- FebHot and humid; storms
- MarCooling down; clear walking weather
- AprMild days, cold nights, dry tracks
- MayCrisp and quiet; frost at Dunns Swamp
- JunCold nights near 0 °C (32 °F); short daysCold nights near 32 °F (0 °C); short days
- JulColdest month; snow possible on the plateau
- AugCold, windy, often clear
- SepWarming; wildflowers on the ridges
- OctWarm and dry; best all-round month
- NovWarm; afternoon heat builds
- DecHot; school holidays fill the campgrounds
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glow worms in the railway tunnelAll year · Present year-round; brightest after rain, and harmed by torchlight and noise. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Eastern grey kangaroos and swamp wallabiesAll year · Most visible at dawn and dusk around Dunns Swamp and Newnes. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Platypus in the Cudgegong and Wolgan riversMar–Sep · Dusk is the only realistic chance; stay still and quiet. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Wildflowers on the sandstone ridgesAug–Oct · Waratah, boronias and heath in flower after a wet winter. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| SnakesOct–Mar · Warm months; wear boots and long trousers on overgrown tracks. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Sydney
M4 and Bells Line of Road to Bell or Lithgow, then gravel roads; a 2WD handles the main routes in dry weather.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Katoomba
Bells Line of Road west, then the Glow Worm Tunnel or Newnes turn-offs; all access roads inside the park are unsealed.
1–1.5 h
From Lithgow
Shortest approach to Newnes and the Glow Worm Tunnel; last fuel before the gravel.
45 min–1 h
From Mudgee or Rylstone
Approach from the north-west to Dunns Swamp and the Cudgegong river country.
1–1.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Newnes and the Wolgan Valley | Shale-oil works ruins, cliffs and the Wolgan River; car and caravan camping. | Open; gravel road in, dry weather only for 2WD. |
| Glow Worm Tunnel area | A disused railway tunnel with glow worms, reached by a flat former rail formation. | Open; walk in from the car park, torch needed. |
| Dunns Swamp (Ganguddy) | A wide Cudgegong River pool with pagoda rock formations, canoeing and easy walks. | Open; campground booked online. |
| Colo River and southern gorges | Deep, roadless gorge country for experienced walkers and paddlers. | No vehicle access; serious navigation and river skills needed. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation; the park spans roughly 100 km north-west from the Blue Mountains to the Cudgegong River.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | vehicle | No entry fee for Wollemi; NSW national parks charge for entry only at a few sites, and this is not one of them (check). |
| Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp campground | AUD 6 (≈ US$4) | adult per night | 2026 estimate; children 5–16 about A$3.50; pay in cash at the campground (check). |
| Wheeny Creek campground | Free | night | Free; bring drinking water and firewood. |
| Newnes camping area | Free | night | Basic car and caravan camping near the ruins; no fee recorded (check). |
| Guided canyon or glow worm trip from Katoomba | AUD 150–350 (≈ US$100–250) | person | 2026 estimate; operators run abseil and canyon days into the park. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Backpack camping no permit
Campground booking permit or guide
Wollemi Pine groves permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- A$6≈ US$4
- A$150–350≈ US$100–250
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on NSW National Parks — Wollemi National Park before you go.
Park rules
- Wollemi Pine sites
- The surviving groves are closed to everyone. Publishing or following coordinates is an offence and risks the species.
- Fires
- Total fire bans apply on declared days; use only supplied fireplaces and never leave a fire unattended.
- Water
- River and tank water is not treated; carry your own drinking water.
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the national park, including in vehicles on park roads.
- Drones
- Not permitted without a NSW National Parks permit (check).check
- Rubbish
- No bins at most sites; take everything out.
Where to stay
In the park
Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp campground
Tent sites by the water, book online, cash on arrival; the best base for canoeing and the pagodas.
In the park
Newnes camping area
Car and caravan camping beside the ruins; basic, no bookings.
In the park
Wheeny Creek campground
Free small campground on the eastern edge with flush toilets and wood barbecues.
Near the park
Wollemi Wilderness Cabins, Berambing
Self-contained cabins on the Blue Mountains side, about an hour from Sydney.
Near the park
Rylstone and Cudgegong Waters Park
Town caravan park and a lakeside park with powered sites; rangers recommend both for campervans.
Safety
Remote gravel roads high
Bushfire high
Heat and exposure in the gorges medium
Getting lost on gorge routes high
Flash flooding in the Colo and Wolgan medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Glow Worm Tunnel walk follows a former rail formation and is the flattest option, though the surface is uneven gravel.
- Dunns Swamp has short lakeside paths and a picnic area close to the car park.
- Newnes ruins are reached over rough ground; wheelchair access is limited.
- No public transport reaches any part of the park; a vehicle is required.
Visiting lightly
- Stay out of the Wollemi Pine groves and never share or follow coordinates for them.
- Use red light in the glow worm tunnel, keep noise down and do not touch the walls.
- Take all rubbish out; there are no bins at most sites.
- Use existing fireplaces and only dead wood from outside the park.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Wollemi National Park?
Nothing. There is no entry fee and no gate. You pay only for camping — about A$6 per adult per night at Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp (2026 estimate) — or for a guided canyon trip, roughly A$150–350 per person.
What are the best hikes in Wollemi National Park?
For most visitors: the flat Glow Worm Tunnel walk, the Newnes Industrial Ruins walk and the Pagoda Lookout track above Dunns Swamp. The Colo River gorge routes are multi-day wilderness trips for experienced walkers only.
When is the best time to visit Wollemi National Park?
March to May and September to November. Summer brings 35 °C days and fire risk, and winter nights near Dunns Swamp drop close to 0 °C.
Can I see the Wollemi Pine?
No. The surviving groves are secret and closed to all visitors. You can see the species in botanic gardens and nurseries, not in the park.
Do I need a 4WD to get into Wollemi?
Not for the main sites. Roads to Newnes, Dunns Swamp and the Glow Worm Tunnel car park are unsealed but formed and fine for a 2WD in dry weather. Check your rental agreement, since many exclude unsealed roads.
Is there public transport to Wollemi National Park?
No. There is no public transport to or inside the park. You need a car, and once past the last town there is usually no phone signal.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialNSW National Parks — Wollemi National Park
- officialNSW National Parks — Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp campground
- officialNSW National Parks — Wheeny Creek campground
- officialUNESCO World Heritage Centre — Greater Blue Mountains Area
- secondaryWikivoyage: Wollemi National Park, revision 4836580 (CC BY-SA 4.0)