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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.

Not field-verifiedUNESCO World Heritage 2000Some areas permit-onlyChecked Sep 2026
Map to the park
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From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Area

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
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 · 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

12-month verdict
  1. JanCaution
  2. FebCaution
  3. MarBest
  4. AprBest
  5. MayBest
  6. JunGo
  7. JulGo
  8. AugGo
  9. SepBest
  10. OctBest
  11. NovGo
  12. DecCaution
  • JanHot; 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; 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

Seasons shift by weeks each year
Wildlife and nature calendar for Wollemi National Park
WhatJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Glow worms in the railway tunnelAll year · Present year-round; brightest after rain, and harmed by torchlight and noise.yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
Eastern grey kangaroos and swamp wallabiesAll year · Most visible at dawn and dusk around Dunns Swamp and Newnes.yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
Platypus in the Cudgegong and Wolgan riversMar–Sep · Dusk is the only realistic chance; stay still and quiet.nonoyesyesyesyesyesyesyesnonono
Wildflowers on the sandstone ridgesAug–Oct · Waratah, boronias and heath in flower after a wet winter.nononononononoyesyesyesnono
SnakesOct–Mar · Warm months; wear boots and long trousers on overgrown tracks.yesyesyesnonononononoyesyesyes

Arrive & move

Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are

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

Zones of Wollemi National Park
ZoneWhat is thereAccess
Newnes and the Wolgan ValleyShale-oil works ruins, cliffs and the Wolgan River; car and caravan camping.Open; gravel road in, dry weather only for 2WD.
Glow Worm Tunnel areaA 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 gorgesDeep, roadless gorge country for experienced walkers and paddlers.No vehicle access; serious navigation and river skills needed.

Sketch map

Approximate — not for navigation
Sketch map of 6 approximate points in Wollemi National Park, north up123456
Approximate positions for orientation; the park spans roughly 100 km north-west from the Blue Mountains to the Cudgegong River.
  1. 1Newnes ruins · Village≈-33.178, 150.237Map ↗
  2. 2Glow Worm Tunnel · Cave≈-33.248, 150.224Map ↗
  3. 3Pagoda Lookout · Viewpoint≈-32.835, 150.197Map ↗
  4. 4Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp campground · Sleep≈-32.835, 150.206Map ↗
  5. 5Wheeny Creek campground · Sleep≈-33.456, 150.722Map ↗
  6. 6Rylstone · Town≈-32.801, 149.968Map ↗

See & do

Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking

Top experiences

CavesEasy1–1.5 h returnGlow Worm Tunnel walkOld railway formation, mostly flat; bring a torch, keep quiet inside and use red light if you have it.
CultureEasy1–2 hNewnes Industrial Ruins walkBrick kilns and refinery remains from the shale-oil works in the Wolgan Valley; interpretive signs on site.
ViewpointsModerate1–2 hPagoda Lookout walking trackShort climb over beehive-shaped rock pagodas to a lookout above Dunns Swamp.
Boat tripsEasyHalf dayDunns Swamp canoe or kayakBring your own boat; the water is flat and the cliffs close in quickly.
TrailsExpert2–4 daysColo River canyon and gorge routesRoute-finding, scrub and river crossings; only for experienced parties with a PLB.
TrailsHardFull dayCanyoning from the Blue MountainsAbseil and swim routes into the park's canyons; operators run them from Katoomba and Blackheath.Booking: Guided trip

Practical

Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong

Entry fees and permits

AUD ranges · check
Fees for Wollemi National Park
ItemRangePerNote
Park entryFreevehicleNo 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 campgroundAUD 6adult per night2026 estimate; children 5–16 about A$3.50; pay in cash at the campground (check).
Wheeny Creek campgroundFreenightFree; bring drinking water and firewood.
Newnes camping areaFreenightBasic car and caravan camping near the ruins; no fee recorded (check).
Guided canyon or glow worm trip from KatoombaAUD 150–350person2026 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

None. Drive in and park; no gate, no ticket machine.

Backpack camping no permit

Allowed throughout the park away from roads and campgrounds; no booking, no fee. Tell someone your route.

Campground booking permit or guide

Book Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp online with NSW National Parks before you drive; it fills in school holidays.

Wollemi Pine groves permit or guide

Closed to all visitors. The exact sites are not published; do not follow online coordinates.

Park rules

Drones, guides, camping and more
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

Check the road status before leaving, carry a spare tyre and water, and expect no phone signal once past the last town.

Bushfire high

In summer check the NSW RFS fire danger rating and park closures; leave the park on a day rated severe or above.

Heat and exposure in the gorges medium

Start early, carry 3 L of water per person, and turn back rather than push on in the middle of the day.

Getting lost on gorge routes high

Carry a topographic map, compass and personal locator beacon; scrub makes progress far slower than the map suggests.

Flash flooding in the Colo and Wolgan medium

Rain upstream raises rivers fast; camp above the high-water line and never enter a rising river.

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.

Related

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Deep dive

Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go

Sources