Gardens of Stone National Park
Submitted: Friday, Oct 20, 2017 at 12:12
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Kevin S - Life Member (QLD)
I would like to hear from anyone with first hand knowledge of
the Gardens of Stone National Park near
Lithgow NSW. I have checked the National Parks NSW web site but it does not give a great deal of information and the maps are hopeless.
My understanding is that the 4WD track starts almost as soon as you leave the main road but I am wondering what the track is like and what there really is to see. We are considering a day trip from Blackheath.
Any comments or information will be appreciated.
Tanks,
Kevin
Reply By: Michael H9 - Friday, Oct 20, 2017 at 13:00
Friday, Oct 20, 2017 at 13:00
Mate, If you mean Baan Baal Gap then it starts right opposite the turn off to Blackfellows Hand track. A few years back you could do that track in a Subaru, but not now. The very first climb is extremely rutted out with a decent
rock step at the top. A few kilometres along there is a spectacular
lookout into the
Wolgan Valley. Further on there is a massive
rock step down through a very nice fern gully. This
rock step is very large and you need some decent experience to do it. Like I said, you could do it in a Subaru a few years back.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - artheserenity - Sunday, Oct 22, 2017 at 20:28
Sunday, Oct 22, 2017 at 20:28
Hi Kevin,
I was there in August of this year and did the track East (Wolgan Rd.) to West (Ben Bullen) which would be my preferred way of attempting this track. If you pick up the publication from Boiling Billy "Tracks Close To
Sydney, 6th edition 2013", it is rated as Very Difficult, a Double Black Diamond.
I have a 100 Series with 3" lift and 33's and clearance at the beginning was only just, so picking the right line will make all the difference. If you have some sort of GPS navigation you will find a track that goes around this initial section that starts approx. 7klm out of Lidsdale. The
rock face descent that others have mentioned is very steep but there is an obvious line and with care and crawling your way down can be done. Not knowing your vehicle or your driving experience, only you will know. There are a couple of lookouts along the way and a beautiful fern gully to drive through. Starting at Lidsdale and finishing at the
Capertee Hotel, the trek is 45klm's in distance, I'd allow a day to fully explore the area.
Cheers
Greg
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Rob S (NSW) - Wednesday, Oct 25, 2017 at 17:43
Wednesday, Oct 25, 2017 at 17:43
Hi Kevin
Easy day trip from Blackheath,you will probably pick up a good map at
Lithgow tourist
visitor information.
I would start from the Zig zag end at Clarence,about half an hour via
Lithgow,or twenty minutes via the Darling cause way.
Head from the Zigzag rail to Bungleboori, short detour there to look at
rock formations on the left cant remember what they are called?
then back to the track, you can go down the track to the
glow worm tunnel well worth it, short walk to the tunnel at the end of the track.
Then back to the Black fellows hand trail, and follow that down to the
Newnes rd.
Then cross the
Newnes rd to the Baal bonegap trail,the beginning can be quite steep and rutted and some 4wd experience may be necessary, but there is a detour track just a few hundred meters further up the
Newnes rd towards
Lithgow.
Baal bone gap is a lot easier to go down than up.
There will be no shortage of 4wd drives up there on the weekend, so you will,always find some one,to point you in the right direction, plus the place is reasonably
well sign posted.
Rob
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Sign

Baal bone gap trail just from the Newns rd
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Baal bone gap
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Baal bone gap
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Some were on the Blackfellows hand trail
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Sign
AnswerID:
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