I headed up the Blue Mountains with Bob intending to visit some canyons near Bell, but the weather was wet and quite cool, so we changed plans and decided to see the new Lost City Walking Track in the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area.
The southern access to the track was closed off due to road work, so we headed to the Bungleboori Picnic Area, then turned off to the n northern access point. The road was well signposted and in very good condition. I had been out this way a number of years ago, and there was a maze of rough four wheel drive tracks all in appalling state.
The weather was rather wet when we arrived at the parking area. We soon found the start of the track on the northern side.
The track was well marked and very well built. It was also routed so major scars would not intrude on the grandeur of the landscape.
The pagodas that make up the Lost City are fantastic.
The track took us down to a side creek of Marrangaroo Creek, at a point where there is an old water supply dam.
We then followed the track along the creek to where it joined Marrangaroo Creek, and then walked upstream along that larger creek.
We passed some old coal mine ruins. These date from around 1941 and are the remains of a ventilation shaft.
And just upstream in another small water supply dam.
The track then turns into aside valley and climbs up onto a ridge.
We are now close to the southern end of the Lost City Track.
We arrived at the southern lookout and picnic area.
There are very good views from here.
WE then started walking back – taking a short link track – the old Miners Pass Track.
We think this may have been marked “Miners Pass” –
The pass takes you down a cleft –
And you walk past the old mining infrastructure.
We then followed the main track back north. We stopped at a nice lookout for lunch.
And then we walked back to the carpark.
This had been short, but very scenic walk. Well done to NPWS for its construction.
It was still relatively early, so Bob suggested a visit to Poppets Cave at Clarence. We had been to this cave on an earlier trip, but Bob wanted a better look.
It has nice chamber, but would have been too steep to be an occupation cave.
There is a lot of old graffiti in the cave.
This bit of wall has some art. Not of Aboriginal origin.
