Gardens of Stone 29 August – 1 September 2014

This was a four day trip organised by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness. On the trip we went to quite a few sites in the Gardens of Stone area. Most of the sites that we visited are not in the Gardens of Stone National Park. Most of these very beautiful place are under  imminent threat from open cut or longwall coal mining.

To guide us on our visit we had Keith Muir from the Colong Foundation and bushwalker Yuri Bolotin.

The first day we visited four sites. Our first was a pagoda maze known as “Holts Heaven” in the headwaters of Bungleboori Creek. This was one area that was burnt out in the bush fires of last summer.

We next travelled along the Sunnyside Ridge and ventured out to the pagodas above Wolgan Falls. These falls are high up in the Wolgan River and rare surrounded by cliffs and pagodas.

Our third visit was to “Pagoda Land”, in the headwaters of Carne Creek.

These three sites feature the very special “plate” type pagodas, as distinct from the rounded rock formations that are found in other parts of the Gardens of Stone (and in other places like the Bungle Bungles). The plate type formations seem to be unique to the western edge of the Greater Blue Mountains.

No one seems to be sure how they have formed, although there are various theories. The “plates” are formed from very iron rich sandstone (ironstone).

Dusk – the Temple of Doom

Our fourth visit of that day was to the Temple of Doom, which lies on the plateau above Blackfellows Hand Cave. In contrast to the other sites, this area featured the rounded type of pagoda (being more dome like is appearance). We stayed on top of the Temple or sunset. What was disturbing here were a series of cracks in the sandstone that must surely be caused by subsidence following longwall coal mining. These cracks were only small compared to others we observed later on the trip.

Yuri at the Temple of Doom

We then headed to the end of the firetrail above Cape Horn to camp for the night. The firetrail ends with a fine lookout in a rocky area, so we camped about 100 metres back in a nice sheltered site.

Dawn – Donkey Mountain and The Wolgan Valley

The next morning we set off along the track towards McLeans Pass. On the way, we deviated off in a few places for more views of the pagodas. Those near Mt McLean are particularly impressive.

At McLeans Pass we visited the Stargate Tunnel and a number of cracks and chasms nearby. There were fine views of both the Wolgan and Capertee Valleys.

For sunset, we stopped back at one of the lookouts that gave great views looking towards Mt McLean and Baal Bone Gap.

Our camp that night was the same place as the first night. Next morning we were up early for dawn as the sun rose above Donkey Mountain in the Wolgan Valley.

Our party was joined then by two local botanists – Chris and Julie. They took us to a nearby site that had been devastated by mining subsidence. It was an interesting area with some great plate type pagodas, but many of them had been rent by large cracks. More large cracks criss crossed the ground nearby. Very disturbing! Many nearby cliffs had suffered collapse – also due to subsidence. The area looked like a war zone.

Our next visit was to Blackfellows Hand, an aboriginal art site at the head of he Wolgan Valley.

Later  that day, we headed back to the area near Wolgan Falls that we had seen the first day. We thought it may provide some good sunset shots. We camped nearby, just off the Sunnyside Road.

Our last visit, the next morning, was to the Vertigo Slot in Cullen Bullen State Forest. Open cut coal mining is planned to extend right to the base of this slot and other nearby interesting features.

The Gardens of Stone is a most remarkable area, but sadly only partly protected by National Park. Many organisation such as the Blue Mountains Conservation Society and the Colong Foundation for Wilderness have been leading the fight to have the whole area protected. Please help. You can visit the Protect Gardens of Stone Facebook Page to get up to date information and take action on this page on the Colong Foundation’s website.

More of my photos are online starting from this page.