Newnes – Oil Shale History, River and Walking Trails

Newnes combines a striking industrial history with walking trails through rainforest and a river landscape defined by sandstone cliffs and eucalyptus trees. Particularly remarkable are the beehive kilns at the Newnes Industrial Ruins: they are the largest of their kind in Australia. Between the surviving traces of oil shale mining and the landscapes around Newnes, you can choose different themes for your trip.

Discover Newnes’ Oil Shale History

The township of Newnes and its oil shale mining complex were established in 1906. On the Newnes Industrial Ruins walk, you’ll come across well-preserved remains of this mining history: old coke ovens, brick kilns, paraffin sheds and crumbling walls. The beehive kilns stand out among these relics for their size. If you’re interested in industrial history, you’ll find several different kinds of structures and remains here, rather than just one historic building.

The Newnes Kiosk is another historic site in the area: it is located in Newnes’ former hotel. The former hotel building adds another element of local history to the impressions left by the mining ruins. Together, these places illustrate different aspects of Newnes’ past: oil shale mining and the former community life.

River Landscapes and Trails

Newnes campground is set on a flat, grassy area beside the Wolgan River. Sandstone cliffs and eucalyptus trees surround the campground. Visitors can paddle on the river or float along on an inflatable ring. This offers a choice between an active water-based activity and a more relaxing float.

One detail is important when planning an overnight stay at Newnes campground: it is accessible only by a long walk of approximately 10 km from Glen Davis via the Pipeline Track. The approximate distance and the fact that access is exclusively on foot are important points to consider if you’re thinking of staying at this campground. This information applies to Newnes campground.

Another walking option is the 9 km Glow Worm Tunnel via Wolgan Valley loop, which runs between Newnes and Lithgow. The route passes through the lush rainforest of Penrose Gorge and includes rocky pagoda formations. The rainforest and rock formations give this trail a different character from the industrial ruins. If you’d like to combine walking with nature and landscape, this route offers just that.

The Glow Worm Tunnel walking track is a separate option: it follows an easy, 1.5 km walking trail to the tunnel entrance. The description of the trail as easy and its shorter distance may help when choosing a walk. The destination is the tunnel entrance; the trail description extends as far as that point.

What experiences would you like to shape your trip?

Newnes offers several themes to explore: the relics of oil shale mining, the waters of the Wolgan River, and walking trails through rainforest or among rocky pagodas. When looking for holiday accommodation for a trip to Newnes, consider which of these themes matters most to you. This way, you can choose the destination based on the experiences that interest you, without combining the different trails and places into a single route.

If you’d like to discover another place as well as Newnes, you can find Capertee here.

For the broader travel overview: Lithgow City Council.