Explore the Blue Mountains' own Glow Worm Tunnel

Once abandoned and now a natural wonder, Glow Worm Tunnel is home to millions of little critters that simulate the night sky.

The Glowworm Tunnel is a disused railway tunnel between Lithgow, New South Wales and Newnes, New South Wales, Australia. It is notable for its resident glow-worms, the bioluminescent larvae of Arachnocampa richardsae, a type of fungus gnat.

Park here: www.w3w.co/donned.remind.unrelated

KEY POINTS

Time: 2 hours return
Kid-safe: Yes, with supervision
Dogs on-leash: No
Steps: Mainly flat except for one short section
Accessible: No
Heights: No high cliff areas
Access: The road in is dirt and can be a bit rough. So take your time. Conditions can change with weather.
Must do rating out of 10: 11

TIP: Parking is VERY LIMITED. If you plan on going on a weekend, get there EARLY.

ACCESS: Drive to the conditions, the road can be a bit muddy and bumpy.

THE WALK: For us, the return walk from the carpark was about 2h 30m and that included exploring the canyons to the left on the other side of the tunnel and having lunch. This walk is GREAT FOR KIDS 🙂

THE WORMS: When you get to the centre of the tunnel, that’s the point where you can’t see either entry, turn off your lights for a few minutes and enjoy. Don’t go near them and DON’T make a lot of noise.

TIP: When you walk through the tunnel, turn left and walk through the canyons until they run out, you’ll know when they do. It’s an awesome walk and it’ll only take you an extra 30 minutes. IT IS FANTASTIC

WHAT TO TAKE: Aside from water and snacks/lunch you’ll need sturdy shoes as the tunnel floor is wet and rocky. You’ll also need a torch/phone light for each person and study shoes.

RUSTY WATER: If you haven’t been there, yes, the water looks orange/red, but it’s actually the bottom of the creek that has the orange/red colouring. While we were there on Monday the frogs were singing up a chorus so the water quality must be ok.

MORE info: https://www.askroz.com.au/event_detail/index/glowworm-tunnel-newnes

Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/AskRozBlueMountains/posts/3566786566698071

The Glow Worm Tunnel is one of two now abandoned tunnels on this railway. This tunnel curves through almost 180 degrees and consequently it is very dark. In normal weather, a small creek flows through it. These conditions are ideal for certain “glow worms” which inhabit the walls and roof of the tunnel. While glow worms occur in other dark, damp places in the Blue Mountains, the Glow Worm Tunnel is probably the best place for the visitor to see them.

The glow worms are, however, very sensitive to habitat disturbance, in particular: noise, lights, touching and smoke fumes. Wear good walking shoes and take a torch for the tunnel.

IMPORTANT: While you need a light, we found that the touch in our iPhones was better than the handheld torches we carried. You’ll also need good footwear and the tunnel floor is slippery, wet and uneven.

Description and history

The 400 metres (20 chains) tunnel was bored through the sandstone in 1907 as part of the Newnes railway line that served the Newnes oil shale mines that operated during the early 20th century. The railway was closed in 1932 and the rails were pulled out of the tunnel.

The tunnel is now contained within the Wollemi National Park and is a popular attraction for bushwalkers and tourists. Outside the tunnel, the area features spectacular gorges, caves and scenery. The site is maintained by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. On the south side of the tunnel, a large gap in the road prevents vehicular access. According to some sources, this gap was created deliberately to keep cars out of the tunnel, because the exhaust fumes would have killed the glow-worms. On the north side of the tunnel, a track leads to Newnes.

Ask Roz link

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