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Gardens of Stone National Park

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Overview

The Gardens of Stone National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales in eastern Australia. The 15,080-hectare (37,300-acre) national park is situated 125 kilometres (78 mi) northwest of Sydney, and 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwest of Lithgow. The national park draws its name from the natural stone pagodas within its boundaries.

The Gardens of Stone National Park is one of the eight protected areas that, in 2000, was inscribed to form part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area. The national park forms part of the Great Dividing Range.

Facts

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

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Geology for the Curious Traveller

Beyond the visual appeal of the stone pagodas, the park offers a tangible lesson in deep time. The sandstone formations are the result of millimetre‑scale sedimentation during the Triassic, later sculpted by differential erosion that favours the vertical joints of the rock. A short hike along the low‑lying ridge lets you compare the subtle hue shifts that indicate varying iron content, a clue to ancient river pathways. Bring a hand lens and a notebook; the weathered surfaces often reveal fossilised plant impressions that are easy to overlook but provide a direct link to the flora that once carpeted the region. This hands‑on approach turns a scenic walk into a field‑study excursion, rewarding those who stay curious about the rocks beneath their boots.

Seasonal Light and the Best Photographic Windows

The park’s latitude and inland position create striking variations in daylight throughout the year. Late autumn, with the sun lower in the sky, casts long, soft shadows that accentuate the pagodas’ layered silhouettes, making for compelling compositions. Conversely, the short, high summer days can produce harsh glare, but an early‑morning start catches the first rays reflecting off the quartz veins, igniting a brief sparkle across the sandstone. Photographers should also note that the winter solstice brings a crisp, clear atmosphere that often yields high‑contrast cloud formations framing the stone towers. Packing a polarising filter and a sturdy tripod makes the effort worthwhile, regardless of the season.

Local Community Connections

While the park is formally managed by NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, its stewardship is deeply intertwined with nearby Lithuanian (Lithgow) residents who operate the modest interpretive centre just outside the park’s southern gate. Seasonal volunteers, many of whom have grown up exploring the walks, run free bush‑tucker tastings and share stories of traditional uses for local grevilleas and eucalypts. Engaging with them offers insight into how the land sustains both wildlife and human livelihoods. A short detour to the town’s historic railway museum can also contextualise the transport routes that once enabled timber extraction, giving a fuller picture of the area's evolving relationship with its natural heritage.

Introduction

National park in Australia Gardens of Stone National ParkIUCN category II (national park)The Lost City pagodas within the national parkGardens of Stone National ParkLocationNew South WalesNearest cityLithgowCoordinates33°9′16.6″S 150°2′27.5″E / 33.154611°S 150.040972°E / -33.154611; 150.040972Area150.8 km2 (58.2 sq mi)Established30 November 1994 (1994-11-30)Governing bodyNSW National Parks & Wildlife ServiceWebsiteOfficial website The Gardens of Stone National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales in eastern Australia. The 15,080-hectare (37,300-acre) national park is situated 125 kilometres (78 mi) northwest of Sydney, and 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwest of Lithgow. The national park draws its name from the natural stone pagodas within its boundaries. The Gardens of Stone National Park is one of the eight protected areas that, in 2000, was inscribed to form part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area. The national park forms part of the Great Dividing Range.

Features and location

[edit] The most prominent features of the park are the sandstone pagoda landscapes and cliffs and canyons. Limestone outcrops, karsts and elevated swamps are other unusual features. The park is bounded on the west by the Castlereagh Highway; to the north by the Glen Davis Road; to the east by the Wollemi National Park; and to the south by the Newnes State Forest, the Wolgan Valley, and the Wolgan State Forest. The rural localities of Capertee, Ben Bullen, and Glen Davis are located on the edge of the national park.

History

[edit] The Newnes Plateau region was proposed for conservation in 1932 as part of a Greater Blue Mountains National Park by the National Parks and Primitive Areas Council. Lobbying for protecting the area increased after the establishment of Wollemi National Park in 1979. The National Parks Association proposed its extension westwards in 1984, which developed into a detailed proposal of an 18,030-hectare (44,600-acre) park in 1993, which was ultimately successful. The Gardens of Stone National Park was established in 1994; however, the initial park only covered 11,780 hectares (29,100 acres), omitting areas which contain coal deposits. It was later enlarged to 15,080 hectares (37,300 acres). Environmentalist groups seek to protect more of the surrounding area, which includes pagodas, canyons, heathland and elevated swamps.

Flora and fauna

[edit] A total of 423 native plant species have been recorded in the park in 30 different plant communities. Most of the park is covered in open forest or woodland dominated by eucalypts. In the west of the park, there are ironbark (Eucalyptus fibrosa and E. crebra) and yellow box (Eucalyptus melliodora) woodlands that grow on clay loam and are a habitat for the rare regent honeyeater and turquoise parrot. There is white box (Eucalyptus albens) woodland in the southwest and scribbly gum (Eucalyptus rossii and E. sparsifolia) woodland on the park's eastern borders. The plant and animal communities of the pagoda formations are fragile and easily irreversibly damaged by human activity. Collection of bush rocks for gardens and landscaping removes habitat for reptiles. A view of the Capertee Valley, covering parts of the Gardens of Stone National Park, seen from Pearsons Lookout. The flat-topped formation in the centre is Pantony's Crown.