Upgrades to the Glow Worn Tunnel visitor precinct are well underway. The tourist attraction has been reopened to the public for a short period of time over the summer holidays before it is closed one final time for the last of the upgrades to be completed.
A new visitor carpark has been created complete with amenities and a resurfaced entrance. The family friendly walking track has been upgraded to a smoother, easier to use track featuring sandstone steps that were helicoptered in one by one.
Inside the tunnel, a new raised brick walkway in line with heritage guidelines is being constructed to make the experience of walking through the tunnel to see the glow-worms safer and easier for visitors. The new walkway is being constructed on top of the current rocky, uneven natural floor of the tunnel and will protect the glow-worm’s food source that lives in the water running along the ground.
The upgrade has been made possible by a $4.15 million grant allocated by the previous NSW Government and announced by Member for Bathurst Paul Toole.
“This project will develop and deliver a full-day tourist experience in the Garden of Stone precinct with the Glow Worm Tunnel as the main attraction.”
“The tunnel is pitch black inside and the uneven ground makes for a tricky situation, the new walkway will allow visitors to focus on the amazing glow-worms instead of where they are stepping.
“I am looking forward to seeing this project complete and watching the Gardens of Stone tourist precinct expand.”
National Parks and Wildlife Service Blue Mountains Branch Director David Crust took Member for Bathurst Paul Toole for a tour of the works.
“'The transformation of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area from a former state forest to a protected reserve over the last 18 months has been remarkable,” Mr Crust said.
“Once completed the important upgrades at Glow Worm Tunnel will allow the 50,000 visitors who come to the site each year to enjoy the glow worm colony from a proper path that keeps both visitors and the glow worms safe.
“For safety reasons visitors can’t access the Glow Worm Tunnel precinct or some parts of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area while construction works are taking place but keep an eye on our webpage for updates on opening and closures, along with important information such as solid fuel bans which are in place until 31 March 2024.”
The Glow Worm Tunnel and associated walking tracks are closed for additional upgrades from Tuesday 10 January 2024 until further notice.
The Glow Worm Tunnel is located in the Wollemi National Park, only 2.5 hours from Sydney and is an easy walk through a 120 year old railway tunnel lit by glow worms. The Tunnel is surrounded by bushwalks and picturesque views of the Wolgan Valley.