Sandstone Pagodas and Plateau Country Near Lithgow

Overview

Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area protects a striking section of the western Blue Mountains landscape, around 5km north of Lithgow and about 140km west of Sydney. It sits where the Great Dividing Range meets the Blue Mountains Range, adjoining Blue Mountains, Wollemi and Gardens of Stone national parks and forming part of the wider Greater Blue Mountains setting.

This is a big, rugged plateau country shaped by Triassic sandstone, with eucalypt forest, swampy uplands and deeply cut valleys all packed into one reserve. The area was reserved in 2022, giving long-term protection to a landscape valued for both its geology and its biodiversity.

Highlights

The defining feature here is the pagoda country. Weathering has sculpted the sandstone into beehive-like towers, domes and layered rock forms that give the reserve its name and make this part of the Newnes Plateau one of the most distinctive landscapes in New South Wales.

That rocky plateau is broken up by forests, creek lines and high swamps, so the scenery changes quickly from open stone country to sheltered valleys. The contrast between pale sandstone formations and darker eucalypt cover is a big part of what makes the area feel so different from many other parks in the region.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable seasons to spend time here, when the plateau country is generally milder and the changing light suits the sandstone landforms particularly well. Spring also tends to bring extra interest in the swamps and heath-like vegetation, while cooler months are often better for longer days outdoors than the peak of summer.

At any time of year, this is a place whose character is shaped as much by elevation and exposed sandstone country as by the calendar, so conditions can feel different from lower country nearby.

Plants and Animals

The mix of rocky landforms, forests and upland swamps creates an unusually wide range of habitats. More than 1,000 plant species and over 300 vertebrate animal species have been recorded here, along with 33 vegetation communities.

The reserve is especially important for threatened plants and animals. Notable species include the Newnes Plateau geebung, which is found only on the Newnes Plateau, and Deane’s boronia, which depends on swamp habitat. Threatened animals recorded here include koala, spotted-tailed quoll, giant dragonfly, Blue Mountains water skink, broad-headed snake, regent honeyeater, scarlet robin and several microbat species. The swamp systems are also a key part of the area’s ecological value, with Newnes Plateau shrub swamps and hanging swamps among the sensitive communities protected here.

Culture and Heritage

Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area is on Wiradjuri Country and forms part of a rich and complex cultural landscape with many Aboriginal heritage sites. It adjoins Maiyingu Marragu Aboriginal Place, a significant rock art site and cultural education precinct with strong connections to Mingaan Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation.

The area also holds evidence of more recent history, including traces of exploration, old transport routes and mining activity linked with the wider Newnes district. Those layers of history sit within a much older cultural landscape that remains significant today.