Lost City walking track

Where

Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area in Sydney and surrounds

Accessibility

No wheelchair access

Distance

6km return

Time suggested

2 - 4hrs

Grade

Grade 3

Please note

• The track is remote with sections near exposed cliff edges. Please take care and always supervise children.
• There is no phone reception along the walk. Download Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area in our NSW National Parks app before you leave home. You’ll be able to check your location on the map even when you have no mobile reception on the track.
• Please stay on the track and tread lightly around the fragile pagoda formations.

Spend a few hours enjoying a 6km return hike along Lost City walking track and discover lookouts with panoramic views, creek crossings, dams, and pagodas. These unique and visually stunning rock formations give context to the name of the park; Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. 

Lost City walking track is easy to find and starts from Lost City carpark. After walking 400m you’ll reach Lost City lookout with magnificent views of nationally significant ‘platy’ pagodas. These rock formations feature distinctive layers of ironstone banding and are unique to the area.  Take a moment to relax at one of the table seats and take in the views overlooking the pagodas and Marrangaroo Creek.  

After enjoying the views, head north for 200m until you reach the junction for Miners Pass link track. Here, you have the option to turn right and stay on the family-friendly Grade 3 Lost City walking track or continue straight to follow Miners Pass link track. Miners Pass link track follows a historic mining route - be prepared for a short, steep and challenging Grade 4 track that isn’t suitable for small children. Both track options connect in the valley and are clearly signposted.

If you’ve taken Lost City walking track you’ll enjoy rock hopping to cross Marangaroo Creek, and shortly after, the first of 2 heritage dams that were constructed in the 1920s to supply water to Lithgow until the late 1980s when they were removed from the water supply system. Continue on through open bushland with yellow-flowering wattles, sweet pink boronias, and speedwell, before you reach the second heritage dam.

Pause at the dam to get ready for the 800m uphill trek following signs for Lost City North lookout. You’ll reap the rewards of the climb with panoramic views of the dam and more pagodas. 

After taking in the views from a different perspective, return back the way you came, this time looking for wombats or some of the distinctive red and black birds that call this park home: gang gang cockatoos, scarlett robins or south-eastern glossy black cockatoos.

If you have a few more hours of daylight it’s worth the drive 25 mins north up State Mine Gully Road into Wollemi National Park to visit Glow Worm Tunnel walking track and see the magical glow worms in their natural habitat.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info