Lost City walking track

Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area

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Overview

Lost City walking track is a family-friendly 6km return walk in Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. Just 5km from Lithgow, you'll see unique rock formations named pagodas, panoramic views, tranquil creeks and historic mining relics.

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

Nearby

  • An aerial shot of a family walking around Lost City lookout in Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area with pagodas in the background. Credit: Simone Cottrell © DCCEEW

    Lost City lookout

    Lost City lookout is the gateway to Lost City walking track near Lithgow. It’s a scenic spot for a picnic with views of unique ‘platy’ pagoda rock formations and the sandstone escarpment as a backdrop.

Map


Map legend

Map legend

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/lost-city-walking-track/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Lost City walking track.

Track grading

Features of this track

Distance

6km return

Time

2 - 4hrs

Quality of markings

Clearly sign posted

Experience required

Some bushwalking experience recommended

Gradient

Short steep hills

Steps

Many steps

Quality of path

Formed track, some obstacles

Getting there and parking

The Lost City walking track is in Gardens of Stone State Conservation area near Lithgow.

To get there:

  • Access the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area via State Mine Gully Road.
  • Turn left at Lost City Road, 800m north of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area entry.
  • Continue straight past the Lost City overflow carpark and park at Lost City carpark.

Road quality

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • 4WD required in wet weather

Parking

  • Lost City carpark is at the southern end of the walking track. It is an informal gravel carpark until upgrades are completed in 2025.
  • Overflow parking is available at the Lost City overflow carpark, 1.5km from Lost City carpark.
  • There is an informal gravel carpark at Lost City North that is accessible by 4WD only. 
 

Facilities

There are no bins so please take all your rubbish with you.

Toilets

Temporary toilets are located at Lost City carpark while infrastructure works are being completed.

  • Flush toilets

Picnic tables

There are picnic tables at Lost City lookout, 400m from Lost City carpark.

Carpark

  • Lost City carpark is at the southern end of the walking track. It is an informal gravel carpark until upgrades are completed in 2025. 
  • Overflow parking is available at the Lost City overflow carpark, 1.5km from Lost City carpark.

 

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Bushwalking safety

Fire safety

Mobile safety

Accessibility

Disability access level - no wheelchair access

Hard access is via steps or a steep slope, or you'll have to move across a rough surface with obstacles such as potholes, tree roots, and rocks. Assistance will be necessary.

Prohibited

Camp fires and solid fuel burners

Camping

Gathering firewood

Pets

Smoking

Learn more

Lost City walking track is in Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Aboriginal culture

Views over Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. Credit: Harrison Candlin © Harrison Candlin

Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area is on Wiradjuri Country. This cultural landscape has many sites and artefacts like rock art, grinding grooves, wells, rock shelters and artefact scatters. The park adjoins Maiyingu Marragu Aboriginal Place – a well known rock art site and cultural education area. This location  has great value to Wiradjuri People, who hold a deep connection with the land and a strong sense of custodianship to protect and preserve sites, plants and animals who call it home.

Unique environments

Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamp. Credit: Ian Brown / DCCEEW © Ian Brown

Perched swamps are important to the Newnes Plateau and are significant ecosystems as they feed into deep gullies, creeks and the headwaters the Wolgan, Coxs and Wollangambe rivers. The area also protects the Endangered Ecological Communities of Newnes Plateau and Shrub Swamps, Montane Peatlands and Swamps.

  • Lost City walking track Lost City walking track is a family-friendly 6km return walk in Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. Just 5km from Lithgow, you'll see unique rock formations named pagodas, panoramic views, tranquil creeks and historic mining relics.

Cultural heritage

Water trickling over a historic heritage dam surrounded by trees that once supplied water to Lithgow. Credit: Simone Cottrell © DCCEEW

Newnes and its surrounds was home to a thriving shale oil mining industry in the early 1900s. There are remarkably well-preserved remnants of the area’s mining history like dams, mine shafts and hand-carved stone steps.

  • Lost City walking track Lost City walking track is a family-friendly 6km return walk in Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. Just 5km from Lithgow, you'll see unique rock formations named pagodas, panoramic views, tranquil creeks and historic mining relics.

Striking geology

An aerial shot of pagoda formations in Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. Credit: Simone Cottrell © DCCEEW

Geological activity has created a landscape of Triassic Narrabeen sandstone cliffs, slot canyons, gorges, caves, grand mesas, sandstone pinnacles and pagodas. These ‘platy’ pagodas have distinctive ironstone banding and are nationally significant because of their rarity. They can be as tall as 60m and are one of the many striking rock features to see in this geologically diverse park.

  • Lost City walking track Lost City walking track is a family-friendly 6km return walk in Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. Just 5km from Lithgow, you'll see unique rock formations named pagodas, panoramic views, tranquil creeks and historic mining relics.

Outdoor escapes

2 adults and 2 kids sitting at a square platform bench at Lost City Lookout, Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area near Lithgow. Credit: Simone Cottrell © DCCEEW

Enjoy a peaceful picnic, family-friendly walk or thrilling ride in spectacular natural surrounds. Existing adventure tracks are a drawcard for cyclists and 4WD enthusiasts while new visitor facilities provide improved access and a broader range of outdoor activities. 

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • Bare-nosed wombat. Photo: Keith Gillett

    Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

    A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.

  • Yellow-tailed black cockatoo. Photo: Peter Sherratt

    Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

    The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.

  • Koala. Photo: Lucy Morrell

    Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

    One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.

Plants

  • Flannel flowers in Wollemi National Park. Photo: © Rosie Nicolai

    Flannel flower (Actinotus helianthi)

    The delicate flannel flower is so named because of the soft woolly feel of the plant. Growing in the NSW south coast region, extending to Narrabri in the Central West and up to south-east Queensland, its white or pink flowers bloom all year long, with an extra burst of colour in the spring.

  • Grass trees, Sugarloaf State Conservation Area. Photo: Michael Van Ewijk

    Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)

    An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.

  • Old man banksia, Moreton National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

    Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)

    Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.

  • A red triangle slug on the trunk of a scribbly gum tree in Blue Mountains National Park. Photo: Elinor Sheargold/OEH

    Scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)

    Easily identifiable Australian native plants, scribbly gum trees are found throughout NSW coastal plains and hills in the Sydney region. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark.

  • Close up photo of a waratah flower, Blue Mountains National Park. Photo: Simone Cottrell/OEH.

    Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)

    The beautiful waratah is not only the NSW floral emblem, it's also one of the best-known Australian native plants. This iconic Australian bush flower can be found on sandstone ridges around Sydney, in nearby mountain ranges and on the NSW South Coast. The waratah has a vibrant crimson flowerhead, measuring up to 15cm across, and blossoms in spring.

Environments in this park