If you are going to bounce over the, sometimes, dodgy roads all the way from Lithgow to the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (GSSCA), you might as well make the most of the trip and tick off a few more pleasant, short walks.
I had really enjoyed the Lost City Trail in the morning and now, rather than towering pagoda rock formations, it was time for something completely different. How about a walk in a swamp?
The Broad Swamp Loop is a further 10km or so deeper into the GSSCA, so fire up your engines for the short drive to the turn off.
Walk Name: Broad Swamp Trail
Format: Loop
Approx. Distance: 6.4km
Total Ascent: 96m Total Descent: 97m
Rating: Grade 3
Timing: Allow 1.5-2hours or however long you want.
Terrain: As you can see from the ascent/descent numbers, this is a pretty flat walk with a few gentle undulations. There are some steps and narrow boardwalks, otherwise the track is wide, clear and well-maintained.
Weather: Threatening rain and then…despite walking as fast as I could…bucketing rain. An absolute drenching.
Getting There: Drive a further 11km North of the Lost City turnoff.
Where to Stay: There is quite a range of accommodation in Lithgow. Free or wild camping is not allowed in national parks, but by the look of the various caravans and campers tucked away in the bush, it is done.
General Comments:
- The Broad Swamp loop is a nice walk, but really nothing spectacular unless you just love walking in the Aussie bush anywhere, anytime.
- Even the Swamp itself is a tad ho hum and you don’t really get a great view of it from the trail to understand its scale.
- Of course, I don’t want to detract from the vital role the swamp plays in the local ecosystem or the miraculous fact that a swamp exists high up on a sandstone plateau, but other than some slightly different tree species and some reedy looking grass, you could easily wander by, not knowing of their importance or rarity.
- Luckily there is quite a bit of interpretive signage to explain how the swamp works and the intricacies of various endangered species.
- “Broad Swamp is part of an endangered group of wetlands called Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamps. These swamps only occur in high valleys on sandstone, between 900m and 1200m above sea level. They store and filter water, provide habitat to unique plants and wildlife, and help keep nearby streams healthy”. (Source: walk signage)
- “Broad Swamp, and other nearby Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamps, are home to threatened species found nowhere else on Earth. These include Dean’s Boronia, the Giant Dragonfly, and the Blue Mountains Water Skink. The endangered shrub, Personia hindii, also grows around the edges of the swamp where they thrive in the moist soli conditions”. (Source: walk signage)
- If you are a keen birdwatcher, you will be spoilt for choice. There were whipbirds, kookaburras, and endless small birds hopping around the thick brush. If you had time to sit quietly, I am sure you would see many more species than my untrained eyes were aware of.
- Botanists would also find plenty to enchant and entrance them on this path.
Top Tips for this Trail:
- Direction: I was advised to tackle this loop anticlockwise by someone in the know and yet signage stipulated clockwise was the way to walk. I don’t really think it matters which way you go – the views are pretty much the same. Note: if you want to walk anticlockwise there are no signs telling you where to start. Just head to the northern end of the carpark and you will see a clear trail heading away northwards. After about 400m it starts to gently loop to the left.
- Mobile Service: There is none or its very patchy. Take a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) if you are walking on your own.
- Toilets: Zero, zip, nada.
- Water: Bring plenty of water as there are no taps, tanks or streams of any significant size.
- Safety: All the usual Aussie bush safety rules apply to this walk. Definitely do not walk in this area if there is a high chance of bushfire as there is simply no avenue for escape. Also be snake-aware when walking in warmer seasons.
Bolting back to the car in the dregs of the storm, I threw my wet weather gear into the car boot and cranked the heater up to High. The Broad Swamp Loop finished off a very enjoyable first day in the GSSCA. In reality, you could probably spend three or four days walking all the small trails sprinkled throughout this area. My schedule only allowed for one more hike and I have saved the best for last.
Is a ‘nice’ walk reason enough to go for a walk? Or does it need to reveal something new or different?
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