| Getting to NEWNES |
| Newnes is about 180km from Sydney or approximately 3-4 hours drive. Get on to the M4 to Lithgow. A few minutes drive out of Lithgow on your left is the Mudgee turnoff - take this road and keep going through Wallerawang to Lisdale - you will see the power and mining plant on your left. You will come to a T intersection with a petrol station on your right. Turn right - just as the road sweeps left you will see a road straight ahead with a sign to Newnes. SLOW DOWN to make sure no semi trailers are belting around the corner then go like crazy across to the other side and head to Newnes. The road is good to the Angus Colliery then it deteriorates. Be aware that the road is only a car and a half wide in places and has lots of potholes. When you come to the rubbish tip it is best to gather some logs for your fire and make your mobile telephone calls as this is the last place your phone will work. Head along the road to Wolgan Gap - you will know when you are here by the signs - falling rocks and winding road next 3kms. Pull over to the right and admire the veiw before going down the hill. This road is very steep and narrow so be aware of vehicles coming around the corner on the wrong side of the road. If you are driving an automatic car as I do, I would advise putting the car into second gear so you have more control and your brakes do not overheat. |
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| When you get down the hill you can breathe a sigh of relief and continue on your way - the road from here is gravel, corregated and full of potholes. Keep focused - it is a long climb up the hill to ring the NRMA if you have a misshap. I sit on 40 to 60 kph. depending on the weather. The road is one car wide in places with blind corners and one lane cattle grids to negotiate. The road is red clay so when it is dry it is very dusty - when it is wet it is slippery and the mud clings to your tyres. |
| It may sound bad but it is an easy trip as long as you are careful. My first trip was made in a 1981 Bluebird. I am now driving a 1983 Mitsibishi Sigma Wagon both these cars are 2 wheel drives and both handle the wet conditions really well. The only thing you have to watch out for on weekends and holidays are the mad city people in their 4WD's who seem to like sliding around the corners sideways. Another thing to remember is after the October long weekend when the weather starts to heat up Newnes is very popular. During the Christmas school holidays it is hard to find a place to camp if you have a 2 wheel drive. There is camping at Little Capertee - which is mostly used by the 2 wheel drive vehicles and camping across the Wolgan River for the 4 wheel drives - this crossing is very sandy and unless you are with someone who can pull you out I would not advise trying to cross. There is no one in the area with a vehicle who can pull you out. The hotel has been sold once again. At present there is no one in occupancy. |
| You keep driving along the road until you come to the Newnes Hotel which is now a private home continue along the potholed road until you come to a creek (Little Capertee Creek) it is not as deep as it looks - I put my auto into first gear and drive steadily through on the side closest to the bank. |
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| Newnes Hotel |
| Camping among the wattle trees. I now have a new tent - I thought it was time I had some luxury so I purchased a tent I could stand up in - pure bliss. |
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| Little Capertee Camping area from above. |
| There is only one windy (pit) toilet at Capertee - if you arrive in peak season you may have to queue - you can purchase a little toilet and shower tent from KMart for a reasonable price. This year (2002) I noticed the Parks and Wildlife have built a windy loo on the other side of the river and also brought in some portable toilets for the Christmas crush. I do mean crush. |
| Walk one |
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| The new tent and me contemplating climbing Mystery Mountain - yes, I conquered it with my worn out knees. |
