Bathurst’s Best Bushwalks

Is lockdown giving you cabin fever? Are you looking for some amazing locations to explore once lockdown lifts? Say no more… the Bathurst Region is filled with some great bushwalking, here are some of my favourites!

Grove Creek Falls

Grove Creek Falls is a must-see for those who love chasing waterfalls. This walking track takes you through dense bushland alongside the picturesque Grove Creek and finishes with dramatic views of Grove Creek Falls. This waterfall is definitely the biggest and best in the Central West as it is some 70 meters tall. This bushwalking track is less than 50 minutes away from Bathurst’s CBD just past the small town of Trunkey Creek.

The track is a 6km return walk, which takes around 2 hours to complete. There are also incredible caves in the area called Abercrombie Caves, which are just a few minutes from the falls which can be explored on foot. Make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, snacks and drinking water.

Glow Worm Tunnel

Have you ever seen a glow worm? Well, say no more, head to Glow Worm Tunnel, 30 kilometres north of Lithgow and a 1.5 hour’s drive from Bathurst. The Glow Worm Tunnel walking track is the fastest and easiest way to experience the wonder of this historic tunnel, lit by thousands of glow worms! It’s a favourite with visitors to the Wollemi National Park. The 400m-long tunnel was built in the early 1900s as part of the railway for the thriving mining industry at Newnes. It’s now home to thousands of glow worms that cling to the dark, damp walls. Switch off your torch, keep quiet, and wait for the worms to light up the tunnel with pinpricks of blue light, it sure is a breathtaking sight.

The area isn’t just home to glow worms, but also kangaroos, koalas, goannas and lyrebirds. This bushwalk is only 2kms and takes around an hour to complete, but there are great areas to take photos and have a picnic. Remember to pack a torch, hat, sunscreen, snacks, drinking water, sturdy shoes and waterproof clothing.

Jenolan Caves Riverwalk

The Jenolan Caves are the oldest discovered open caves in the world, located 30 minutes from Oberon and an hour from Bathurst. The Jenolan Caves are home to many walking tracks, but by far the most popular is the river walking track. The river walking track at Jenolan Caves includes an amazing Blue Lake, waterfalls and bridges, it’s also great for bird watching and wildlife spotting. To make the most of this walk, why not pack a picnic to enjoy beside the vibrant blue waters of Blue Lake? There is also a swimming spot towards the end of this walk, which overlooks a waterfall.

On this walk, you will come across many of the areas unique animals including bellbirds, lyrebirds, goannas, kangaroos, wallabies, water dragons and you may also see a platypus! The walk is around 3kms and takes just over an hour to complete. While in the area, why not explore the unique cave systems or have a coffee at the local eateries. Remember to pack drinking water, snacks, a hat, sunscreen, suitable clothing and maybe even some binoculars for this adventure!

Boundary Road Reserve

Looking for somewhere not far out of town? Try the Boundary Road Reserve, located only five minutes from the Bathurst CBD. Access this trail from the Vietnam Veteran’s Park of Boundary Road. There are about 4 kilometres of easy walking tracks with magnificent views across Bathurst to the mountains, and back onto Mount Panorama. Over 100 kangaroos live within this reserve, which is amazing to see in their natural environment.

Make sure to grab your camera as you don’t want to miss the wildlife in the area! The area also has great picnic facilities and amenities. The walk takes around an hour to complete, so make sure to pack some drinking water, a hat, sunscreen and suitable footwear and clothing.

Remember your safety when venturing out on these adventures, and always take a friend or family member along with you. Pack plenty of water and food for the walk – make sure you are prepared for anything that may happen when you are in the bush. Always tell someone where you are going. Stay on the track, and watch out for snakes in the warmer months.

Make sure to send us your photos of your adventures around the region to our social media pages, and you may be featured!

David Attenborough.. uh I mean Archie Staines reporting for Interp.