Sunday 19/10/2025 Birds Rock Car Park – Carne View Lookout – Carne Creek
Gardens of Stone Conservation Area, NSW
Wiradjuri Country (Wiradjuri people)
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
After lunch, we decided to walk to Carne View as was recommended by Trevor at the Lithgow Visitor Information Centre. It was getting a little warm in the afternoon, but we were keen to complete this walk this afternoon before the heat really intensifies over the next few days.
Max elevation: 1165 m
Total climbing: 286 m
Total descent: -276 m
Average speed: 4.00 km/h
Total time: 02:23:05
It was a fairly uneventful walk along the trail, which was an old 4WD track. The most noticeable aspect was that it was downhill! An uphill climb was necessary in the heat of the afternoon.
Carne View Lookout overlooking Carne Creek
The lookout was indeed impressive with panoramic views overlooking Carne Creek with towering cliffs on both sides. It is described by NPWS as “the jewel in the crown of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area”.
It was worth the effort of the 7km return walk to see this scenic lookout.
Clickable icons on this world map will open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries
Information on Parks signage along the way
Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area
New walking tracks and lookouts are now open to visitors as part of a staged construction launch.
Broad Swamp to Birds Rock Walking Track The 17.5 km to Broad Swamp Carpark via Carne View Lookout, 7-8 hrs one way
Grade 3
Broad Swamp to Birds Rock Walking Track is a challenging hike which showcases diverse landscapes including creeks, gorges, clifftop views and pagoda formations. Major track work has transformed this track from an eroded informal trail to a world-class walking track, which also serves as the first part of the Gardens of Stone Pagoda Walk. Moderate level of fitness required.
Carne View Lookout
7 km return, 2-3 hrs
Carne View Lookout provides unrivalled views of sandstone escarpments, sheer cliff walls and the deep canyons of Carne Creek. Accessed via part of the Broad Swamp to Birds Rock Walking Track.
The local landscape features, geology, scenic highlights, flora, fauna, Indigenous history, white history and other nearby walks in the area (Perplexity AI Model)
Landscape Features and Geology
Gardens of Stone is famed for its spectacular pagoda rock formations – beehive-shaped sandstone outcrops up to 60 metres tall, distinguished by ironstone banding and sedimentary “plating” formed through weathering of the Triassic Narrabeen Group sandstones. Carne Creek carves a broad valley through this uplifted plateau, intersecting gorges, cliffs, canyons, and flat-topped mesas. The dramatic “pagoda country” between Broad Swamp and Birds Rock forms one of Australia’s most unusual geomorphic spectacles. The geology also supports elevated swamps, block walls of orange sandstone, and a rich diversity of soils that foster unusually high plant diversity.
Scenic Highlights
Carne View Lookout provides panoramic views across vertical cliffs, the winding course of Carne Creek, and iconic pagoda ridgelines. The walk from Birds Rock Car Park reveals a sequence of lookout points, creek valleys and upland woodlands, culminating in Carnes View’s acclaimed perspective of the Gardens of Stone landforms. Pyramid Rock, visible above the tree line, is an additional highlight. At sunrise and sunset, the cliffs and pagodas display striking changes in colour and shadow. The remoteness of the track provides opportunities for birdwatching, nature appreciation, and solitude.
Local Flora
This region supports over 1,000 flora species spread across dry woodland, heath, upland swamp, and cliff-top environments. Uplands and rocky areas host snowgum (Eucalyptus gregsoniana), Sydney peppermint (Eucalyptus piperita), and mallee (Eucalyptus spp.), while swamps are dominated by sedges, sphagnum moss, and Newnes Plateau geebung (Persoonia hindii). Heathlands and rock shelves support pagoda daisy (Leucochrysum), banksia, grevillea, tea tree, boronia, small wattles, and native orchids. Montane heath and grassy woodlands thrive in shallow soils around the pagodas and cliffs.
Local Fauna
The area is a sanctuary for over 80 rare and threatened animal species. Birds include the glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami), regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia), flame robin (Petroica phoenicea), and superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae). Reptiles such as the Blue Mountains water skink (Eulamprus leuraensis) and mammals including spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor), and echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) inhabit woodlands and creek margins. Frog and insect diversity is enhanced by the presence of swamps and perennial water along Carne Creek.
Indigenous History
This region is part of Wiradjuri Country, with cultural connections extending for thousands of years. Aboriginal heritage sites within the Conservation Area include rock art, grinding grooves, scarred trees, stone arrangements, and pigment art. Carne Creek and adjacent upland swamps provided important resources, as well as settings for ceremony and story transmission. Efforts are ongoing to protect and interpret these cultural places and maintain active Wiradjuri custodianship, reflecting the area’s enduring spiritual and historical significance.
White History
European interests focused initially on mining, forestry, and land exploration, with notable impacts from coal mining and shale oil extraction in the Lithgow area. Advocacy for protecting the Gardens of Stone landscape began in the 1930s; however, designation as a conservation area was realised only in 2022 following nearly ninety years of campaigns. The walking tracks and lookouts now established, such as Birds Rock and Carne View, serve both recreation and ongoing conservation, striking a balance between visitor access and the preservation of geological, ecological, and cultural values.
Clickable icons on this world map will open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries
