Sunday 19/10/2025 Broad Swamp Carpark – Broad Swamp Loop Walk – Camp Road
Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, NSW
Wiradjuri Country (Wiradjuri people)
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
We headed off on this walk through Broad Swamp on a clear and sunny morning. It was a gentle meander on the well-formed track through the bush. It is part of a group of wetlands called Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamps. These are found only in high valleys on sandstone rock.
Max elevation: 1112 m
Total climbing: 114 m
Total descent: -104 m
Average speed: 4.13 km/h
Total time: 02:26:42
There are several threatened species here that are found nowhere else on earth: Deane’s Boronia (which we saw), the Giant Dragonfly and the Blue Mountains Water Skink (which we didn’t see). Bird songs were ever-present, and we only saw two other people out on the walk today.
The wildflowers were out in bloom, and we did spot several different orchids. We crossed a series of bog bridges that protect the delicate vegetation. Much effort has been put into building this track, and the results are impressive.
Broad Swamp to Birds Rock Walking Track
The return part of the loop was over higher and drier ground and was less interesting. Overall, this was a pleasant short walk, especially at this time of year with the wildflowers on display.
Amongst other photographically recorded observations during this walk, we were able to confirm sightings of each of the following species: Pink Matchheads (Comesperma ericinum), Hop Bitter-Pea (Daviesia latifolia), Blue Ant (Diamma bicolor), Laurel-leaf Grevillea (Grevillea laurifolia), Acanthus-leaved Grevillea (Grevillea acanthifolia), Viscid Daisy Bush (Olearia viscidula), Acanthus-leaved Grevillea (Grevillea acanthifolia), Tiger Orchid (Diuris sulphurea), Musky Caps (Caladenia moschata)
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 Loop Walk
6 km loop, 1-2 hrs
Grade 3
Broad Swamp Loop Walk is a family-friendly track which showcases the largest swamp within the Gardens of Stone SCA. Experience the rich biodiversity values of the area first-hand and marvel at unique birdlife, such as flame robins, which call this place home. This loop track is best enjoyed in a clockwise direction.
Broad Swamp to Birds Rock Walking Track
17.5 km, 7-8 hrs one way with car drop at Birds Rock Carpark Grade 3
The 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.
Welcome to Broad Swamp
Broad Swamp is part of a special group of wetlands called Newnes Plateau Strub Swamps.
These swamps are rare and endangered, found only in high valleys (900 – 1200 metres above sea level) on sandstone rock.
They act like natural filters – absorbing water, supporting unique plants and animals, and helping keep nearby streams clean and healthy.
Home to many
Broad Swamp and other nearby Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamps are home to threatened species found nowhere else on earth.
These include Deane’s Boronia (Boronia deanei), the Giant Dragonfly (Petalura gigantea) and the Blue Mountains Water Skink (Eulamprus leuraensis).
The endangered shrub, Persoonia hindi also grows around the edges of the swamp, where it thrives in the moist soil conditions.
Unique
Broad Swamp is part of an endangered ecological community, found only in the Sydney Basin region.
Water regulation Swamps act as natural filters, helping to keep streams healthy by reducing flow and cleaning water as it flows through headwater catchments.
Carbon storage Peat soils in swamps store carbon, helping reduce greenhouse gases and support a stable climate.
Threats
Broad Swamp faces many challenges including:
• Damage from vehicles including motorbikes
• Pollution and litter
• Invasive plants
• Changes to water flow from roads and mining activity
• Climate change and fire
Unique and endangered
Two threatened species call Broad Swamp home, the Giant Dragonfly (Petalura gigantea) and the Blue Mountains Water Skink (Eulamprus leuraensis).
Endangered
The Blue Mountains Water Skink lives only in highland swamps in the Blue Mountains region, including Broad Swamp It has a dark body with striking yellow and bronze stripes and loves moist soil and deep leaf litter. With fewer than 40 known habitat areas, it’s one of Australia’s most endangered reptiles and depends on healthy swamps to survive.
The water skink has been declared an Asset of Intergenerational Significance, meaning it is protected to ensure its survival. This status reflects its limited habitat and vulnerability to threats such as habitat loss from longwall mining and climate change.
Endangered
The Giant Dragonfly is one of Australia’s largest dragonflies, with a wingspan of up to 13 cm. It lives only in swampy areas like Broad Swamp, where its young (called nymphs) spend up to 10 years growing in moist peat soils before emerging as adults.
The Giant Dragonfly is endangered due to its limited habitat and sensitivity to changes in water and soil. Protecting swamps like this one is vital to its survival.
Protecting sensitive ecoșystems
Since the gazettal of Gardens of Stone SCA in 2022, NPWS has been working to protect and restore this unique landscape.
The area connects Wollemi, Blue Mountains, and Gardens of • Stone national parks, forming a vital ecological corridor for flora and fauna. NPWS is focused on conserving biodiversity and restoring degraded landscapes through weed and pest control, fire planning, and sustainable visitor access.
The rehabilitation of Broad Swamp is a key part of this work to enhance protection of this sensitive area, which has suffered years of damage from unauthorised vehicle access.
These activities have caused significant erosion, disturbed sensitive peat soils and impacted native vegetation.
NPWS is actively restoring the swamp by limiting vehicle access, rehabilitating eroded trails and monitoring swamp biodiversity. It’s a slow and careful process, but each step helps bring the swamp back to life.
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
Broad Swamp is the largest wetland in the Gardens of Stone, situated on the Newnes Plateau at about 1,050 metres elevation. The swamp is a perched wetland fed by groundwater and rainfall, forming part of a complex system of channels, bogs, and peatland habitats. The surrounding terrain reveals Triassic Narrabeen sandstone cliffs and distinctive ironstone-banded “platy” pagodas, rising up to 60 metres high, as well as mesa formations and deep gorges. Bog bridges and stepping stones along the Broad Swamp Loop Walk allow passage through sensitive areas without disturbing the hydrology.
Scenic Highlights
The six-kilometre Broad Swamp Loop Walk features panoramic wetland vistas, seasonal wildflower displays, and encounters with sandstone pagoda formations. Visitors can observe the intricate creek network, lush sedge meadows, and vibrant woodlands bordering the swamp. Scenic views often include glimpses of distant cliffs and valleys, particularly at dawn and dusk when light enhances the colours of exposed sandstone and wetland grasses. The trail is especially valued for the serenity of the ancient swamp and the abundance of birdsong throughout its circuit.
Local Flora
Broad Swamp and the adjacent plateau preserve endangered ecological communities such as the Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamp and Montane Peatlands. Swamp margins support sedges, rushes, and sphagnum moss, while drier ground hosts eucalypts like Sydney peppermint (Eucalyptus piperita) and tea trees (Leptospermum spp.). Wattles (Acacia spp.), banksia, small-leafed heath, and grevillea appear on drier slopes and among pagoda outcrops. Wildflowers, including boronia and native orchids, are abundant in spring, and a variety of ferns and groundcovers occupy moist shaded pockets.
Local Fauna
More than 80 rare and threatened animal species are recorded in the Gardens of Stone, including the glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami), regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia), and spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus). Red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) and echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) inhabit the broad woodlands, while the swamp supports frogs such as the giant burrowing frog (Heleioporus australiacus) and unique invertebrates. Birdlife includes flame robin (Petroica phoenicea), swamp robin, and occasionally the superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) contributing to the rich soundscape.
Indigenous History
This landscape forms part of Wiradjuri Country, with deep continuing cultural significance for Wiradjuri people. Numerous heritage sites include rock art, grinding grooves, wells, shelters, and artefact scatters. Gardens of Stone adjoins Maiyingu Marragu Aboriginal Place, a celebrated area of rock art and cultural education. Swamps and woodlands supplied essential food, water, and materials, and the intricate knowledge of swamp hydrology and plant communities shaped seasonal practices of gathering and ceremony.
White History
Mining history is present in the region, with nearby Newnes and Lithgow areas home to thriving shale oil and coal industries from the early twentieth century. Dams, mine shafts, and hand-carved stone remnants endure in the landscape. Conservation campaigns dating from 1932 led to the protection of Gardens of Stone, with further expansions in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries to safeguard its diverse habitats and geological wonders. The establishment of new walking tracks like the Broad Swamp Loop is a recent development to balance recreational access with environmental stewardship.
Clickable icons on this world map will open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries
