Post by AussieSurvival on Sept 7, 2008 12:44:12 GMT 9.5
Glowworm Tunnel - from Newnes Rd
Bush Walk Or Cycling.
Time: 3 hrs
Distance: 9km
Fitness: Easy, Medium
Skill: Easy
Ascent: 280m
Access:
From the old hotel at Newnes, drive south along the road for 7km until you see the second of two fords less than half a kilometre apart. Park your car opposite.
Access from the Top:
Leave the Bells Line of Road at Clarence (Zig Zag Railway), and follow the gravel road through Newnes State Forest for 34kms. A picnic area is provided, in a pine plantation, along the way.
The Glow Worm Tunnel parking area is located 3km past the junction of the Glow Worm Tunnel Road and the Old Coach Road.
From here it is an easy 5km walk to the tunnel along the original railway formation, the gradient being 1 in 25. The route features cuttings, embankments and a rock tunnel as the line descends into the gorge. Alternately, you can drive on to the vehicle barrier, and walk only 1km. Note, however, that the railway formation is narrow, and parking is limited beyond the car park at the Wollemi National Park boundary.
Features of the landscape include magnificent rock formations, known locally as pagodas; canyons; and places where streams pass underground. The water is tinged reddish-orange by algae, contrasting sharply with the green ferns and mosses. Like many areas of the mountains, it is at its best after rain.
The glow worm tunnel has become a water course, and you may have to wade through water. Torches (flashlights) are essential, but must be turned off in order to see the glow worms, and should not be shown on the worms.
Access from the Bottom:
Leave your vehicle at the old concrete ford (approx. 7km before Newnes). Do not block access to the ford! After crossing the Wolgan River, there is a steep climb of 1km to the old railway formation, then an easy 3km to the Glow Worm Tunnel. Round trip takes about 4 hrs, grades classified as medium.
Either return by same route, or follow the Pagoda Track and Old Coach Rd for a circuit walk.
Ecology of the Glow Worm:
Glow worms are the larvae of insects belonging to the Order Diptera (Flies). Glow Worm flies are known as Fungus Gnats.
The scientific name for the Glow Worm is Arachnocampa richardsae. Glow Worms live in caves and other damp, dark places, where they spin snares of hanging silken threads studded with sticky droplets to entrap small insects such as mosquitoes, which are attracted by the light produced by these larvae.
A blue glow or bioluminescence of the larvae is the result of a reaction between body products and oxygen in the enlarged tips of the insect's four excretory tubes. Bioluminescence can be controlled by regulating the supply of oxygen to these tubes.
The life history of the Glow Worm involves four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult fly. Eggs are laid in large numbers directly onto the cave wall. After three weeks they hatch into tiny larvae which immediately emit a bright light. The larvae grow over a period of months until they reach a length of about 30 mm.
When about to pupate, the larvae shrink in size and become translucent. The larval skin is shed and the larva develops into a pupa, which is suspended vertically. The pupal stage lasts about 12 days. The female pupa is larger and stouter than the male and possesses two prominent bulges at the rear of the abdomen. Both male and female pupae glow. Both adults can also glow, though once egg laying commences, female flies seldom glow. Male flies tend to live longer than females and can live up to four days. Please respect these fascinating creatures by helping to protect the Glow Worms and their habitat so that others can enjoy seeing them in the future.
Glow Worm Tunnel provides an excellent opportunity to see Glow Worms. However, these animals are sensitive to habitat disturbance, in particular, noise, lights and pollution from smoke and exhaust fumes. They are also destroyed by touching.
The floor of the tunnel is wet, rocky and slippery in places. The curve of the tunnel prevents light from disturbing the glow worms. If you want to see the glow worms, turn off your torch, keep quiet and wait a few minutes. The larvae will gradually "turn on" their bioluminescence and be visible as tiny spots of light on the damp walls of the tunnel.
Glow worms are sensitive to habitat disturbance, in particular, noise, lights and pollution from smoke and exhaust fumes. They are also destroyed by touching.
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Add more information.
I'am heading there on saturday/sunday, i will have some photo's for the website/forum. and more information.
Bush Walk Or Cycling.
Time: 3 hrs
Distance: 9km
Fitness: Easy, Medium
Skill: Easy
Ascent: 280m
Access:
From the old hotel at Newnes, drive south along the road for 7km until you see the second of two fords less than half a kilometre apart. Park your car opposite.
Access from the Top:
Leave the Bells Line of Road at Clarence (Zig Zag Railway), and follow the gravel road through Newnes State Forest for 34kms. A picnic area is provided, in a pine plantation, along the way.
The Glow Worm Tunnel parking area is located 3km past the junction of the Glow Worm Tunnel Road and the Old Coach Road.
From here it is an easy 5km walk to the tunnel along the original railway formation, the gradient being 1 in 25. The route features cuttings, embankments and a rock tunnel as the line descends into the gorge. Alternately, you can drive on to the vehicle barrier, and walk only 1km. Note, however, that the railway formation is narrow, and parking is limited beyond the car park at the Wollemi National Park boundary.
Features of the landscape include magnificent rock formations, known locally as pagodas; canyons; and places where streams pass underground. The water is tinged reddish-orange by algae, contrasting sharply with the green ferns and mosses. Like many areas of the mountains, it is at its best after rain.
The glow worm tunnel has become a water course, and you may have to wade through water. Torches (flashlights) are essential, but must be turned off in order to see the glow worms, and should not be shown on the worms.
Access from the Bottom:
Leave your vehicle at the old concrete ford (approx. 7km before Newnes). Do not block access to the ford! After crossing the Wolgan River, there is a steep climb of 1km to the old railway formation, then an easy 3km to the Glow Worm Tunnel. Round trip takes about 4 hrs, grades classified as medium.
Either return by same route, or follow the Pagoda Track and Old Coach Rd for a circuit walk.
Ecology of the Glow Worm:
Glow worms are the larvae of insects belonging to the Order Diptera (Flies). Glow Worm flies are known as Fungus Gnats.
The scientific name for the Glow Worm is Arachnocampa richardsae. Glow Worms live in caves and other damp, dark places, where they spin snares of hanging silken threads studded with sticky droplets to entrap small insects such as mosquitoes, which are attracted by the light produced by these larvae.
A blue glow or bioluminescence of the larvae is the result of a reaction between body products and oxygen in the enlarged tips of the insect's four excretory tubes. Bioluminescence can be controlled by regulating the supply of oxygen to these tubes.
The life history of the Glow Worm involves four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult fly. Eggs are laid in large numbers directly onto the cave wall. After three weeks they hatch into tiny larvae which immediately emit a bright light. The larvae grow over a period of months until they reach a length of about 30 mm.
When about to pupate, the larvae shrink in size and become translucent. The larval skin is shed and the larva develops into a pupa, which is suspended vertically. The pupal stage lasts about 12 days. The female pupa is larger and stouter than the male and possesses two prominent bulges at the rear of the abdomen. Both male and female pupae glow. Both adults can also glow, though once egg laying commences, female flies seldom glow. Male flies tend to live longer than females and can live up to four days. Please respect these fascinating creatures by helping to protect the Glow Worms and their habitat so that others can enjoy seeing them in the future.
Glow Worm Tunnel provides an excellent opportunity to see Glow Worms. However, these animals are sensitive to habitat disturbance, in particular, noise, lights and pollution from smoke and exhaust fumes. They are also destroyed by touching.
The floor of the tunnel is wet, rocky and slippery in places. The curve of the tunnel prevents light from disturbing the glow worms. If you want to see the glow worms, turn off your torch, keep quiet and wait a few minutes. The larvae will gradually "turn on" their bioluminescence and be visible as tiny spots of light on the damp walls of the tunnel.
Glow worms are sensitive to habitat disturbance, in particular, noise, lights and pollution from smoke and exhaust fumes. They are also destroyed by touching.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Add more information.
I'am heading there on saturday/sunday, i will have some photo's for the website/forum. and more information.