Getting there

Following the dirt road up to the glowworm tunnel, Mark pulled over the ute and told me to hop into the drivers seat. It was time for me to learn manual. I managed to snap into second gear without stalling the old Navara, and weaved my way through the potholes.

It was a long and bumpy ride, and when we arrived at the parking lot we had a 2km hike ahead to reach the tunnels.

Glowworm tunnels

When you get inside, it’s worthwhile knowing that glowworms don’t like loud noises and will hide if there’s any light. So don’t walk in with a head torch shouting to your friends. Stay quiet.

Instead, use your phone light, and just shine it on the floor to be sure you don’t trip and fall into the water. As you get deeper into the tunnel, turn off the light, stand still and wait a few minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Hopefully you’ll see the glow worms lighting up the tunnel walls.

Unfortunately for us, there were a group of loud talkers trailing behind. But once they went quiet we saw the tunnels light up.

When we reached the other side we waited for the others to pass, and went in again to see the glow worms at their best.

It didn’t take long before we could see the neon worms glowing on the walls and roof of the damp tunnel. If you really want to see the tunnels in all their glory, you’ve got to go there. Photos won’t do this place justice.

Inside it is damp and very dark, so be sure to wear grippy waterproof shoes.

Camping and getting there

• Camping at Newnes Plateau or in the Lithgow Pines is a great way to make this adventure a whole weekend, not just one day
• Follow along the potholed Glowworm Tunnel road until you reach the parking lot, where you’ll hike 2km to the entrance of the tunnel.

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