The Glow Worm Tunnel is one of those walks that feels like a proper little adventure—part bushwalk, part history lesson, part natural light show. Hidden away deep in Wollemi National Park, this old railway tunnel is best known for its glow worms, but the walk in is just as much a part of the experience.
Getting to the trailhead is half the fun. Glow Worm Tunnel Road is unsealed and can be rough in places, especially after rain, but in dry conditions it’s usually fine for most vehicles. As the bush thickens and phone reception drops out, it starts to feel reassuringly remote—exactly what you’d expect from this corner of Wollemi. There’s a car park at the end of the road with basic facilities and clear signage marking the start of the walk.
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| The car park is recahable in a humble 2WD |
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| The new visitor signage at the beginning of the track |
The tunnel itself has recently had a major upgrade, with $4.3 million spent on safety improvements designed to protect both visitors and the glow worms. Inside, new raised walkways and handrails make it easier to move through the tunnel, while helping preserve the delicate habitat that the glow worms rely on.
The walk to the tunnel is around 6 km return and follows the old Newnes railway alignment. It’s mostly gentle and easygoing, with wide, well-formed track winding through open eucalypt forest and sandstone cuttings. One of the standout features early on is the series of hand-cut rock walls along the track—a reminder that this was once a working industrial railway serving the shale oil operations at Newnes in the early 1900s. Considering how remote the area still feels, the scale of the construction is pretty remarkable.
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| Glow Worm Tunnel Track |
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| You'll pass a pond along the way |
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| Glow Worm Tunnel Track |
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| Heading through the rock cutting |
Almost out of nowhere, the tunnel appears—an understated stone entrance set into the hillside. As you head inside and the change is immediate. The air cools, the light quickly fades, and the outside world begins to feel a long way away. Inside the tunnel, the darkness becomes absolute, however, using the handrail and a red light torch allows you to shuffle along its length.
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| The entrance to the tunnel |
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| The entrance to the tunnel |
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| Leaving the light behind |
About halfway through, the real magic reveals itself. Turn off your torch and let your eyes adjust, and tiny blue points of light slowly begin to glow overhead. Thousands of glow worms cling to the ceiling, their soft blue-green light created through bioluminescence as they lure insects into fine, sticky threads. In the total darkness of the tunnel, the effect is surreal—like standing beneath a quiet, underground night sky.
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| The glow worms begin to appear |
The tunnel itself is 387 metres long and was built in the early 1900s as part of the railway servicing the shale mines in the Wolgan Valley. Its constant moisture, cool temperatures, and flowing stream have created the perfect conditions for a permanent glow worm population to thrive.
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| Glow worms |
The glow worms found in places like the Glow Worm Tunnel are native to Australia and New Zealand, where several species occur. New Zealand is especially famous for them, particularly the colonies at the Waitomo Caves; however, those are typically only accessible as part of a guided tour.
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| Glow worms |
At the far end of the tunnel, the passage opens into a small clearing. The area is shaded, with moss-covered rock walls and a trickle of water running through, providing the cool, damp conditions that help maintain the tunnel’s permanent glow worm population. This eastern opening also allows airflow and light to enter, contributing to the tunnel’s stable microclimate.
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| The tunnel exit |
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| The tunnel exit is impressive |
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| There is more visitor infrastructure in the clearing |
Normally, you’d continue north along the Tunnel Track to meet the Old Coach Road as it climbs out of the Wolgan Valley. However, recent landslides have closed the track and, according to NPWS, it will remain closed until further notice. For now, the only option is to turn around, head back through the tunnel, and retrace your steps to the car park.
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| The Glow Worm Tunnel |
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| The Glow Worm Tunnel |
The Glow Worm Tunnel walk manages to strike a rare balance between being easy to access and feeling like a genuine adventure. You don’t need any special skills or equipment—just sturdy shoes, a torch, and a willingness to head a little off the beaten track for one of the most quietly memorable walks in the region.
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