This is gold rush country, home to vast crowds of hopeful fossickers midway through the 19th century, it sets a quieter pace these days.
Just 180km out of Sydney and a little past the Blue Mountains, an overnight mission is mighty doable and comes highly recommended.
There’s some incredibly fun driving on offer, with a couple of creek crossings thrown in the mix and a few challenging sections.
It’s a perfect spot for moderately experienced 4WDers to hone their skills offroad and there are enough steep sections to keep the old hands happy. The perfect setting for a weekend of 4WDing and a night under the stars.
STUFF TO DO
4WDING: Varied terrain with some rocky sections, the steepest of which is the climb up to Pinnacle Rock. There are a couple of fairly straightforward water crossings on offer at the Turon River itself and its tributary, Jackass Creek.
FOSSICKING is certainly worth a go out here, with enough alluvial deposits settled in the sediment to warrant busting out the gold pans. If you’ve never tried before, watch a couple of instructional videos on YouTube before embarking. It’s easier than you think and you never know your luck.
IMPORTANT INFO
LOCATION: 180km west of Sydney, not far from Lithgow and Sunny Corner State Forest.
CAMPING is available at Woolshed Flats and The Diggings campsites. Toilets are provided at both campgrounds but other facilities are limited. Camping is free and permits are not required.
FUEL is available in Lithgow, the Blue Mountains and Sydney.
MORE INFO is available at www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
