Adventure Time: Dargan Arch

Near Lithgow
Distance: 2.3km
Duration: We took a bit over an hour

Today we decided to explore Dargan Arch, a very cool eroded rock formation out near Bell.

Getting there was an adventure in itself! We were following some vague directions which took us along the Darling Causeway, and up Sandham Rd to Dargan. We searched in vain for 'pole 384' to turn off at, overshooting it and ending up at a colliery. After some backtracking with all of us hanging out the car windows scanning poles and trees for numbers, we finally found 384, and drove a short way down a scrubby unmaintained trail. There was a bare patch about the size of 2 car spaces that we took to be the 'parking area' referred to in the notes we were using.

From there it was a 15 minute walk down a loose, rocky, rutted 4WD track to Dargan Arch. The arch itself is very big and you can walk across it (with care of course).

It feels quite safe but mind the edges, as its a fair way down! Looking down over the edge, we decided to have a bit of a scramble and get down into the natural amphitheater under our feet.

This bit required some butt-sliding and crabbing down, especially for Holly, but with each of us helping each other it wasn't too hard to get down or back up.

The huge open ampitheatres under the arch were cool to play around in; there is one underneath the arch itself then with a bit of sideways scrambling we got across to another, and further round again there was much more to explore, but we kept it short and sweet today. When the kids are bigger perhaps we'll return here and take them further into the trees to a creek that leads to the Wollangambe river via a shallow canyon.

This walk had that wonderful otherworldly feeling of the landscape being alive; as if we were being watched over by the ancient rock and scrub. Maybe it was the proximity to Newnes with its sentinel-like rock pagodas, but there was a definite vibe here that felt warm and safe.

After playing, sitting, taking photos and snacking, we heading back the way we came. Holly was a trooper scrambling up the steep rock face like a lizard, till she lost confidence at the top and froze. But we all gave each other a leg up and got back to the track heading to the car.

This was a fantastic short walk that felt extra special as it wasn't easy to find. Being December we were blessed with heaps of waratahs in bloom as well!

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