Bungonia Conservation Area, NSW

This is one of the oldest National Parks in New South Wales, being first protected in 1872, incorporates an impressive gorge, brimming with limestone. Mining began in 1871 and now operates as Marulan South Limestone Mine, facilitating supplies used in the construction industry. A sign indicates that mining of the limestone quarry seen from the Bungonia Lookdown is now only used on an as needs basis, when supply is more heavily in demand. 

Looking down onto Shoalhaven River from Mt Ayre

There are approx. 200 wild caves in the park

400 million years ago this area was actually under water, inhabited by sea life extracting calcium carbonate to strengthen shells and bones. Over time once the water had gone, the compacted calcium carbonate formed limestone mountains that are what we see today,  the Bungonia National Park. The park is rich with fossils found in these limestone deposits, evidence  of this miraculous  transforming landscape.

The park is known as an 'Adventure Playground' of the South, enticing those who dare opportunities to participate in rock climbing, abseiling, caving and walking. There are five walking tracks to traverse through the park, but as the sun had begun to make its decent behind the mountains, we decided on the 'white' track a short 1.5 kilometre trek through native bush lands to the top of Mount Ayre that offered up intimidating views of Shoalhaven River at the base of the gorge. The Bungonia Lookdown, a protruding walkway, which cantilevers past a rocky outcrop over the gorge, provided a spectacular setting for stunning photos and over the other side at Adams Lookout a well preserved path led to additional viewing platforms of the limestone divide. With more time we would have liked to explore some of the other tracks that coil around the gorge, what a great excuse to return.