Fancy a journey into an ancient volcano to see molten lava, fire fountains and mud flows?
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You can thanks to a digital geotrail that includes fascinating findings from a scientific paper on the Warrumbungle National Park prepared by the Geological Survey of NSW.
"Our geological scientists have uncovered the shape, size and lava flows of what we can determine was a shield volcano that existed after the dinosaurs became extinct and before humans walked the Earth," said Deputy Premier John Barilaro. "And now people can experience it first-hand.
"Thousands of visitors come to Warrumbungle each year to enjoy the site's natural beauty and stargazing opportunities, and through this new geotrail, we can now explore the remains of the huge volcano that gave rise to the local landscape."
There are trail options suited to a range of abilities, including a self-drive tour, a leisurely stroll around what used to be the volcano's main crater, and an adventurous hike around the Grand High Tops Circuit with breathtaking views created by the volcano's unique geology.
The Warrumbungle Volcano geotrail is the third in the NSW Government's growing geotrail network.
Others focus on the Newcastle and Port Macquarie coastlines.
"Each trail is unique, covering local geological highlights and historic and cultural facts that will intrigue families," Mr Barilaro said.
The Port Macquarie Coastline Geotrail shows rocks made by volcanoes by microscopic marine creatures and underwater gravity currents.
The Newcastle Coastline Geotrail showcases how the coastline has changed across 250 million years and includes facts about volcanoes, a fossilised ancient forest, as well as Australia's split from New Zealand.
Coming soon are the Central Darling Geotrail, which includes Mungo, Kinchega and Paroo-Darling national parks; and Mutawintji National Park Geotrail, a journey through a 400 million-year-old seabed where you'll learn abou fossils and explore evidence of thousands of years of continuous Aboriginal occupancy and use of this rugged desert landscape.
You can install the free GeoTours NSW app on iOS or Android phones and tablets to download the geotrails. Then head out to explore some of the most spectacular landscapes NSW has to offer.
Read the scientific paper about the Warrumbungle Volcano at the Australian Journal of Earth Sciences HERE
