Paid night tours in Glenrock State Conservation Area will run during April/May 2026. Send me an email and I'll add you to the waiting list.
Thank you to Awesome Newcastle for providing seed funds.
Thank you to NSW National Parks for issuing an Eco Pass.
Check out the facebook page for news on Glenrock Ghost Fungus Tours.
The backstory
I'm new to the Newcastle region and I've never lived somewhere so wet.
The plus side of all the rain is an amazing array of spectacular fungi each autumn.
In 2024 I first saw glow-in-the-dark ghost fungus. This was on a night tour at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens (which is a great volunteer-run organisation).
Ghost fungus appears in the Newcastle region for a few days each April/May after some rain and when the temperature has started to cool.
In 2025, I decided to track some down close to home. In the day time, I searched along the many trails in Glenrock State Conservation Area. Finally I found some! I went back at night with family and friends to see the glow.
Over the next few nights, I continued to take groups of friends along the trail to see the bioluminescent fungus. It was a treat for young and old.
This made me think... would other people be interested in a night stroll through Glenrock to see and learn about Ghost Fungus?
So began an adventure to learn about running a small business. Glenrock Ghost Fungus Tours was born. In February 2026, we received our Eco Pass from NSW National Parks.
Ghost fungus, May 2025.
Glenrock State Conservation Area, Newcastle
Merch being modeled, January 2026.
Newcastle, NSW
Article on Awesome Newcastle grants, November 2025.
Newcastle Herald
Multiple fungi, May 2025.
Callaghan campus, University of Newcastle