Experience Glenrock’s glowing Ghost Fungus this Autumn
Newcastle’s natural wonders just got a whole lot more magical.
This April and May, Glenrock State Conservation Area will play host to something truly unique - glowing mushrooms.
Known as Ghost Fungus, these bioluminescent marvels light up the forest floor, creating an unforgettable natural spectacle. And now, thanks to Glenrock Ghost Fungus Tours, you can experience it for yourself.
How it all started: from physics to fungi
Behind this luminous adventure is Dr Karen Livesey - Associate Professor of Physics, science communicator, mum, and now founder of Glenrock Ghost Fungus Tours.
After moving to Newcastle in 2020, Karen became fascinated by the fungi thriving in the region. When she discovered some species glow in the dark, she was hooked. Years spent researching light suddenly had a new playground: the bushland in her own backyard.
“I was walking in Glenrock with my 10-year-old son, wondering about my next career move. Without hesitation, he said I should run ghost fungus tours. At first we laughed, but the idea stuck,” says Karen.
Bringing the fungi to life
Karen approached NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in late 2025, hoping to run free tours. Instead, she discovered she’d need insurance and an EcoPass – making it a costly endeavour.
A grant from Awesome Newcastle provided enough financial support to push forward and bring the glowing experience to the community.
Today, Glenrock Ghost Fungus Tours is the only ghost fungus experience offered within a NSW national park – a rare opportunity to witness a fleeting natural phenomenon with expert guidance.
What to expect on the night
Ghost fungus fruits briefly in Autumn with mushrooms only lasting a few days, making finding them on your own difficult.
Karen does the legwork for you. Armed with specialist knowledge, she leads small groups into the bush in the evening to witness something extraordinary: a mushroom that appears ordinary by day, then glows eerie white to the naked eye - yet turns a vivid green through a camera lens.
Karen hopes the experience sparks joy, curiosity, and care for the local environment, reflecting that “Research shows that people who connect with nature are happier, healthier, and more likely to protect it.”
Each tour includes:
- A 50-minute guided walk
- 1.5 - 2km along bush trails
- Small groups (maximum 16 people)
- Interpretation of fungi, and bioluminescence
- Lights off at the fungus site to witness the glow
- Help with night photography
How to book
Because ghost fungus is weather-dependent, tours operate on short notice between April and May 2026.
- Join the waiting list via email or the Glenrock Ghost Fungus Tours Facebook page
- When fungi appear, you’ll receive 10 - 36 hours notice
- Book and pay once dates are confirmed
Prices range from $40 for adults, $30 concession, and $20 for children (ages 5+). Private tours (2 - 10 people) are available for $350.
If 2026 breaks even, Karen will return in Autumn 2027 - giving more people the chance to experience that wide-eyed moment when the lights go out, the forest glows, and Newcastle’s bush reveals its secrets.
For more information and to join the waiting list, visit the official Facebook page or email Karen directly.
Edited to add: After a surge of interest in the ghost fungus tours, the waitlist for 2026 is now booked out. Please keep an eye on the Glenrock Ghost Fungus Tours Facebook page for tours in 2027.
Image credit: Lachlan Rogers
