Aussie dad slams 's*** mountain' after family hike is ruined by a series of stomach-churning discoveries

By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:57, 14 April 2026 | Updated: 01:57, 14 April 2026 A father hiking with his family over the Easter weekend was horrified when they stumbled across 'human poop', wipes and a still-lit campfire. Nathan Mas-Stephens, an emergency rescue worker, and his two children were visiting the Gardens of Stone National Park, near Lithgow, on March 5. After completing a 2km trail near rock formations, the family were alarmed by what they discovered at a campsite.  'I've seen plenty of trashed spots before… but leaving a campsite with an active fire is next level,' Mr Mas-Stephens said on social media.  'NPWS signs torn down, unopened alcohol left behind, gas canisters scattered around. It just doesn't make sense.' The family then walked to Wolgan Gap Lookout, where more horror ensued.  'An absolute cracker of a place… but honestly, it was rough,' he said.  'Used toilet paper, wet wipes scattered everywhere, and so much human poop on the rocks that the local wombat gave up trying to compete.' Nathan Mas-Stephens and his two children (pictured) were disgusted by what they found during a hike in the Gardens of Stone National Park near Lithgow The family discovered a still-lit fire filled with rubbish and food waste (pictured) Mr Mas-Stephens said they had put out the active campfire, which was filled with cans, food waste and plastic. He also attempted to call the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) but struggled to get through to anyone. The Daily Mail has contacted the state government department for comment. A spokesperson for the service told Yahoo News they were 'disappointed' by the reports of littering and illegal dumping.  'These actions damage fragile environments, put public safety at risk, and detract from the experience of other visitors,' they said. They said littering and illegal dumping could attract 'significant fines' of between $500 and $1,000. Illegal dumping can result in fines of up to $15,000. Leaving a fire unattended can result in further penalties, including a $660 fine for leaving a lit cigarette - which doubles during fire bans. Defecation in public does not come under a specific law but could be prosecuted as 'offensive conduct' with a maximum penalty of $660.  Leaving a fire unattended can see further penalties, including a $660 fine for leaving a lit cigarette - which doubles during fire bans Mr Mas-Stephens said improvements to the tracks in the national park had attracted new visitors, bringing with them further risks of littering and vandalism.  'Places that once took effort to reach are now a quick stop-off the side of the road. In, out, and onto the next spot… without much thought for what's left behind,' he wrote. 'But it's going to become more frequent if we don't stay on top of it. 'At the end of the day, it's pretty simple. Take your rubbish. Put your fires out properly. Respect the place. Because spots like this deserve better.' The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.