Minnamurra
Hugging the Minnamurra River, the shaded Lyrebrid loop walk offers suspension bridges and a variety of rainforest ferns, bird calls and green carpets. Stroll through lush rainforest in Budderoo National Park on an elevated steel walkway and paved track, initially wheelchair accessible (up until the second suspension bridge). This 1.6km loop is popular for families and children who should look out for strangler figs, birds nest ferns and colourful orchids. You might even spot a lyrebird or eastern water dragon. Starting from the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, the loop offers the opportunity to divert to the Minnamurra falls walk halfway through, (if you have eager kids and an extra hour) where you can enjoy views of the rainforest canopy and Minnamurra Falls from both the lower and upper viewing platforms.
Macquarie Pass National Park
Venture into Macquarie Pass National Park along the Cascades walk. Following a creek, the easy 2km walk up to the first waterfall will take you through eucalypt forest, home to lyrebirds, goannas, and even the reclusive platypus. Families will enjoy the undulating terrain and the variety of flora on display, ranging from the fern understory to the tall eucalypt canopy, providing a cool, shady walk. In summer, you can see the Illawarra flame trees and coachwoods in flower. This walk is ideal for young kids, with an easy incline and shallow pools to splash in. Bring a book of local birds or plants from your local library for kids to identify the plants and wildlife. (A pair of binoculars will make this even more fun!) Adjacent to the car park at the foot of Macquarie pass is a sunny picnic area, a perfect spot to feed hungry mouths after the 45 minute walk.
Dharawal National Park
Pack a picnic and your swimmers and hike along Jingga walking track in Dharawal National Park. The challenging but short 2.4km walk guides you through dramatic sandstone formations and eucalyptus bushland to a beautiful freshwater swimming hole. In Dharawal language, ‘Jingga’ means ‘nice and sweet’ in relation to water, and the waterhole along O’Hares Creek is just that, especially in the heat of summer! Along the trail, keep an eye out for rare or threatened species such as the long-nosed potoroo; a small marsupial who loves digging up roots to eat. For families looking for a more relaxed and accessible walk, head up further along the creek to O’Hares Creek lookout walking track, offering a bitumen track amongst pristine bushland with scenic gorge views.
Darkes Forest
The scenic walk to Maddens Falls lookout begins on a wide maintenance trail steering off from Darkes Forest Rd, in Darkes Forest (opposite Glenbernie Orchard, so you can have a fresh apple or take home some honey too!) From there, meander along the boardwalk to spot local birdlife like honeyeaters, red wattlebirds and golden whistlers. You might even hear an orchestra of tree frogs, brown froglets and banjo frogs. There’s a picnic table along the trail for kids to rest or have a snack before you reach the scenic waterfall views, dropping from Maddens Creek to the pools below. This trail is especially lovely in spring, when the acacias and native river roses are in full bloom.
Mt Keira
Nestled in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area is Mt Keira Ring track, a mossy fairyland for more experienced bushwalkers to adventure through. The lush forest walk starts from Byarong car park, and circles Mt Keira through a variety of terrains, including boardwalks, stone and dirt trails. The views from various lookouts provide a reward for the short, steep inclines and are a perfect place to watch whale migration in winter. Meander through sub-tropical bush, rainforest and rocky outcrops to Byarong picnic area, perfect stop for a packed lunch or a barbeque after a scenic hike.
Kiama
Amble along the rolling hills of the Kiama Coast walk for ocean views, spectacular rock formations and postcard beaches. Split into three sections, the Kiama Coast walk’s North section from Minnamurra train station to Kiama Blowhole is a 3 hour walk along sealed paths, grass tracks and beaches. The walk ribbons along the coast from cliff lookouts to pristine beaches, so make sure to bring a camera, swimmers if you’d like to have a dip and sunscreen! Take a moment to admire the dramatic basalt formations at Cathedral rocks at Jones beach. Twenty minutes South from there is Minnamurra headland, a perfect spot for whale-watching or a scenic picnic. Public toilets are available along the walk, and even your pooch can join the family on this adventure, just make sure to keep them on leash.
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