Southern Illawarra is home to some of the regions most ancient and unspoilt walking tracks.
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This winter, you can visit them all thanks to this handy bushwalking guide put together by the Illawarra branch of the NPA.
Lets explore! Scroll down for a look at the top 12 walks in and around Shellharbour.
For 20 great Wollongong bushwalks, click here.
1. Bass Point Reserve
Starting from either Shellharbour South beach (soon to be disrupted by the new marina ocean entrance) or at the stone gateway entrance to Bass Point Reserve, this walk combines a variety of generally flat beach, track and rock plaform terrain.
From Shellharbour South beach, cross a grassy coastal section, past the disused ship loader to arrive at Bass Point Reserve.
There is a coastal track starting from the boat ramp or alternatively the stone entrance gateway.
Follow the track and rock platforms all the way around the point to Bushrangers Bay.
As you arrive at the bay there is an awkward gap (gulch) in the rock platform that can only be negotiated at quite low tide and may prevent access to the stony beach at the bay, a good lunch spot.
If the tide or swell is high, it is safest to access the bay via the road from the main picnic area and down the wooden stairway.
Bushrangers Bay is a favoured area for divers and snorkelers having deep, clear water and abundant marine life in a sheltered environment.
Good views can be had from lookouts at Bushrangers Bay and on the south side at Maloneys Bay (via the dirt road access).
- Length: Just a stroll from the picnic area or up to 7km
- Time: Up to 3 hours
- Grade: Easy some rock hopping
- Access: Drive from Shellharbour Village on Bass Pt access road
2. Budderoo National Park —Minnamurra Rainforest
Minnamurra Rainforest (and waterfall) in Budderoo National Park is a beautiful and a popular attraction for locals and tourists showcasing the local rainforest.
The rainforest walk is on an elevated well-constructed boardwalk with some paved sections.
The walk along the creek and to the lower falls is an easy grade then a steep path takes you to a view of the upper falls. (This section was closed at time of writing).
It's worth a visit just to enjoy the ambience of the rainforest, do some Lyrebird spotting, check out the visitors centre and have a picnic or visit the kiosk. Park entry fees apply.
- Length: Up to 4km return
- Time: Up to 2 hrs plus picnic me
- Grade: Easy to hard
- Access: Off Jamberoo Mtn Road, west from Kiama
3. Macquarie Pass National Park — Cascades
At the base of the Macquarie Pass and at the edge of the national park is a delightful family friendly walk to a cascading waterfall.
The parking area is on the northern side of the Illawarra Highway where there is also an open grass area perfect for a picnic.
There is a sign near a track head where the walk begins to follow the creek to the west.
After climbing a few stairs the track becomes more gentle and offers a delightful rainforest experience.
There are plenty of photo opportunities along the way of the interesting vegetation and flowing creek.
As you approach the cascades there is a raised boardwalk from where you can see down to a pool which is fed by the waterfall then a stairway descends to the edge of the pool.
- Length: 3km return
- Time: 1 hour return
- Grade: Easy
- Access: Drive west on the Illawarra Hwy from Albion Park town
4. Macquarie Pass National Park - Clover Hill Rd to Rainbow Falls
Part way up the Macquarie Pass a disused logging trial, now closed to vehicles, provides an opportunity to walk through beautiful rainforest and past the site of an old grazing property to Macquarie Rivulet where you will find Rainbow Falls.
Where the trail opens to a cleared area with many cabbage tree palms take the left fork in the trail.
After a few hundred metres where the trail ends there is a slightly hidden track on the right which takes you to the creek and Rainbow Falls, which drop into a small canyon.
Caution must be exercised here as the rocks can be very slippery and there are drop-offs.
Keep a close watch on your children! The creek can be explored a little way upstream to find a large balancing rock and some more cascades.
- Length: 6km return Time: 2 to 3 hours return
- Grade: Easy, mostly fire trail
- Access: Small car park on le part way up Macquarie Pass
5 & 6. Barren Grounds Nature Reserve — Illawarra Lookout
Adjacent to Budderoo NP, Barren Grounds is one of the few large areas of heathland on the South Coast and also has stands of rainforest along the escarpment edge.
These varied habitats are home to rare or endangered plants and animals including the ground parrot, eastern bristlebird and ger quoll.
Barren Grounds offers short and long walks on well-formed tracks to great vantage points.
The walks are stunning in spring when many of the heath flowers such as boronia, epacris and, if youre lucky, waratah, are in full bloom.
5. Illawarra Lookout Follow Griffiths Trail from the north-eastern corner of the car park. After about 1km walking through forest and heath take a short path on the left signed to Illawarra Lookout.
The lookout offers expansive views along the coast to Lake Illawarra and beyond. Return to the car park by the same route.
- Length: 2 km return
- Time: 1 hour
- Grade: Easy
6. Griffiths Trail Circuit Follow Walk 5 to Illawarra Lookout and then continue on the undulating Griffiths Trail to the observation platform at Saddleback trig (elev. 666 m) which gives great views over the heathland.
After 700m ignore the Kangaroo Ridge track and stay on Griffiths Trail to reach a natural stone bridge across Lamonds Creek. This is a fine spot for a break and cool in summer.
After a slight climb, bear right to stay on Griffiths Trail to complete the circuit back to the car park. If you wish to extend the walk, turn left after the stone bridge to follow the Cooks Nose track.
This broad trail leads to a magnificent rock platform overlooking Broughton Head and Brogers Creek.
- This extension adds 5 km (return) to the walk.
- Length: 8 km circuit plus option to extend
- Time: 3-4 hours plus extension Grade:
- Medium Access for walks 5 & 6: Barren Grounds picnic area, 1 km off Jamberoo Mountain Road (concealed entrance), at the top of Jamberoo Mountain.
7. Windang & Picnic Islands and Lake Illawarra Estuary
This walk is an easy waterside stroll and is a popular beachside destination for families, fishermen and bird observers.
In the parkland reserve to the south west of Windang bridge cross the small timber foot bridge to Picnic Island and walk the sandy loop track through banksia woodland.
Observe shorebirds on shoals in the estuary. Return from the island, follow the lake shore east and walk under the Windang bridge to the main area of Reddall Reserve which has amenities and a kiosk open weekends and holidays.
Continue to the far eastern end of the pathway then go left and walk along the breakwater. Windang Island is ahead.
Take care with access to the island on high tides and be aware of dangerous waves on rock platforms. Continue past sand embedded historical rusty wheels to explore intertidal rock pools.
Finally climb the narrow track to the top of the island. Enjoy the views along the coastline and west to the Illawarra Escarpment while observing different birds around the island. Return via the same route.
- Length: Up to 4km return
- Time: Up to 2 hours return
- Grade: Easy
- Access: Car parking in Reddall Pde, off Shellharbour Rd.
8. Killalea State Park – Mystics Beach Track
From the car park follow the signposted track for a stepped downhill track through the vegetation out onto the pristine beach.
Enjoy the bird calls, the view towards Stack Island and the waves as you wander along the beach towards the mouth of the Minnamurra River.
If low tide go round the spit and return on the river side for a view of the mangroves then join the bush track back to the beach or back via the camping area.
- Length: Up to 3km return
- Time: 1 - 2 hours return Grade:
- Easy to medium, one steep sec on with steps and rocks.
- Access: Exit the Princess Hwy south of Albion Park Rail onto Shellharbour Rd, follow the brown tourist signs to Killalea State Park, then follow Killalea Dr to the very end of the road.
9. Killalea State Park – Lagoon Circuit Killalea Lagoon
This freshwater coastal lagoon is an important breeding habitat for many birds. A wander along the waters edge will give you good views of Black Swan, Purple Swamphen, Eurasian Coot, black duck and many other species.
After parking next to the Killalea kiosk there are several ways to access the lagoon: via the beach steps, or preferably, head north from the kiosk towards the left of the rotunda and then follow a wide dirt track down through the forest.
Follow the lagoon circuit to your right, which takes you out onto beautiful Killalea Beach (The Farm), famous for its surf, before returning to the lagoon near the northern end of the beach.
Follow the trail around the perimeter of the lagoon back to your starting point.
- Length: 4 km Time: 12 hours
- Grade: Easy family friendly
- Access: Exit the Princess Hwy south of Albion Park Rail onto Shellharbour Rd and then follow the brown tourist signs to Killalea State Park, or take a 2km walk from Shellharbour Junction train station.
10. Saddleback Mountain lookouts and Hoddles Track
Just west of Kiama, Saddleback Mountain provides a wonderful opportunity to see views in all directions from high up on the fringe of the southern Illawarra Escarpment.
The recently upgraded series of three lookouts connected by walking tracks with a total distance of 1km or less provide views to the north/east, west and south.
There are picnic tables at various places as well. For the more energetic, Hoddles Track, beginning as a fire trail near the western lookout, steeply descends to a saddle then rises again to the escarpment proper where you enter the rainforest.
The track goes for quite a way in the rainforest but ends at a spot where there is usually a very dark tannin coloured pool of water.
This is 10 mins or so beyond the oddly shaped so-called boob rock which is high above the track.
Further on there is a myriad of false tracks up to and on the plateau and it is easy to get lost. Exercise great care if exploring.
- Length: 1 to 9km
- Time: 1/2 to 4 hours
- Grade: Easy to hard. Lookouts are very family friendly, 2 lookouts are wheelchair friendly
- Access: Saddleback Mt Road, west from Kiama
11. Kiama Coast Walk – Gerringong Station to Kiama Station section
This iconic coastal walk starts at Gerringong railway station, which has train services every two hours.
The walk takes in vast coastal and ocean views plus you will see magnificent rock platforms and rock formations.
Begin by walking the lowest lying streets and some short cut laneways toward the north-east from the station car park for a distance of 3 km until l reaching Werri Beach and the lagoon at the northern end of the beach.
The lagoon entrance is not always closed by sand and hence not always safe to cross so its best to check with Kiama tourist office by phoning 1300 654262 for up-to-date conditions.
Now take the easy-to-follow coast track for 6km (no facilities and little shade) until reaching Loves Bay at south Kiama.
Continue to mostly hug the coast for another 5km all the way to Kiama proper. Blowhole signs and blue marker posts define much of the route.
There are many points of interest along the way and plenty to explore in Kiama.
Trains to Wollongong and Sydney depart Kiama hourly. Note there is very little shade on the coast section of this walk. Visit Kiama tourist office for a more detailed brochure.
- Length: 14 km
- Time: 4 5 hours
- Grade: Medium undulating, some steep sections Access: Gerringong railway station
12. Seven Mile Beach and National Park
South of the popular seaside village of Gerroa is Seven Mile Beach National Park and about halfway along the coast road to Shoalhaven Heads is the best access point to the park.
There is a picnic area with beach access. Two bush and beach loop walks are available from here, one north from the picnic area and one south.
Look for the slightly hidden track heads north and south of the toilet block. South is the shorter loop. From the northern loop you can also take the beach all the way back to Gerroa village if someone is willing to drop you to start.
- Length: Up to 6km
- Time: Up to 3 hours
- Grade: Easy - all flat walking, some sand, low tide is best
- Access: Drive south from Gerroa on Crooked River Rd and turn east into Beach Rd for Seven Mile Beach NP picnic area (no pets allowed).
Safe walking tips
- Its best not to walk alone
- Take plenty of water and food for the walk
- Use sunscreen, wear a hat and suitable clothing
- Tell someone where you are going
Want to learn more about bushwalking? Visit Bushwalking101.org
Look, Learn, Explore! For a beginner, going bush is a very daunting task. bushwalking101.org is a website to help people better settle into bushwalking with the NPA.
Its about sharing bite-sized information and practical advice to new bushwalkers.
Our hope is to encourage our new members to take up bushwalking as a lifelong passion and to continue to grow and improve their bushwalking skills