While little legs may not be able to handle a long bushwalk, there are plenty that are perfect for kids, weather permitting. Many are also close to amenities such as visitors' centres, picnic areas and bathrooms, making it a great family day out.

So whether you want to find a fun way to get back to nature with your kids next weekend, or you are in town for the 2022 UCI Road World Championships with little ones, there are plenty of child-friendly bushwalking tracks right here in the Illawarra and surrounds for you to try.

PLEASE NOTE: A number of alerts are in place in national parks in the area due to recent heavy rains, including closures of areas and entire parks in some cases. Please go to the alerts page and search for the park you wish to visit before setting off.

Read more: What to do in the Illawarra

Ideal for walking with children, the beautiful Lyrebird loop is located in Budderoo National Park and takes 30 minutes to an hour to complete.

The 1.6-kilometre loop will take you through rich, remnant rainforest teeming with diversity and gives you a bird's eye view over the primeval world as you wander the elevated walkway.

This easy walk takes you across suspension bridges, viewing platforms and interpretive signs along the way, making it a huge hit with kids.

You will view subtropical, dry, riparian and temperate rainforest and be impressed by the sheer variety of flora in this fragile ecosystem.

Look out for bird's nest ferns, strangler figs and colourful orchids.

If you've got the time and you're keen to see more, you can extend your trek by adding on the Minnamurra Falls Walk for a truly spectacular rainforest walking experience.

Details: Click here

PLEASE NOTE: A small section of the loop is closed at the time of writing due to a landslide. The rest remains open. Please check the alerts before setting off.

Read more: Seven of the best kids attractions in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven to visit during 2022 UCI Road World Championships

Starting at the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, Minnamurra Falls Walk in Budderoo National Park is a 4.2-kilometres return journey that will take one to two hours to complete along an elevated boardwalk and paved tracks.

The starting point is roughly halfway through the Lyrebird loop, which you can add on to extend your bushwalk

Along the way, you will see spectacular rainforest, a waterfall, trickling streams, moss-covered rocks and feathered ferns.

From the viewing platforms enjoy canyon views and the rainforest canopy, as well as the lower and upper portions of Minnamurra Falls.

While steep in some parts, there are plenty of places to find a seat and sit back and watch the butterflies, animal and birdlife. You may even spot a lyrebird, eastern water dragon or swamp wallaby.

Start or end the walk with a visit to Minnamurra Rainforest Centre.

Details: Click here

PLEASE NOTE: The Minnamurra Falls walk is currently closed. Before going there, please check local alerts here. The Lyrebird loop walk was open at the time of writing.

This short, family-friendly walk starts from Carrington Falls picnic area in Budderoo National Park before looping around the edge of the escarpment and past several lookouts.

It offers a number of different views of Carrington Falls waterfall, which cascades 90 metres down to the Kangaroo River below.

Soak up the natural beauty from Falls View lookout, before making your way down a steep metal stairway into a shady rainforest gully.

The track then climbs back up the escarpment, passing Valley View lookout beside Carrington Falls before returning to the picnic area.

The walk is just 600 metres long and takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy a picnic at the end.

Spring and summer sees the area come alive with vibrant wildflowers, including waratahs, and you may see a lyrebird scratching in the undergrowth or spot a swamp wallaby or long-nosed potoroo.

But beware, snakes are common in the area, so keep an eye out for red-bellied black snakes, copperheads and tiger snakes in summer.

Details: Click here

Read more: 13 best adventure playgrounds in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven to visit during 2022 UCI Road World Championships

Located in Barren Grounds Nature Reserve, this two-kilometre return walk will take 30 minutes to one hour to complete and is an easy way for walkers of all ages to experience spectacular views, colourful wildflowers and amazing birdlife.

Starting from Barren Grounds picnic area, the short trail takes you along an undulating path through woodland and heath before you arrive at Illawarra lookout.

From there, you can take in views of the hinterland, rolling green hills and stunning coastline before returning to the picnic area for a relaxing lunch.

Along the way, look out for an echidna waddling across the track and an abundance of birdlife, including the threatened ground parrots and eastern bristlebirds that make their home in the area.

Details: Click here

Belmore Falls walking track in Morton National Park is a 1.8-kilometre return walk that takes 30 minutes to one hour to complete.

Starting at Hindmarsh lookout carpark, you will follow the escarpment past several lookouts, before arriving at the last one, which provides views of the waterfall.

You will see sandstone flora including honey flower, banksia, wattle and tea-tree while enjoying magnificent views of Kangaroo Valley.

PLEASE NOTE: All access to the base of Belmore Falls, including from this walking track is permanently closed for visitor safety.

One of the most popular bushwalks for children is Cascades Walk in the Macquarie Pass National Park.

This easy two-kilometre return walk will take just 45 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes to complete but you will be rewarded with a rainforest adventure through a eucalypt forest, past a creek through to the beautiful cascades.

The rainforest itself is a haven for lyrebirds, platypus and goanna, and you are surrounded by native figs, lilly pilly trees and lianas. As you wander through the under-storey of ferns you will see lizards and birds.

Children will love the variety of birds and plant life, so why not pack a book and see how many they can find.

You can end the walk with a relaxing lunch at Cascades picnic area.

Details: Click here

PLEASE NOTE: Cascades walk and Macquarie Pass National Park are closed at the time of writing due to rock fall, landslides and hazardous trees, and will reopen when it is safe.

This short and easy walking track in Dharawal National Park is a great one for children. It takes you to a lookout that offers views of the waterfall dropping from Maddens Creek to the pools below.

It is great for spotting birds, such as honeyeaters, red wattlebirds and golden whistlers, as well as tree frogs, brown froglets and banjo frogs.

There is plenty of colourful vegetation at the falls base including acacias, native river roses and lush, sprawling ferns. While you are there, try and spot the rare fern-leaf grevillea with its toothbrush-like flowers.

Spring is a great time to visit when the flowers are in bloom while April sees the falls at their peak.

After viewing the falls, head back along the track to the picnic area.