2. The Goat Track – Stanwell Park Staon to Stanwell Tops be found part way around the loop that provides the opportunity to sit and enjoy the surroundings. West of Stanwell Park village there is a varied walk that climbs the escarpment to the plateau above. The first part of the walk Length: 400m loop is in rainforest and as you ascend there is dryer eucalypt forest. Time: 30 minutes Once at the top you can walk north via Stonehaven Road and Grade: Easy – family friendly carefully cross Lawrence Hargrave Drive to the Princess Marina Access: Sublime Point Lookout north of Bulli Pass walk and to Kelly’s Falls. Or just explore the bushland on top of 5. Ausnmer to Sublime Point Lookout Illawarra Branch| [email protected] the plateau where there are a number of intersecng tracks and www.npansw.org.au | Find us on Facebook informal lookouts with views back to the coast and to Mt Mitch- This iconic Illawarra walking track can be accessed from Aus- Ph 0416 325266 ell to the south. Note the cliff edges are not fenced making the nmer railway staon (on foot or by car) by firstly crossing the walk unsuitable for toddlers. rail bridge to the west. Ignore Hill Street and connue up Bal- four Road and on to the top of Asquith Street. At the T inter- 20 Walks in Wollongong Length: 3km return secon turn le and a track head is found. A well formed track Time: 1-2 Hours leads up the escarpment (some 1000 steps) to the summit at Grade: Medium to Hard – steep ascent Sublime Point (alternave start point). There are five resng and Surrounds staons and nine sets of ladders before arriving to witness Access: Stanwell Park railway staon – western plaorm great views from the top. For safety, always face the ladders climbing up or down. In wet and muddy condions boot Short Walks 3. Helensburgh Historic Railway / Glow Worm Tunnel cleaning facilies are located at the ladders. Toilets and café are located at the lookout. This walk can be extended to the 1. Mt Mitchell Lookout – Stanwell Park Helensburgh’s first railway staon was opened on 1 January south to Panorama House and on to Bulli lookout. 1889. It was located between two single line tunnels at the junc- Length: 2km (from track head) or 4km (from staon) return With a one hour steady climb from Lawrence Hargrave Drive, on of Tunnel Road and Vera Street. The short Helensburgh Tun- Time: 2-3 Hours just south of Stanwell Park village this walk passes through nel was at the northern end of the staon and was 80 metres Grade: Hard – very steep ascent tall gums with plenty of bird sounds. It joins the Forest Track long. The much longer Metropolitan Tunnel at the southern end. Access: Ausnmer railway staon or park in southern end of and ascends about 250 metres before finding a sizeable rock From Helensburgh Staon exit the main car park and cross Tun- Foothills Rd plaorm at the highest point. There are majesc views north, nel Road. Follow the open passageway along an abandoned rail- east and south. For the south view walk a few hundred me- way line passing an old Helensburgh Railway Staon sign. Pro- 6. Maddens Falls – Dharawal Naonal Park tres further south on the trail to another view point. The cliff ceed through the tunnel which is about 623m long. Take a torch A lovely walk starts from a sign posted car park on the south- edges are not fenced making the walk unsuitable for toddlers. and maybe gumboots would be good. This is an excellent walk, highly recommended. ern side of Darkes Forest Rd. The walk goes down a slight hill Length: 1.25km return and on to a boardwalk near Maddens Creek where part way Length: 4km return Time: 1 hour along you can go to the creek edge to see a small dam which Time: 1-2 hours Grade: Easy – family friendly creates a delighul pool. Further along, at the end of the Grade: Medium to Hard – some steep ascent Access: Helensburgh railway staon track, is a viewing plaorm and seat from which you can en- Access: Limited parking at Wodi Wodi track head, Lawrence joy the natural surroundings. The waterfall, dropping about Hargrave Drive, 1km south of Stanwell Park shops or walk 4. Sublime Point Nature Trail – Woodward Track 10 metres, is quite delighul. On return to the car park it is ~800m north from Coalcliff railway staon. Take care on road- nice to visit the orchard across the road to sample or pur- Visitors to Sublime Point lookout wanng to experience some of way. chase some fresh produce. the wonderful bushland the Illawarra Escarpment State Conser- vaon area has to offer will find the Woodward Loop Nature Length: 800m return Trail the ideal choice. It has varied and interesng flora with Time: 1/2 hour many wildflowers in spring. Starng from a track head immedi- Grade: Easy – family friendly ately behind the picnic area amenies block will take walkers in Access: Darkes Forest Rd, 2.6km from Old Princes Hwy, Mad- the easier an-clockwise direcon. A picnic table will dens Plains.

Walk Locaon Guide (Short walks, Longer walks) 7. Wollongong Botanic Garden 10. Mt Kembla — Memorial Pathway

Northern Walks The Wollongong Botanic Garden is about 3km north west of Mt Kembla Village has a rich but also disastrous mining his- Walk 1 Wollongong CBD and is situated at the base of Mt Keira. It has tory and this pathway is dedicated to those that have Walk 2 an area of just over 27 hectares. Set on gently undulang land, worked there. Stage 1: Follows the original railway ease- Walk 3 a network of paths leads through diverse habitats such as ment from Mt Kembla Mine to Port Kembla. Historical pho- Walk 16 woodlands, arid zone and rainforest. Check website for more tos and informaon can be viewed on the way to Stones details. Wollongong Botanic Garden lunchme bird walk: a free Road. Stage 2: Follows a natural and landscaped secon guided walk led by Illawarra Birders Club discovering the Gar- consisng of a variety of nave plants and trees to Benjamin den’s rich bird life. First Thursday of the month 12.30 to Road. Stage 3: Climbs steadily on a winding track through 1.30pm, bookings not required. Meet at the Discovery Centre. mixed eucalypt and privet forest to a point on the escarp- ment where the Bradford Breaker was situated (used in the Length: Up to 2km processing of extracted coal before rail transport to Port Time: Variable Kembla). A plaorm has been constructed at this site for Grade: Easy – family friendly viewing the coastal strip. Access: Main entrance is on Murphy’s Avenue with others on Central Walks Northfields Avenue and Madeline Street. Length: Up to 4km return Walk 4 Time: Up to 2 hours Walk 5 8. Tom Thumb Lagoon (Wollongong Greenhouse Park) Grade: Easy — medium Walk 6 Access: Cordeaux Rd, eastern fringe of Mt Kembla Village Walk 17 Just south of the Wollongong CBD, opposite the corner of Walk 18 Springhill Road and Bridge Street is Wollongong Greenhouse Park, a former rubbish dump site but now a bushland restoraon project. There is a perimeter circuit walk plus a trail to the top of Special Nature of the Illawarra Bushland the small hill. A bit of an oasis in the industrial landscape.

Near the City Walks Length: return 2.5km The natural bushland areas to the west of Wollon-

Walk 7 Time: 1—2 hours gong not only provide a wonderful backdrop to the Walk 8 Grade: Easy city but also have special significance as a biodiver- Walk 11 Walk 12 Access: Park at Tate or Keira Streets or walk 1.4km from CBD. sity hot spot. This secon of the Great Dividing Walk 13 Range with its rainforest gullies and eucalypt for- 9. Mt Kembla - Summit Track Walk 14 ests is home to a diverse range of nave flora and

Walk 19 Mt Kembla summit is one of the highest and most recognisable fauna. The Illawarra escarpment also forms a vital points on the Illawarra escarpment. It affords wonderful views of green corridor connecng the southern end of the southern Wollongong. The summit track head can be found a Royal Naonal Park south to Macquarie Pass Na- short distance to the east of the Mt Kembla lookout carpark and Southern Walks onal Park and beyond. Walk 9 climbs steadily through forest to the summit. From here exten-

Walk 10 sive coastal plain and ocean views can be seen as well as across Walk 15 to the southern highlands as you ascend. A highly recommended We would like to acknowledge the original custo- Walk 3 walk. Also see walk 15. dians of this land we walk, the Dharawal people. Walk 20 Length: 3km return Time: 2-3 Hours Grade: Medium — Hard. Steep ascent and 1 short ladder. Courtesy of Google Maps Access: Mt Kembla lookout carpark—Upper Cordeaux Rd 11. Mt Keira tracks — Robertsons Lookout 13. Mt Keira tracks — Dave Walsh’s Track 15. Hill 60 and surrounds — Port Kembla coast

Just west of Mt Keira Lookout and connecng with the Mt Keira This walk begins by crossing Mt Keira Rd from the Mt Keira Ring Great coastal views and a sense of achievement can be found Ring Track a delighul walk climbs to a high point on the escarp- Track (Walk 14) near the scout camp entry road. It climbs through on this walk. Starng from the car park near Port Kembla swim- ment where there is a viewing plaorm which provides extensive varied vegetaon and via rocky outcrops to reach the top of Mt ming pool climb the steep grassy slope then using laneways, views of the coastal plains and of Mt Keira itself. This walk can ei- Keira at the southern end of the Summit Park. It is then best to stairs and footpaths connue all the way to the lookout at the ther be done as a side trip when on the Mt Keira Ring Track or as walk north on the summit loop track to the Mt Keira lookout where highest point on Hill 60. Aer taking in the extensive views find stand-alone walk by parking at the corner of Mt Keira Rd and there are picnic tables and amenies available. By combining this the well defined track down the northern side of the hill. At the Queen Elizabeth Drive. The track starts just off the roadway to the walk with the Ken Ausburn Track (Walk 12) and the southern half boom cross the grass and walk north, on path, beach or rocks, southwest. Also see walk 19. of the Mt Keira Ring Track you can complete a “city to summit” all the way to the white triangle shaped, (old tank trap) features Length: up to 4km return ascent of Mt Keira. on the headland in the distance. Here is the Breakwater Baery Museum and just beyond, under the harbour pilot staon, there Time: Up to 2 hours Length: 500m one way is a café as well. Then you can either walk back to the start Grade: Easy - medium Time: Up to half hour one way along pathway, explore further around the museum or the in- Access: Cnr Mt Keira Rd and Queen Elizabeth Drive, Mt Keira Grade: Hard – steep rocky secons dustrial harbour and breakwater area. Access: Gated track opposite Cnr of Mt Keira Rd and scout camp entry road. Length: Up to 6km return Time: Up to 2.5 hours 14. Illawarra Rhododendron Gardens Grade: Medium—steep secons 12. Mt Keira tracks — Ken Ausburn Track This delighully maintained 13 hectares of gardens and natural Access: Cnr Olympic Blvd & Cowper St, Port Kembla This track is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr Kenneth forest nestled under the escarpment at Mt Pleasant is open to the John Ausburn, the first head of physics at UoW, who had a great public on weekends, public holidays and Tuesday mornings. The love of the Illawarra escarpment. As a foundaon member of the site has varying terrain from flat at the boom to quite steep at South Coast Conservaon Society he and Dave Walsh put for- the top. There are a series of walking trails all around the gardens ward a plan for an escarpment park, now the Illawarra Escarp- and up through the rainforest. Enquire with the volunteer staff on ment State Conservaon Area. site to find the best trail for you. On the upper trail some wonder- ful, very large tress can be viewed. There are picnic facilies on From the track head at the Cnr of Robsons Rd & Northfields Ave, Want to learn more about bushwalking? site. A small donaon is requested when parking your car. just west of the University & Botanic Gardens , walk up the steep hill passing a couple of lookout points, the Lawrence Hargrave Bushwalking101.org Length: Up to 2km memorial sculpture and some relics of mining in the area to a Time: Up to 2 hours Look, Learn, Explore! juncon with the Mt Keira Ring Track (walk 14) from here you Grade: Easy but some short steep secon may be encountered can return down the hill or turn south on the ring track towards Access: Parrish Ave, Mt Pleasant For a beginner, going bush is a very daunting Byarong Park. task. hp://www.bushwalking101.org/ is a website Length: 1.6km one way to help people better settle into bushwalking with Time: 30 min one way Safe Walking Tips the NPA. It’s about sharing ‘bite -sized’ information Grade: Hard – steep secons and practical advice to new bushwalkers. Our hope • It’s best not to walk alone Access: Cnr of Robsons Rd & Northfields Ave, Keiraville is to encourage our new members to take up bush- • Take plenty of water and food for the walk walking as a lifelong passion and to continue to • Use sunscreen, wear a hat and suitable clothing grow and improve their bushwalking skills. • Tell someone where you are going

Longer Walks Now walk down through the bush, coming out at the sports field. Walk east back to the beach, around the headland to the north About the NPA and Bellambi Lagoon. Then look for the shared pathway heading The National Parks Association has a history of more 16. Illawarra Escarpment Traverse — Grand Escarpment Walk south. It goes along the edge of the lagoon, rich in bird life, and than 50 years in NSW. A complete traverse (up to 16.5km) of the northern Illawarra past the caravan park back to Towradgi. A shorter version of the escarpment from Stanwell Park to Ausnmer with many walk is to start and finish at the car park at the beach end of Mur- The NPA is a not for proit community association great view points and varied vegetaon along the way. Highly ray Rd East Corrimal. that seeks to protect, connect and restore the integri- recommended. This walk forms part of the long awaited, but not Length: up to 5km return ty and diversity of natural systems in NSW and be- yet fully constructed, mul-day walk of the escarpment from the Time: Up to 2 hours yond through National Parks, Conservation Reserves, Royal Naonal Park in the north to Mt Kembla and beyond in the Grade: Easy – some sand walking Marine Sanctuaries and other means. south. There is a secon which can now be walked in one day. Pub- Access: Car park at beach end of Towradgi Rd, Towradgi. lic transport friendly. The NPA co-ordinates over 1000 bushwalks and oth-

See separate brochure on NPA web site for more detail, 19. Mt Keira - Ring Track er outdoor activities across NSW every year.

Illawarra escarpment walk This is an iconic Wollongong and Illawarra Escarpment walk which The NPA activities program is published quarterly in circumnavigates Mt Keira. It’s a great rainforest experience. Best conjunction with our magazine Nature New South starng points are either Byarong Park, a pleasant picnic spot in Wales which contains fascinating articles on all 17. Forest Track – Maddens Plains rainforest, which is part way up Mt Keira Rd from West Wollongong or the same start point for walk 10. It’s best to walk the Ring Track things Nature. The Forest Track is an undulang walk along the escarpment in a clockwise direcon to avoid climbing the large number of steps edge from an access point on a service road north of Sublime on the northern side of the mountain. The NPA monitors the management of our current Point to Mt Mitchell overlooking Stanwell Park. It passes through National Parks, sanctuaries and reserves and makes many different vegetaon communies and is an excellent intro- Length: Up to 4km suggestions and proposals to ensure the best park ducon to escarpment flora. There are also spectacular coastal Time: Up to 2 hours management standards. Community events and citi- views from various vantage points, though care must be taken as Grade: Easy - Medium zen science work are also arranged by NPA. they are not fenced and the cliffs are very steep. The track is well Access: Byarong Park or Cnr Mt Keira Rd and Queen Elizabeth Drive

maintained with some recent improvements, but may be a lile overgrown in places. Walk along the service road in an easterly The NPA seeks to inform the people of NSW on the direcon and look for the track head on the le just before the beauty of our natural places and the need to take 20. Mt Kembla—Ring Track edge of the escarpment. Also see walk 12. action to protect these places for future generations This walk can be started at the same locaon as walk 8 but is an to enjoy. Length: 12km easier opon. It has a secon of excellent rainforest as the track Time: 5-6 hours return descends to a fire trail which then should be taken to the north Join the NPA Illawarra and be part of the community Grade: Medium – undulang and circumnavigates the mountain eventually meeng Cordeaux team working for our environment as well as enjoy- Access: Gated service road 4.2km north of the Sublime Point Rd. The bitumen road must then be walked back up to the car lookout turnoff on the Old Princes Highway ing friendly outdoor activities. park. This track can also be accessed from the top of Farmborough

Rd. Pass through the locked gate and climb up the steep road past 18. Bellambi Lagoon and Sandhill Circuit npansw.org.au historic mining coages and pit pony stables. Starng at Towradgi Park this walk includes beach, bush, lagoon Find us on Facebook and shared pathway. It has extensive coastal and escarpment Length: 5km return Ph 0416 325266 views. From the car park at the eastern end of Towradgi Road Time: 1.5—2 hours walk north along the beach for about 1.3km then turn up into the Grade: Easy – some steps dune at the steps and walk over the dune heading further north. Access: Mt Kembla lookout carpark—Upper Cordeaux Rd