Here’s our guide to five of the best nature walks to do this summer. 

1 – Nellies Glen water hole and track

Put on your walking shoes, pack a picnic and head down to Nellies Glen for the day.

Explore a range of spectacular lookouts via Missingham lookout track, Warris Chair lookout and Carrington Falls picnic area.

2 – Belmore falls

The walk commences at the Hindmarsh Lookout carpark, with a magnificent view of Kangaroo Valley.

Follow the signs around the escarpment to several lookouts, the last of which provides views of the waterfall. 

This is roughly 1.5 km, 45 minutes, and an easy walking track.

Typical sandstone flora is a special feature of this walk, including flowers such as honey flower, banksia, wattle and tea-tree.

Plant communities on this walk include eucalypt forests, woodlands, rainforests, heathlands.

3 – Barren Grounds

There are a number of walking tracks in the reserve, ranging from an easy 1.5km to a more demanding 20km.

The heathland plateau of Barren Grounds is loved by both walkers and birdwatchers - particularly in spring, when it is a mass of wildflowers.

A range of walks offer magnificent views of the Illawarra coastline and surrounding countryside.

The reserve is between Robertson and Kiama, on the Jamberoo Pass Road. It's 16km south-east of Robertson and 8km east of the Carrington Falls turn-off.

4 – Cave Creek walking track

The Cave Creek walking track is 14km north of Mittagong.

The entrance to the track (or track head) is off Wilson Drive, Hill Top.

A carpack and picnic area have been provided at the track head. This area contains BBQs, picnic tables and toilets. However, water is not available at the track head.

The track provides a leisurely walk of 2.6 km and takes about 1.5 hrs to complete the return journey. There are a number of short steep sections, steps and a ladder have been constructed to assist walkers.

Bring along a torch to explore the caves along this 2.6km walk.

Pack a lunch to cook up on the barbeque at the entrance to the walk before starting your trek.

The rocks are slippery at the cave entrance, but your perseverance will be rewarded as you wander deeper into the woods.

Admire the sandstone outcrops along the track, and continue past the cave to come across a peaceful waterfall. 

5 – Fitzroy Falls

Fitzroy Falls is in the northern precinct of Morton National Park.

There are 15 lookouts to view the falls, 6km of constructed walking tracks with interpretive signs and environmental and cultural heritage displays.

The lookouts offer spectacular views over sandstone escarpment with waterfalls cascading into rainforest valleys below.

To discover even more tracks, search the category 'walking' at https://www.southern-highlands.com.au/see-and-do

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