Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area

Walking tracks

Woodward track

This short loop walk starts and ends at the northern perimeter of Lady Fuller Park at Sublime Point, about 100m west of the lookout. The terrain is virtually flat with woodland and heath on top of the escarpment. There are excellent views from parts of the track. Stay at least 4 metres away from cliff edges. Ideal for families and other groups.

Plant communities: dry eucalypt forests

Sublime Point track

This is one of the few walks that link the coastal foothills and the plateau. Few tracks ascend the escarpment because its steep terrain and high rainfall make it prone to rockfalls, landslip and erosion. The track branches off Gibson's track and then ascends sharply to the Sublime Point lookout. A series of steel ladders assist walkers up the jagged cliff lines near the top of the climb. The lookout and the track itself offer some of the best views of the Illawarra escarpment, plain and coastline. Barbecues, picnic shelters and toilets cater to visitors, but bring your own drinking water. In the other direction you can access Sublime Point from the Princes Highway and descend the walking track. Ideal for fit walkers.

Plant communities: rainforests, dry eucalypt forests

Lower Escarpment trail

This unsealed vehicle-width trail traverses the lush middle slopes between Tarrawanna (Hawthorn Street) and Bulli (Bulli Pass). Its length makes it ideal for joggers and cyclists. The terrain is mostly undulating, although there are some hilly sections towards the Tarrawanna end. Visitors will experience the Illawarra's magnificent tall moist forests and will often hear or see lyrebirds, catbirds and other rainforest wildlife. Occasional spectacular glimpses of the escarpment and coast are other highlights.

Ideal for: fit walkers, joggers and cyclists.

Plant communities: rainforests, dry eucalypt forests

Robertsons Lookout track

This walk caters to walkers of all abilities, as well the disabled. It offers some of the best views on the escarpment. The main walk climbs a forested knoll before skirting the escarpment edge. It joins a path 700 m long, which gives access to spectacular views from Robertson's lookout. The main walking track joins the Mt Keira Ring track on Mt Keira Road. The path is ideal for assisted wheelchairs and is accessible from Harry Graham Drive.

Gibsons track

After a short steep climb from Foothills Road at Austinmer, walkers are rewarded with a gentle easy loop walk through tall eucalypt forests and over undulating terrain.

Ideal for: families, schools and other groups.

Plant communities: rainforests, dry eucalypt forests

Wodi Wodi track

The Wodi Wodi are the traditional owners of the Illawarra. Evidence of their occupation extends beyond the time of the ancient civilisations in Egypt or Babylon. In part, the eastern portion of the walking track follows an Aboriginal route and a later convict-built road, the Bullock track constructed in about 1820. The Wodi Wodi track extends in an arc between Stanwell Park railway station and Lawrence Hargrave Drive 700 metres north of Coalcliff station. A branch track links Stanwell Park station to Stanwell Tops (Stonehaven Drive). The Wodi Wodi track is rugged and can be difficult to navigate, as infrequent use means that rapidly growing vegetation can obscure the track. A topographic map as well as the ability to use it is strongly recommended. Walkers experience a wild remoteness even though the track is never more than 1km from any road. Walkers must remain on the track as dense bush and steep drops are close to the track in places. Ideal for fit & experienced walkers

Plant communities: rainforests, dry eucalypt forests

Mount Kembla Summit Track

Geological forces have been kind to walkers on Mt Kembla and have created a convenient route to the summit of Mount Kembla. From the carpark at Kembla Lookout, follow the signs to the Ring Track. The Summit Track branches off the Ring Track and ascends a prominent ridge. About half way up, there is a commanding view of Lake Illawarra and the coastal plain with the southern escarpment in the background. The Summit has several routes that lead to stunning views. Return to the Lookout carpark using the same route.

Plant communities: dry eucalypt forests

Mount Pleasant track

This track is a convenient link walk between suburban Mount Pleasant (Parrish Avenue) and the Mount Keira Ring Track, but its rainforest makes it a spectacular walk in its own right. At its junction with the Ring track, turn left to return to Mt Pleasant via Geordies Flat, or turn right to complete the Ring Track or climb to the Mt Keira summit. From Geordies Flat, the Mt Pleasant management trail (which is closed to all vehicles) forms a short easy loop walk back to Parrish Avenue.

Visitors shouldn't miss the nearby Rhododendron gardens, which is located about 200 metres from the start of this track at Parrish Avenue. Ideal for families.

Plant communities: rainforests, dry eucalypt forests

Mount Kembla Ring Track

The Mount Kembla Ring Track combines lush vegetation and a taste of the region's coal mining history.

From the carpark at Kembla Lookout carpark, follow the signs to the Ring Track. The Mount Kembla Sumit Track also starts here.

The two tracks soon diverge and the Ring Track descends into rainforest. About half way, the narrow walking track joins with a wide fire management trail. Turn left onto the fire trail. This route leads past the entrance of an early mine - but entry to the tunnels is prohibited, due to the dangers of tunnel collapse.

The fire trail ends at Cordeaux Road. Turn left onto Cordeaux Road for a short (1km) walk back to Mt Kembla lookout carpark.

Warning: Watch out for motor vehicles while walking on Cordeaux Road.

Plant communities: rainforests, dry eucalypt forests

Mt Keira Ring Track

The Ring track is an ideal venue for either a casual stroll or an energtic walk. In places the forest gives way to dramatic views. As its name suggests, the Mt Keira Ring track completely encircles the mountain. Walkers will encounter a mosaic of different forest types, and diverse terrain and scenery.

Take the short track that leads from the carpark out to the Girl Guide Camp entrance road. Cross the entrance road and rejoin the link track on the other side, where it connects with the Ring Track after a short distance. The walk works best if you head west along the Ring Track, traversing the mountain in a clockwise direction. Follow the signs and exit the track at the same point.

Part of the Ring track follows the route of an early convict-built road that runs through the forest above Byarong Park.

Plant communities: rainforests, dry eucalypt forests

Forest walk

The northern end of the Forest Walk branches off about 1km from the eastern end of the Wodi Wodi track. Access to its southern trackhead is down an unsealed road (foot access only) located about 1.5km south of the entrance to Boomerang Golf Course (Princes Highway) at Maddens Plains. In season, the Forest Walk is a botanist's paradise, however its constantly changing scenery and spectacular panoramas of the coast make it one of the region's best year-round bushwalks. Blackbutt-apple shale forest (on the plateau above Coalcliff) is part of an endangered ecological community. Access at the northern end commences with a steep climb, but the remainder of the walk is relatively flat and easy. Do not approach within 4 metres of any cliff edges.

You can get to the track from Stanwell Park or Coalcliff railway stations and then via the Wodi Wodi track at the northern end.

Ideal for: reasonably fit walkers seeking solitude in beautiful scenery.

Plant communities on this walk include blackbutt-apple shale forest, scribbly-gum woodland, temperate rainforest, silvertop ash forest and turpentine forest

Plant communities: rainforests, dry eucalypt forests