Walking group,
every Thursday

This bushwalk explores the sandstone country along the Nattai area of the Southern Highlands, where old tracks and trails follow ridgelines with views over deep, forested gorges. The landscape is rugged and quiet, with native bushland, rock formations and abundant birdlife, so it’s a rewarding outing for participants who enjoy a proper bushwalk

The Georges River Loop is a short bushwalk near Appin of about 3 km. It follows fire trails and bush tracks down to the upper Georges River and back, and takes around 30 to 60 minutes. The track passes through quiet native bushland and leads to views of the river winding through the sandstone. It’s a peaceful, little-known walk close to home, good for spotting birds and enjoying the bush without crowds.

The Quarry Stone Walk is a short, easy loop of under a kilometre beside the Wingecarribee River in the historic village of Berrima. It starts near Holy Trinity Anglican Church and leads down to a raised rocky platform with views over the river. If you’re quiet, there’s a chance of seeing birds, lizards and even a platypus. Some sections are uneven and include stairs, so it suits people who are steady on their feet. Berrima’s cafés and heritage streets are close by for afterwards.

The Bargo River cuts a sandstone gorge through the bushland around Bargo and Tahmoor, in the south of Wollondilly. Bush tracks along the river lead to swimming holes, rock pools and small waterfalls tucked inside the canyon. It’s a natural, rugged setting with uneven ground and rocky sections, which makes it a good outing for people who enjoy a bush adventure close to home. The area is also known for the historic Bargo River railway viaduct, built in 1919.

The Nepean River Cycleway in Camden is a shared walking and cycling path of about 4 km that follows the Nepean River. It’s flat and mostly concrete, with garden seats along the way, so it suits bikes, scooters and gentle walks. The path passes the Camden wetlands, where you can watch birds, and Kings Bush Reserve. It also goes through Chellaston Reserve, which has toilets, parking, a covered picnic area, barbecues and a playground.

The Boronia Avenue Trail is a quiet bushwalk in the Bargo State Conservation Area, starting from Boronia Avenue in Hill Top. It follows a wide fire trail for about 5.5 km return through shady native bushland and takes around one and a half to two hours. There are some gentle hills but no major lookouts. It’s a peaceful outing for anyone who enjoys a steady walk among the trees, bird calls and wildflowers close to home in Wollondilly.

Harrington Forest is a bushland reserve in Harrington Park, managed by Camden Council. It protects a patch of critically endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland. Its highlight is the Nest Box Trail: ten nest boxes, decorated by local school and preschool children, are mounted in the old gum trees, and visitors try to spot them all. Most of the trail follows a sealed path. It’s a free, easy nature walk with a fun “treasure hunt” to keep everyone engaged.

The Buxton Plateau Trail is a bush fire trail in Nattai National Park, starting from the edge of Buxton near Couridjah. It heads out across the plateau to Ladies Waist Lookout, which has views down into the Little River valley. The full walk is long (about 16 km return), but shorter sections make a pleasant bushwalk through quiet, open forest. It’s unsealed and there are no facilities along the way, so it suits active walkers.

Thirlmere Lakes National Park protects a chain of five freshwater lakes in the bushland just outside Thirlmere. The lakes are surrounded by eucalyptus forest and are home to waterbirds, turtles and other wildlife. An unmarked but well-defined walking track of about 6 km loops around the lakes. The Werri Berri picnic area has flush toilets, picnic tables, barbecues and parking on mostly flat ground. It’s a calm, local nature spot right on our doorstep, good for a walk and a picnic lunch.