The Best Walks & Hikes in the Southern Highlands
Exquisite gardens, rugged landscapes and lush natural scenery have always been the Southern Highlands main drawcard. While the region is blessed with some of Australia's best private formal gardens, it also showcases an array of half-day and full-day hikes and outdoor activities for nature-lovers.
Whether you are planning your next picnic, waterfall adventure, outdoor activity or want to stroll through the manicured gardens of some of the Highlands oldest manors, we have selected our top picks below.
Walks & Hikes
Belmore Falls Walking Track
Belmore Falls walking track is located near the Kangaroo Valley, offering stunning waterfall and sandstone flora views.
Start at the Hindmarsh lookout carpark. It is a 1.8 km return track.
Forty Foot Falls
The walk starts at the back of Lake Alexandra in Mittagong.
A mostly easy walk but there are steep stairs and a long flight of steps towards the falls and a creek crossing.
Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventure Walk
The walk takes you on a 500 metre steel walkway 30 metres above the ground where you will enjoy the natural surrounds and temperate rainforest.
Mount Gibbergunyah
The Ninety Acre Hill Lookout is over 800 metres and has sweeping views of the Blue Mountains.
There is also a view of Mount Gibraltar from the Gib Lookout.
Carrington Falls
Carrington Falls showcases stunning waterfalls and a walking track ideal for nature lovers.
Located in the Budderoo National park, close to Robertson, it is an easy return loop that takes around 30 minutes.
Mount Alexandra Walking Track
Mount Alexandra Reserve is an attractive lake with picnic and playground facilities.
From here you can simply walk around the lake and enjoy the water birds, or take one of two hiking trails.
Fairy Bower Falls
Located in the Morton National Park, the Fairy Bower Falls takes you the top of the escarpment with a ladder leading you to the bottom of the falls.
The walk starts at the Gambells Rest picnic area and takes around 1 hour.
Mount Gibraltar
At 863 metres, Mount Gibraltar is a collapsed volcanic core.
150 million years ago it pushed through the Hawkesbury sandstone to form a high mountain now largely eroded by water and wind.
Box Vale Walking Track
Box Vale Road Welby - follows the formation of an historic railway line passing through cuttings, an 84 metre tunnel and embankments.
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