Illawarra lookout walking track
Barren Grounds Nature Reserve
Overview
This short walk offers an easy way for all ages to experience the spectacular views, colourful wildflowers and amazing birdlife on a day trip to Barren Grounds Nature Reserve.
- Where
- Barren Grounds Nature Reserve in South Coast
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Distance
- 2km return
- Time suggested
- 30min - 1hr
- Grade
- Grade 3
- Please note
- It’s a good idea to put sunscreen on before you set out and remember to take a hat
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch
- There is no drinking water available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
- The weather in this area can be extreme and unpredictable, so please ensure you’re well-prepared for your visit.
- There is limited/no mobile reception in this park
Don’t have much time, but want to discover the wonders of this fragile environment? A walk to Illawarra lookout is a must, with spectacular views, colourful spring wildflowers and amazing birdlife.
Starting from Barren Grounds picnic area, this short trail moves along an undulating path through woodland and heath. Before you know it, you’ll arrive at Illawarra lookout, perched on the edge of the escarpment looking down across the hinterland, rolling green hills, and the stunning coastline.
Breathe in the fresh air, take in the spectacular views, then wander back to the picnic area for a relaxing lunch and a hot cuppa.
Along the way, you might spot an echidna waddling across the track, and you’re bound to see an abundance of birdlife. You'll be walking through the prime habitat of ground parrots and eastern bristlebirds, so keep an eye out for these threatened birds.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/illawarra-lookout-walking-track/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Barren Grounds Nature Reserve in the South Coast region
Barren Grounds Nature Reserve is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Illawarra lookout walking track.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
2km return
Time
30min - 1hr
Quality of markings
Clearly sign posted
Experience required
No experience required
Gradient
Flat: The walk is mostly flat with some gradual uphill and downhill slopes.
Quality of path
Formed track, some obstacles:
- The walk is 4m-wide and hard-packed ground along most of its length
- The short side track that leads to Illawarra lookout is 1m-1.5m-wide and gravel
- Illawarra lookout at the end of the track is on a rock platform
Steps
Occasional steps: There are no steps along the main walk, but there are 3 steps on the short side track that leads to Illawarra lookout.
Getting there and parking
Illawarra lookout walking track is at the northern end of Barren Grounds Nature Reserve. To get there:
- Continue on the road from the reserve entrance for approximately 1km
- Illawarra lookout walking track starts from Barren Grounds picnic area at the end of the road
Parking
Parking is available in a gravel carpark at Barren Grounds picnic area.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Barren Grounds Nature Reserve. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Enjoy spectacular views on a clear autumn day of the coastline and surrounds from Illawarra lookout.
Spring
Enjoy the colourful wildflower display in the reserve's upland heaths.
Summer
Escape the crowds on the coast for a peaceful picnic among nature.
Winter
Warm up with a brisk walk in the misty highlands and admire the flowering banksias.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
16°C and 5°C
Highest recorded
42.4°C
Winter temperature
Average
8°C and 18°C
Lowest recorded
2.3°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
728.4mm
Facilities
There are accessible non-flush toilets at Barren Grounds picnic area where this walk begins.
Picnic tables
There's a picnic table at Illawarra lookout at the end of the walk. There are also picnic tables at Barren Grounds picnic area.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Illawarra lookout walking track is:
- 4m-wide hard-packed ground and step-free along most of its length
- Mostly flat, with some gradual slopes.
There are parts of the walk where people with reduced mobility may need assistance:
- The short side track that leads to Illawarra lookout narrows to 1m-1.5m wide and is gravel. It has 3 steps.
- Illawarra lookout is on a rock platform
There are accessible toilets at Barren Grounds picnic area where this walk begins and there's a picnic table for resting at Illawarra lookout near the end of the walk.
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Visitor centre
-
Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre
1301 Nowra Road, Fitzroy Falls NSW 2577 - 9am to 4pm daily. Closed Christmas Day.
- 02 4887 8270
Learn more
Illawarra lookout walking track is in Barren Grounds Nature Reserve. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Go wild for flowers
Barren Grounds Nature Reserve is famous for its heath wildflowers in spring and summer and flowering banksias in winter. The heathland is also one of only 4 large areas of heath on the NSW South Coast, making it an important habitat for many species of plants and animals. A large number of threatened or regionally rare ferns and other species also occur in wet sheltered sites below the escarpment, including several species of filmy fern. Around 180 bird species can also be found here, including honeyeaters, southern emu wrens, lyrebirds, crimson rosellas, cockatoos and grey currawongs. If you're really lucky, you might even spot the bright green ground parrot or an eastern bristlebird. In fact, it was to protect these two threatened heathland birds that Barren Grounds Nature Reserve was set up in 1956.
- 6-day birding and natural history tours Explore the beauty and diversity of Australian wildlife at Sydney’s doorstep on this 6-day tour with the knowledgeable guides of Inala Nature Tours. Visiting parklands, you'll see amazing birds, mammals and reptiles in their natural habitat.
- Cooks Nose walking track Stroll through the park's rich heathlands on Cooks Nose walking track and you’ll be rewarded with striking scenic views from the escarpment overlooking Kangaroo Valley.
Historic heritage
Barren Grounds Nature Reserve holds a very special place in the history of conservation in NSW, as it was the third faunal reserve to be gazetted under the Fauna Protection Act. Led by early conservation leaders like Myles Dunphy, Paddy Pallin and Allen Strom, it was protected in 1956. Since then, it has been an important place for researchers and students alike to record and learn about the incredible biodiversity of this area. The stone building at Barren Grounds picnic area - once known as The Lodge - was used for accommodation by researchers and honorary rangers.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
-
Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)
The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial on the Australian mainland. It’s protected as a vulnerable species in NSW.
-
Eastern bristlebird (Dasyornis brachypterus)
The endangered eastern bristlebird is a shy, ground-dwelling songbird. Less than 2,500 birds are left in the wild, restricted to 3 isolated areas in eastern NSW and southern Queensland.
-
Eastern ground parrot (Pezoporus wallicus wallicus)
The eastern ground parrot is a beautiful, ground-dwelling native bird that lives in low heathland habitat along the NSW North and South coasts and escarpments. It’s listed as a vulnerable species in NSW.