walk•ride
WALKING & CYCLING IN THE SHOALHAVEN
Whether you’re a serious walker heading into the wilderness or a family enticing the kids away from their screens, you’ll find your perfect walking track in the spectacular Shoalhaven landscape. So lace up those hiking shoes, grab a water bottle and enjoy the best our natural world has to offer. If cycling is your thing, explore some of the road, path and off-road rides from Berry in the north to Termeil down south. For gun MTB cyclists to tots on training wheels, there‘s a great cycling route for everyone.
SOME POPULAR WALKING TRACKS
The Grotto, North Nowra – 2.5km, 45min. Easy with some climbing. Sandstone cliffs, river views.
NORTH
Bens Walk – 5.5km, 2 hr. Easy with some climbing.
Red Rocks Trig – 11.5km return – 3hr 15min. Hard. Views of Kangaroo Valley and Nowra district.
NOWRA & SURROUNDS Bomaderry Creek – 4km, 1hr 30min. Easy with some climbing. Rainforest, sandstone cliffs. Weir Graves, Bangalee Reserve – 4.5km, 1hr 15min. Easy with some climbing. See pioneers graves and river views.
CENTRAL Wreck Walk – 2.5km return, 40min. Easy. Remnants of SS Merimbula wreck. Beecroft Headland Circuit – 5km, 2hr. Easy with some climbing. Coastal vegetation, see cliffs, Aboriginal rock shelter.
BAY & BASIN
Condie Graves, Bangalee Reserve – 2km, 45min. Easy. Pioneers’ graves, bushland.
White Sands Walk, Jervis Bay National Park – 2km, 1hr. Easy. Coastal scenery, bushland.
Forest Walk, Bangalee Reserve – 1km, 30min. Easy. Bushland
Scribbbly Gum Track, Jervis Bay National Park – 1.5kmm, 30min. Easy. Coastal scenery, bushland.
Bherwerre Beach Circuit, Booderee National Park – 2.8km, 1hr. Easy. Coastal vegetation, swamp, beach. Telegraph Creek Nature Trail, Booderee National Park – 1.8km, 30min. Easy. Coastal vegetation. Murrays Walking Trail, Booderee National Park – 5km, 2hr. Easy. Clifftop views. Steamers Beach, Booderee National Park – 3.5km return, 1hr 30min. Moderate with steep climb up from beach. Isolated beach, headland.
Ulladulla Wildflower Reserve – 1.25km, 30min. Easy. Native plants and trees. Coomee Nulunga Circuit, Ulladulla – 2.5km, 1hr 30min. Easy. Coastal views, Aboriginal art. South Pacific Heathland Reserve – 1.5km, 30min. Easy. Seashore, native plants, birdlife.
BAWLEY COAST Murramarang Aboriginal Area – 2.5km, 1hr. Easy. Aboriginal archaeological site.
Brooks Lookout, Booderee National Park – 4km return, 1hr 30min return. Easy. Coastal views. St Georges Head, Booderee National Park – 11km return, 3hr 30min. Hard. Coastal bushland. Basin Walk – 5km return, 1hr 30min. easy. Views of St Georges Basin.
ULLADULLA & DISTRICT
Walter Hood Monument – 5km return, 1hr 30min. Easy. Historic memorial, coastline views. Rainforest Walk, off 12 Mile Road, Morton National Park – 1km, 30min. Easy. Rainforest, extraordinary views. Granite Falls, off 12 Mile Road, Morton National Park – 1.5km, 1hr. Easy. Waterfall, cliff. Mt Bushwalker, off Pointer Gap Road, Morton National Park – 6.5km return, 2hr 15min. Moderate.
Rusden Head, off Pointer Gap Road, Morton National Park – 8.5km return, 2hr 45min. Moderate. Pigeon House, other peaks and cliffs. Florance Head, off Pointer Gap Road, Morton National Park – 5.5km return, 1hr 45min. Easy. Pigeon house, other peaks and coastal views. Pigeon House Didthul, Morton National Park – 4.5km return, 3hr 30min. Hard with 490m climb. Mountain and coastal views. Buckleys Point, Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve – 2km return, 30min. Easy. Coastal vegetation, views of shoreline. Narrawallee Inlet, Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve – 5km return, 1hr 30min. Easy. Coastal vegetation and views of shoreline. One Track for All, Ulladulla – Two loops of 1km each, 1hr. Easy. Aboriginal art, coastal views. Wheelchair access.
Pretty Beach – Durras Summit, Murramarang National Park – 8km return, 3hrs. Moderate with steady climbs. Bushland and coastal views. Pebbly Beach – Durras Summit – Murramarang National Park – 7.5km return, 3hr 30min. Moderate with a steady climb. Bushland and coastal views. Pebbly Beach – Clear Point – Murramarang National Park – 3.5km return, 1hr 30min. Easy. Coastal views. Pebbly Beach – Snake Bay – Murramarang National Park – 7km return, 3hr 30min. Easy. Bushland and coastal views. Depot Beach Rainforest Walk – Murramarang National Park – 700m, 30min. Easy. Rainforest and beach views. Durras Discovery Trail – Murramarang National Park – 1.5km, 45min. Easy. Coastal forest.
For further information on walking in the Shoalhaven, visit the Shoalhaven Visitor Information Centre.
1300 662 808. www. shoalhavenholidays.com.au
HOLIDAYS @VisitShoalhaven facebook.com/VisitShoalhaven pinterest.com/visitshoalhaven
road & path NORTH A4 – Kangaroo Valley: Circuit Easy, 25km road Explore the rural landscapes of Upper Kangaroo Valley, following a beautiful river, with swimming holes. Extension to end of road becomes Medium MTB. A1 – Berry: Circuit Easy, 16km road Sealed road through gentle countryside to Seven Mile Beach National Park, picnic area and surf. A2 – Berry: Circuit Medium, 26km road Back roads and main roads with valley scenery, and passing some popular attractions including wineries. A3 – Berry to Kangaroo Valley Medium/hard, 21km road A Hill-climb challenge for the experienced rider, with rewards of excellent views and fast descents
NOWRA & SURROUNDS A7 – Nowra: Circuit Easy, 30km road Following the Shoalhaven River through farmland, small settlements and $2 each-way ferry to the Nature Reserve of Comerong Island – an excellent introductory ride. A14 – Nowra to Huskisson Medium, 39km road To Huskisson, the southern gateway to Jervis Bay, to visit exceptional natural areas, historic sites, and places to indulge yourself. Be tempted to stay a while. A9 – South Nowra: Circuit Medium, 36km MTB Coastal forest route to Jervis Bay, which requires careful map reading, some rough surfaces but the Bay justifies the bumps.
BAY & BASIN A15 – Huskisson: Circuit Medium, 31km road The Bay-Basin cyclepath features in this ride, great views over Jervis Bay and St Georges Basin, and backcountry links to the start.
A16 – Huskisson: Circuit Easy, 13km road A leisurely couple of hours to access beautiful beaches facing north across Jervis Bay, to swim or just relax.
SUSSEX INLET A20 – Sussex Inlet: Circuit Easy, 19km road For all levels of fitness, an encounter with the coastal beauty and wildlife, mostly on paths and quiet back roads.
ULLADULLA & DISTRICT A23 – Milton to Burrill Lake Medium, 20 road From Milton’s busy tourism and historic village, some slow rolling hills, coastal vistas, down-hill run to Burrill Lake, south of Ulladulla. A24 – Milton to Termeil Medium/hard, 27km road Another more demanding run from Milton, but with even more sweeping views, varied rural pursuits, and little traffic from the long downhill run to Termeil. A25 – Milton: Circuit Medium, 15km road A taste of urban riding around Milton, Ulladulla and Mollymook – accessible, with cycleways in the busier parts of town. A26 – Ulladulla: Circuit Medium, 10km road An urban exploration through the hidden Millards Creek cycleway, out the lighthouse and back to the harbour. A27 – Ulladulla: Circuit Medium, 15km road Town riding to discover the coastal views of Ulladulla, Mollymook and Narrawallee. Good to mix with swimming or refreshments al fresco.
BAWLEY COAST A28 – Termeil: Circuit Medium, 32km road Forest trails and coastal road riding, to take in the huge views at Kioloa and Bawley Point. Plenty of options for stops along the way.
shared paths NOWRA & SURROUNDS Riverview Road shared path along Shoalhaven River Ride along the path on the levee bank with great views of the Shoalhaven River.
ULLADULLA & DISTRICT Burrill to Ulladulla shared path Starts at corner Parson Street/ Princes Highway, Ulladulla and ends at Canberra Crescent/Princes Highway, Burrill Lake The concrete pathway is approximately 5 km long and runs alongside the Princes Highway
Millards Creek walk Pathway starts opposite Ulladulla Harbour and follows Millards Creek through well-restored natural bushland. It continues across St Vincent Street and North Street to end at Timbs Road.
BAY & BASIN Huskisson – St Georges Basin Circuit A medium cycle path and road ride; an introduction to the area known locally as ‘The Bay and Basin’. Ride first to Vincentia shops mainly onJervis Bay foreshore cycle path with postcard views, then continue across country on the off-road cycle path to Sanctuary Point on St Georges Basin.
Visit www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au for the Shoalhaven Cycling Guide which includes maps and ride descriptions
riding off road BAY & BASIN A17 – Booderee NP: Circuit Medium, 22km MTB Immerse yourself in the original bushland of the peninsula, with wildflowers and vistas to make the stops memorable. Check tides for the beach section.
SUSSEX INLET NORTH A5 – Kangaroo Valley to North Nowra Medium/hard, 33km MTB The Mount Scanzi Road through Bugong Gap offers variety and some steep terrain. No service between ends. Reverse ride also medium/hard. A6 – Fitzroy Falls to Kangaroo Valley Hard, 40km MTB A classic MTB ride, Meryla Pass is down, but there is a demanding climb back out to Jacks Corner. Most of the route is closed to motor vehicles.
NOWRA & SURROUNDS A12 – Nowra: Circuit Medium, 26km MTB A relatively easy excursion into the bush west of Nowra, with broad views over the Shoalhaven River A13 – Nowra: Circuit Hard, 55km MTB Getting away from most human activity into bush on the escarpment West of Nowra, returning beside the Shoalhaven River. A10 – South Nowra: Circuit Easy, 21km MTB An accessible ride, offering forest trails, cyclepath and sealed roads, with exceptional views of the coast plain, naval air base and Aviation Museum. A11 – South Nowra: Circuit Easy, 13km MTB A taste of off-road for all the family through Shoalhaven Forest, accessible by cycle-friendly roads and dedicated paths. A8 – North Nowra: Circuit Medium/hard, 44km, MTB After cyclepath and sealed roads, the gradients and road conditions become more difficult, towards the river lookouts – with a winery on the home run.
A18 – Tianjara Falls to Cudmirrah Medium/hard, 45km MTB From deep in the Morton National Park to the coastal forests, lakes and beaches. A big ride for good conditions. A19 – Tianjara to Bendalong Hard, 55 MTB Another classic MTB challenge, from the mountains to the sea, through coastal and rainforest, to a beautiful sheltered beach at Bendalong. A21 – Cudmirrah: Circuit Medium 17km MTB The Walter Hood monument, recording the ship’s wreck, stands on an isolated stretch of coast, with access through peaceful forests. A22 – Cudmirrah: Circuit Medium, 23km MTB A bigger excursion into the forests, trails and beaches between Bendalong and Swan Lake, including Walter Hood ship-wreck memorial.
ULLADULLA & DISTRICT A29 – Pigeon House to Milton Medium, 33km MTB To Milton, as one of a pair of rides from Pigeon House Mountain – with great valley and coastal views, but not all down-hill. A30 – Pigeon House to Merry Beach Medium/hard 45km MTB To Kioloa, the second ride from Pigeon House Mountain – a great MTB challenge with exceptional scenery and a beautiful beach as the prize.
BAWLEY COAST A31 – Shallow Crossing: Circuit Hard, 39km MTB Riding to Mogood and back to the valley floor provides spectacular views and great riverside rests around the Clyde River, but this is serious riding.
Currambene Forest Bike Trails Shoalhaven Bicycle User Group has produced a map showing several trails that start at the southern end of Worrigee Road, 9.8km from Nowra Visitors Centre, and at Callala Bay Road, north of the village. Trails are gravel roads, fire trails and bush tracks. Most trails are impassable after heavy rain, due to sticky red clay and boggy areas. EAST STUMP ROAD Easy, 16.1km SNOWWOOD ROAD Easy, 10.2km MANUKA/CHARCOAL ROADS Advanced, 9.4km MYOLA LINK Easy, 14km COONEMIA ROAD Easy, 8.8km For further information and map, contact –
NOWRA VISITORS CENTRE, or Shoalhaven Bicycle User Group 4421 5214 email: laja.florence@bigpond.com