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Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan
Narellan Rd, Mount Annan
Ph: (02) 4634 7900
| mount.annan@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
| www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/annan
| The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan is Australia's largest botanic garden with more than 4000 species of native plants. The Garden covers 416 hectares and features five picnic areas with BBQs and shelters.
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Covering more than 400 hectares of parkland, the Garden is the native plant garden of the Botanic Gardens Trust, which is also responsible for the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens and the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah.
The Australian Botanic Garden features themed gardens with BBQ and picnic facilities, a café, bird watching shelters, kilometres of walking tracks, a plant nursery and gift shop, as well as interactive sculptures such as the Sundial of Human Involvement, the Federation Flower Maze and Jamie Durie’s Room with a View.
An exclusive addition to the garden is the Wollemi Walk of Discovery. This world-first is home to exact genetic replicas of the ancient trees found in the secret gorge in Wollemi National Park. It is an important part of the Conservation Management Plan to conserve these amazingly rare and endangered trees.
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Dharawal National Park
Victoria Rd, Wedderburn
The Dharawal National Park, declared in 2012, has been managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service since 1974. Waterfalls, extensive upland swamps, steep-sided sandstone gorges, swimming holes and rock shelters are just some of the many fascinating landscape features you can explore.
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'Dharawal' refers to the language group of the local Indigenous people who have continued their relationship with the area for more than 15,000 years. Their long occupation of the area is evidenced by many Indigenous sites, making the reserve among the riches in Indigenous heritage in the Sydney region.
Walking Trail - Jingga Walking Track, Wedderburn
Jingga means 'nice and sweet' in reference to water, from the Dharawal language group.
Distance: 2.8km return
Time: 1 hour
Grade: Hard, includes some steep hills.
Follow the Victoria Road Fire Management Trail in an easterly direction for approximately 500 m, then take the track on your right. Follow the Jingga Track and it will lead you to a spectacular waterhole along O'Hares Creek (pictured).
Walking Trail - Madden Falls Walking Track, Darkes Forest
Accessed via the Princes Highway, then Darkes Forest Road.
Distance: 2km return
Time: 45 minutes
Grade: Easy
From the carpark, follow the Fire Management Trail to Maddens Creek, then walk along the raised walking track until you reach the viewing platform at the falls.
Note: No picnic or toilet facilities are located in the Dharawal National Park.
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Frere's Crossing
Freres Rd, Kentlyn
A lovely walk down to the Georges River. You are able to see the remains of an old bridge that was used in the early 1900s. Enjoy the serene environment.
The crossing was named after George Pierre Frere, who owned a property at Eckersley, but by 1913 all residents had been moved out of the area to make way for the military reserve. In more recent years a concrete causeway has been built across the river, but this may only be accessed by emergency or military vehicles.
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Frere's Crossing entrance is at the end of Freres Road, Kentlyn. No vehicle entry is allowed, but walkers are welcome to wander down the fire trail to the Georges River.
A person of average health should be able to manage the walk down to the river, but the less healthy may need to take a few stops on the way up, as there is a hill to negotiate, but views along the river are worth stopping to admire.
Distance: 2km return walk along an established firetrail.
Grade: Medium, includes some hills. Trail surface is loose and rocky in places.
Suitable for: bushwalking and experienced mountain bike riding.
Note: no picnic tables or toilet facilities are located at Freres Crossing.
More experienced bush walkers can make their way along the river to The Basin Reserve (Keith Longhurst Reserve) and make this a circular day walk by leaving their vehicle on Georges River Road.
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Georges River Recreation Guide
For nature lovers, the beauty of the Macarthur region's national parks and wildlife trails will charm you. Discover spectacular natural wonders, flowing rivers and stunning rock escarpments with breathtaking views.
| Georges River Recreation Guide
| For further information contact the Campbelltown Visitor Information Centre.
15 Old Menangle Rd, Campbelltown
Ph: (02) 4645 4921
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Ingleburn Reserve
Picnic Grove Rd, Ingleburn
Ingleburn Reserve has magnificent views of the Georges River. The reserve contains the historical Ingleburn Weir, which was constructed in the late 1930s to provide a swimming area for the local community.
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The vegetation community at Ingleburn Reserve is classified as the endangered ecological community, Shale Sandstone Transition Forest. The reserve is home to a number of endangered plant species as well as a range of native birds, some marsupials, other small mammals and reptiles.
Distance: 400m return walk takes visitors down to the Weir.
Grade: Medium. Sandstone steps. Trail surface is loose and rocky in places.
Suitable for: bushwalking and picnics (picnic tables and toilet facilities are located at the reserve).
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Keith Longhurst Reserve
Keith Longhurst Reserve
Georges River Rd, Kentlyn
The Keith Longhurst Reserve is a 76 hectare bushland reserve with significant scenic and cultural values. The Reserve, formally known as the Basin Reserve, includes a number of walks including the Basin Walking Track and the Old Ford Road Walking Track, which is a historic road built in the 1880s to cross the Georges River.
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The Dharawal people orginally inhabited the area, and there are many sites of cultural significance.
Walking Trail - The Basin Walking Track
Distance: 2km return walk
Grade: Medium. The end of the track is quite steep and is only recommended for people of moderate fitness.
Suitable for: Bushwalking
Walking Trail - The Old Ford Road
Distance: 2.6km return walk
Grade: Easy. An established sloping track, suitable for a variety of fitness levels.
Suitable for: bushwalking and mountain biking.
Note: There are no picnic facilities or toilets located in the Keith Longhurst Reserve.
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Koshigaya Park
Cnr Camden and Hurley Rds, Campbelltown
Koshigaya Park was opened in 1984 in celebration of Campbelltown's Sister City relationship with Koshigaya, Japan. Today it is a popular venue for outdoor activites and functions. Facilities available include sheltered picnic tables, BBQ facilities, toilet amenities and modern playground equipment.
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Macarthur Bushwalkers
Ph: (02) 4628 2528
| bushwalking-cycling.com
| The Macarthur Bushwalkers are a local group. Activities include backpacking, hiking, trekking and bushwalking, both locally and further afield. Enjoy all levels from short day walks to overnight trips.
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Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living
Mount Annan Dr, Mount Annan
Ph: (02) 4647 9828
| info@mcsl.org.au
| www.mcsl.org.au
| The Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living is a community driven organisation with the aim of promoting sustainable homes and gardens. The Centre is a unique information, education and demonstration centre.
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Explore sustainable living options through a range of activities including festivals, markets, workshops, art, food, gardening and music. Tours are available for groups of 10 or more. Bookings essential.
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Macarthur Park
Menangle Rd, Camden
Ph: (02) 4654 7777
This beautiful park was opened 1906 and has a number of different areas including a heritage rose garden, the wisteria walk, the Cenotaph honouring World War I soldiers and a shelter built in 1913 in memory of Mrs Elizabeth Macarthur-Onslow.
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Mrs Elizabeth Macarthur-Onslow, a granddaughter of John Macarthur, gifted Macarthur Park to the people of Camden in 1905. The park is home to Camden's War Memorial and the Faithfull-Anderson Fountain which once stood, where the roundabout is now, at the intersection of John and Argyle St. The park is well known for its Heritage Rose Garden. In 1905, Camden was a rural village and the land for the park was at the perimeter of residential blocks. The forethought used in donating the park has ensured the people of Camden can still enjoy the rural atmosphere of the past that the park engenders.
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Mountain Devils Bushwalking
Ph: (02) 9603 3559
| www.mountaindevils.org.au
| The Mountain Devils Bushwalking and Social Club is dedicated to the enjoyment of the great Australian bush. Activities are run on weekends and include one day walks, overnight trips and social gatherings such as movie nights or dinners. Walks can vary in both distance and terrain and can cater for all levels of fitness.
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National Parks Association - Macarthur Branch
http://branches.npansw.org.au/br-macarthur
| npamacarthur@gmail.com
| The NPA offers a variety of activities including an extensive bushwalking and camping program. The NPA is a non-profit community organisation, founded in 1957, which seeks to to protect, connect and restore the integrity and diversity of natural systems in NSW (Australia) and beyond through national parks, marine sanctuaries and other means.
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The main activity of the Macarthur Branch is the conservation and protection of our natural habitat. In addition, it is involved in a comprehensive range of activities that are related to our appreciation of the bush and nature. These include a lecture series, biodiversity surveys and through NPA NSW, an extensive bushwalking and camping program.
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Pembroke Park
Pembroke Rd, Minto
Pembroke Park has an area of approximately 7 hectares and is one of the most popular parks in Campbelltown. The park is extremely popular with weekend family groups and has a range of facilities including BBQ and playground equipment.
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Razorback Lookout
Remembrance Dr, Razorback
Razorback has panoramic views of the district and to Sydney.
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Simmo's Beach
Helicia Rd, Macquarie Fields
Simmo's Beach is a passive recreation area within a bushland setting on the banks of the Georges River. The reserve is popular during summer and includes picnic, BBQ and children's playground equipment and extensive bushland walking trails.
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Simmo's Beach is an ideal spot for a picnic for the whole family or a short walk, either on concrete paths, or bushland tracks. On hot summer days you will find local children swimming on the sandy beach formed by the river.
Longer walks along the river can be undertaken by experienced bush walkers, there are no paths or signage and the normal bush walking precautions should be adhered too. Access to the Holsworthy Military Reserve on the eastern side of the river is prohibited.
In general the bush land is in good repair with typical Hawkesbury Sandstone trees and flowers.
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William Howe Regional Park
Mary Howe Pl, Narellan Vale
This regional park supports natural vegetation within surrounding agricultural and residential areas. Expansive views of the surrounding areas are available from Turkeys Nest Dam. A walking track leads visitors to the lookout platform and picnic tables. Dogwalking (on leads) is permitted.
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