Cascades walk
Macquarie Pass National Park
Overview
For an easy walk through shady rainforest, take Cascades walk to a beautiful waterfall and pool near Kiama and Robertson.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Distance
- 2km return
- Time suggested
- 45min - 1hr 15min
- Grade
- Grade 3
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- Protect against leeches and ticks with insect repellent
- Please leave wildflowers and other plants as they are
- Tall forest is best avoided when there are strong winds
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch
The easy and rewarding Cascades walk will take you through rainforest and tall eucalypt forest along a creek to the beautiful cascades. This rainforest haven is home to lyrebirds, platypus and goannas, as well as large native figs, lilly pillys and lianas. Wander through the fern understorey. With lizards skittering about and birds darting through the shafts of sunlight, this is a delightful experience all year-round, but is a special treat in summer when the rainforest canopy provides shade and protection.
Children will love the variety of this walk. Why not bring a book of local birds or plants so that they can identify what they’re seeing? Bring binoculars for birdwatching, and they can take a good look into the canopy for surprises. Then, finish up with a relaxing lunch at Cascades picnic area after you’ve all had enough walking for the day.
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/cascades-walk/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 Macquarie Pass National Park in the South Coast and Country NSW regions
Macquarie Pass National Park 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 Cascades walk.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
2km return
Time
45min - 1hr 15min
Quality of markings
Clearly sign posted
Experience required
No experience required
Gradient
Flat
Steps
Many steps
Quality of path
Formed track, some obstacles
Getting there and parking
The trackhead is at the northern edge of Cascades picnic area. From Sydney and Wollongong:
- Take the Princes Highway and Southern Freeway to the Illawarra Highway turnoff at Haywards Bay
- Travel about 14km along the Illawarra Highway, which veers right in Albion Park, to Macquarie Pass National Park and the Cascades picnic area.
From Robertson:
- Take the Illawarra Highway east to reach Macquarie Pass National Park and the Cascades picnic area
From Nowra:
- Head north along the Princes Highway and turn west into Tongarra Road at Albion Park Rail
- Travel about 15km along Tongarra Road , which becomes the Illawarra Highway, to Macquarie Pass National Park and the Cascades picnic area.
The main road used to access Macquarie Pass National Park is the Illawarra Highway which may close at times due to road works or accidents. For information on whether the Illawarra Highway is open, contact NSW Roads and Maritime Services on 13 22 13 or check Live Traffic NSW before you visit.
Parking
Parking is available at Cascades picnic area, including limited bus parking. It can be a busy place on the weekend, so parking might be limited.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Macquarie Pass National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Take on some longer walks and see the lilly pillys fruiting.
Spring
Smell the sweet scent of flowering pittosporum and wattle throughout the park.
Summer
Walk in the cool of the rainforest and see the Illawarra flame trees and coachwoods in flower.
Winter
Enjoy the early wattle blooming at the edge of the forest and bring your binoculars for the bird activity of late winter.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
18°C and 25°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
304.4mm
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Prohibited
Gathering firewood
- Firewood may not be collected from the park, so you'll need to bring your own
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.
Learn more
Cascades walk is in Macquarie Pass National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A colourful escarpment
Macquarie Pass National Park covers a spectacular sandstone escarpment that glows a rich yellow and orange in the sunlight, contrasting with the lush, deep green of the forest. At its base lie massive boulders lined with ferns and orchids. It's said that local Nurrewin House was built entirely from the stone of one boulder.
- Cascades picnic area Take a break from your road trip or relax after Cascades walk at this sunny picnic area amid the cool rainforest, near Wollongong on the south coast of NSW.
- Clover Hill trail For escarpment views, rainforest, waterfalls, birdwatching and cool creeks, take the Clover Hill trail at Macquarie Pass near Wollongong and Kiama.
An ancient route
It's thought that the track through Macquarie Pass followed a traditional path used by the Wodi Wodi people to travel between the coast and the highlands. Made into a track in 1863 and a road in 1898, it was so rugged that the brakes and radiators of the first cars had trouble coping. At least one went straight over the embankment. Today, it's a much more enjoyable journey - the winding, steep Illawarra Highway gives travellers time to take a look at the beautiful landscape and forest.
- Cascades walk For an easy walk through shady rainforest, take Cascades walk to a beautiful waterfall and pool near Kiama and Robertson.
Diverse habitats
The first thing visitors will notice in the park is the sheer size of the trees and the rainforest feel of the park, with plentiful figs, cabbage tree palms and vines. Tall open forest on the north and west slopes contains huge turpentine, brown barrel and gully gum, and there are three distinct types of rainforest in the park. If you're patient and lucky, you may see platypus in the larger watercourses and koalas in the forests. There are thought to be threatened broad-headed snakes here too, and you're also likely to see grey-headed flying foxes feeding on native figs in season. The park is an important place for the conservation of tiger quolls and long-nosed potoroos. There's plenty for birdwatchers to see too. Lyrebirds and satin bowerbirds wander about and the threatened powerful owl is also local to the area.
- Cascades picnic area Take a break from your road trip or relax after Cascades walk at this sunny picnic area amid the cool rainforest, near Wollongong on the south coast of NSW.
- Cascades walk For an easy walk through shady rainforest, take Cascades walk to a beautiful waterfall and pool near Kiama and Robertson.
- Scones in the forest South Coast walking tours Experience South Coast beauty on this wilderness excursion with Nature Engagement Tours. Walking with a friendly and knowledgeable guide, you'll explore pristine forests in beautiful Macquarie Pass National Park, near Wollongong and Kiama.
The perfect climate for bushwalking
In summer, take advantage of the dense shade and fern-lined watercourses criss-crossing the park. In winter, you'll find that many parts of the park are much milder than the exposed highlands, which makes walking a pleasant thing to do all year round.
- Clover Hill trail For escarpment views, rainforest, waterfalls, birdwatching and cool creeks, take the Clover Hill trail at Macquarie Pass near Wollongong and Kiama.