Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve
Overview
Situated between Kangaroo Valley and the coast, Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve is a great place for hiking, cycling, birdwatching and picnicking.
Read more about Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve
Hidden away on a high plateau between the NSW south coast and Kangaroo Valley, you’ll find Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve. The park is quite unusual in that it’s made up of parcels of land spread across Cambewarra Mountain Range rather than being within a single boundary. And just as great things come in small packages, this, along with its diversity of plant communities, birdlife and animals, simply adds to the reserve’s unique appeal.
Looking for a new perspective on the world? Drive up to towards Red Rocks trig station and take a short walk for views across the rural patchwork and forested landscape of Kangaroo Valley. Anyone who chooses to go walking or mountain biking can also access Browns Mountain trig station by following Browns Mountain trail.
So pack a picnic lunch and bring your friends, family, bushwalking group or birdwatching club to explore Cambewarra Range.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/cambewarra-range-nature-reserve/local-alerts
Contact
- in the South Coast region
Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre
02 4887 8270
Contact hours: 9am to 4pm daily. Closed Christmas Day. - 1301 Nowra Road, Fitzroy Falls NSW 2577
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Email: FitzroyFalls.VisitorCentre@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve.
Map
Map legend
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Kangaroo Valley:
- Head east along Moss Vale Road
- At the top of Cambewarra Mountain, turn left onto Tourist Road for Cambewarra lookout or turn right onto Leebold Hill Road for Red Rocks trig and Browns Mountain.
Road quality
- Unsealed roads
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve is not accessible by public transport.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Autumn can be cool, so it's a good time for taking a drive in the park or warming up on a brisk hike up to a trig station.
Spring
This is a great season for walking, picnicking, cycling and enjoying the scenic views and wildflowers along the way.
Summer
Due to the moderate climate of this area, summer is also a great time to go hiking and cycling in the park. Find a shady place for a picnic along the way.
Winter
Lower temperatures are a great excuse for exploring the natural beauty of this area from the warmth and comfort of your car.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
12°C and 25.3°C
Highest recorded
38.3°C
Winter temperature
Average
1.8°C and 12.5°C
Lowest recorded
-6.4°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
June
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
333mm
Maps and downloads
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.
Nearby towns
Kangaroo Valley (13 km)
Kangaroo Valley is a National Trust-listed village nestled between the Cambewarra and Barrengarry mountains. Less than two hours from Canberra and Sydney, Kangaroo Valley is one of the state's hidden gems. With a backdrop of rainforest greens, picturesque mountains, rolling pastures, lush valleys, and the Kangaroo River, Kangaroo Valley offers the perfect escape from the bustle of city life.
Nowra (16 km)
Nowra is a historic city and the commercial heart of the Shoalhaven. It's on the Shoalhaven River close to beaches and national parks.
Berry (25 km)
Berry is an attractive and stylish village. Rustic and sophisticated its surrounded by rich dairy country below the coastal escarpment.
Learn more
Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Our traditional custodians - the Dharawal People
Cambewarra was given its name by the traditional custodians of this area - the Dharawal People. These expert hunter-fisher-gatherers lived off the land in family groups and clans along the coastal area of what is now known as Sydney Basin. Cambewarra Mountain was given a name meaning 'mountain of fire' because it was thought to have once been a volcano. Another reason for the name is that cloud usually shrouds its summit - even on a clear day there often appears to be smoke coming from the top.
Expansive rainforest
The reserve also has one of the largest areas of subtropical rainforest remaining in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven area. These types of rainforest develop where the soil is fertile and rainfall is high. Here, you can expect to find strangler figs, palms, large vines, buttressed trunks and large epiphytes. Be sure to keep your binoculars handy for a spot of bird watching, because a myriad of beautiful birdlife call these trees home.
- Red Rocks trig walking track Red Rocks trig walking track leads to scenic views across Kangaroo Valley and Morton National Park and is a great place for a picnic and some birdwatching.
A haven for threatened species
Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve was created in 2001 in an attempt to conserve the area's biodiversity, maintain its ecosystem and protect its geological features. A number of threatened species inhabit the areas that make up the reserve, such as eastern bristlebirds and brush-tailed rock wallabies. Bristlebirds have suffered habitat loss over decades due to coastal development, fire and predation by foxes. The reserve offers a safe haven for this threatened species.
- Red Rocks trig walking track Red Rocks trig walking track leads to scenic views across Kangaroo Valley and Morton National Park and is a great place for a picnic and some birdwatching.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Cambewarra Range Nature Reserve has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents.