National Park Guide
Dharawal National Park, a national park in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, is situated approximately 45 kilometers southwest of Sydney. This area features a diverse landscape, characterized by a network of creeks, tall eucalypts, heaths, swamps, waterfalls, and rockpools. Its ancient terrain includes gorges, sandstone woodlands, and rainforests, predominantly formed by Triassic Hawkesbury Sandstone, making it suitable for several sports like road cycling, touring cycling, hiking, jogging, and more.
Dharawal National…
46
Routes
4.7
(27)
Average rating
1557
People visited

41
hikers
2.54km
01:25
250m
250m
Hard hike. Great for any fitness level. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

18
hikers
6.17km
01:35
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
16
hikers
22.0km
05:36
60m
60m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
15
hikers
18.3km
05:58
590m
590m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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4.6
(5)
282
riders
43.7km
02:18
250m
250m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

117
riders
66.6km
03:47
1,040m
1,040m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
147
riders
63.2km
03:21
710m
710m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.3
(3)
89
riders
74.7km
03:55
320m
320m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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5.0
(1)
119
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
63
riders
49.1km
03:16
650m
650m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
48
riders
102km
06:10
450m
450m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
33
riders
70.1km
04:15
370m
370m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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60
runners
16.3km
01:41
70m
70m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

22
runners
9.51km
01:00
100m
100m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
16
runners
9.40km
01:02
170m
170m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
16
runners
11.2km
01:13
210m
210m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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13
riders
7.67km
00:40
70m
70m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
riders
13.8km
01:29
410m
410m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

5
riders
16.9km
01:30
300m
300m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
Dharawal National Park offers a range of outdoor activities, including Road cycling, Touring cycling, Hiking, Jogging, and Mountain biking. The park features diverse landscapes such as woodlands, swamps, and waterfalls, suitable for various skill levels.
The 10B Cycling Trail is a popular 9-mile (15-kilometer) unsealed road suitable for easy cycling. Another option is the Dharawal MTB Circuit, a mountain bike loop utilizing fire trails for cross-country style riding. These trails offer good conditions for maintaining pace, though they can become muddy after rain.
Dharawal National Park and its surrounding areas offer several road cycling routes. Examples include the 26.7-mile (43-kilometer) 'Surf Lifesaver Statue – Belmore Basin loop from Coledale' and the 40.9-mile (65.9-kilometer) 'Otford Lookout – Otford Lookout loop from Stanwell Park'. More routes can be found in the Road Cycling Routes in Dharawal National Park guide.
Popular hiking trails include Maddens Falls Walk, Jingga Track to Jingga Pool, and Minerva Pool walking track. The O'Hares Creek Lookout walking track is a family-friendly, paved trail offering gorge views. Additional information is available in the Hiking in Dharawal National Park guide.
Yes, Dharawal National Park offers routes suitable for families and beginners. The 10B Cycling Trail provides an easy cycling experience, and the O'Hares Creek Lookout walking track is paved and family-friendly. For hiking, the Easy hikes in Dharawal National Park guide lists suitable options.
The park features a network of creeks, including the O'Hares Creek catchment, and diverse landscapes with tall eucalypts, heaths, swamps, waterfalls, and rockpools. Notable sites include Maddens Falls, Jingga Pool, and Minerva Pool. The park's plateau consists predominantly of Triassic Hawkesbury Sandstone.
Dharawal National Park is the traditional land of the Dharawal Aboriginal people and protects numerous special Aboriginal sites. These include drawings and axe-grinding grooves. Minerva Pool is a culturally significant site where only women and children are invited to enter the waters.
National parks in New South Wales, including Dharawal National Park, generally do not permit dogs or other pets. This policy helps protect the park's native wildlife and natural environment. Visitors should check the official park website for specific regulations.
Dharawal National Park is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 1,500 visitors having explored its routes. The park's routes have an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, indicating a high level of satisfaction among users.
Komoot offers several guides for Dharawal National Park, covering various activities. These include Road Cycling Routes, Cycling, Running Trails, Hiking, and MTB Trails.
For general inquiries, the National Parks Contact Centre can be reached at 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) daily from 7 am to 7 pm. The Wollongong office can be contacted at 02 4224 4188 from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The official website is part of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

