Macquarie Pass National Park, Nature reserve in Wollongong, Australia.
Macquarie Pass National Park is a nature reserve along the Illawarra escarpment in New South Wales, Australia. It covers sandstone ridges, heavily forested gullies, and several waterfalls, all accessible through marked walking tracks.
The area was set aside for protection in the early 20th century as concern grew about the condition of the escarpment's forests. Before that, the pass had been used since colonial times as a key crossing between the coast and the tablelands.
The park takes its name from the Macquarie Pass, a historic route through the escarpment named after an early colonial governor. Walking the trails today, you can still follow parts of the same path that once connected the coast to the highlands.
Visiting during spring or autumn tends to be more comfortable, as summer rains can leave tracks muddy and slippery. Sturdy, waterproof footwear and enough water are important, since some sections of the trails are steep and can be tiring.
The park is one of the few places where tiger quolls and long-nosed potoroos still live in the wild, both marsupials that have largely disappeared from other parts of Australia. On quiet mornings near the streams, visitors also have a real chance of spotting a platypus.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
