The Big Hole – Deua National Park
From Braidwood you drive down the Cooma/Krawaree Road (across the Ballalaba Bridge over the Shoalhaven) – past the Captains Flat turnoff until you see the Berlang Camping Area sign on the left – in you go.


A short walk from this well equipped site (toilets, BBQ and camping) and you arrive at The Big Hole.

— “I walked round the hole, marvelling and trying to work out how to photograph it; it was about 50 metres across. The sides fell in a sheer drop of some hundred metres. Ferns clung to the sides in places and tree-ferns grew in a sloping band of earth at the bottom. Swallows flittered in clear arcs…” —
John Blay 'Trek Through The Back Country' 1987 p40


Others have reported lyrebirds at the bottom of The Big Hole. Who knows what you’ll see and hear when you visit.

Marble Arch
This is another natural wonder of the National Park that can be reached by extending your walk beyond the Big Hole.


Marble Arch is a narrow-roofed canyon, some 3 to 4 metres wide, 25 metres deep and over a kilometre in length. Wide bands of 'marble' (variegated limestone) can be seen in the walls of the canyon and the roof of the cave.


Marble Arch is reached by a 13km, return walk that starts from the Berlang Camping Area.


Both these natural wonders are on the western side of the Deua National Park, for a detailed map of this area we suggest the topographic map - Kain 8026-4S.



Bendethera Caves
For cavers and the more 'dedicated' camper or nature lover. The word dedicated is used advisedly here because this near - pristine area is only accessible by 4 wheel drive, from Moruya (and that can be a three to four hour drive in good conditions) or from Braidwood, along the Cooma/Krawaree Rd, accessing the park from Middle Mountain Rd (around 2 hours depending on conditions). Once at the Bendethera camping area the caves are around a 2.5 hour walk by foot.


The upside is that it’s well worth the effort. Camp on the grassy area of the old farm by the fast-flowing Deua River – and explore.

The Main Cave at Bendethera is a short and rather steep climb up the range from the walking track. It’s a large limestone cave that contrasts with most of the many smaller caves and sinkholes that dot the landscape. Here’s somewhere where you can really get off the beaten track.



The area’s vegetation varies from swamp-bogs and ferns of the Shoalhaven River, through areas of Ironbark rainforest, open forest (with lots of Snow Gums) and Ash on the ridge tops. Fauna, too, is abundant with swamp and red-necked wallabies, grey kangaroos, echidnas, possums, bandicoots, a rare tiger quoll – and around 90 species of bird.

If you want to experience nature in the raw, there’s arguably nowhere better to pitch your tent for a long weekend – or longer.

Remember you are in a wilderness area and one of the largest and rugged National Parks, for detailed maps try the topographic maps -Snowball 8826-3S and Bendethera 8826-2S for access off Cooma/Krawaree Rd (western side) and for visitors coming in from Moruya try Moruya 8926-3S as well as the Bendethera map, google maps for this area aren't recommended.


Water Wheel
The turning of the waterwheel used to generate electricity when it was new (in the 1950s).


Now, its perpetual revolutions bring back memories of earlier times which stretch right back to the 1930s. Then the area (Lowden Forest Park in the Tallaganda State Forest) was a logging camp. The majestic stands of old trees (the Brown Barrel in particular) explain why the Lowden attracted those early timber men.

Other historic relics scattered through the park add to the appeal of this living time capsule and make it a great place for bushwalking and mountain bike riding.



If you like what you see you can camp to extend your stay (a longer stay will give the avid 'twitcher' i.e. bird-watcher, a better chance of sighting the rare Olive Whistler).

Picnic facilities are available so you can make a whole day of it when you visit.

Lowden Park is basically in the middle of the Tallaganda State Forest, if you'd like to explore the state forest further, have a look at topographic map Bendoura - 8826-4N.


Directions For Tallaganda State Forest

Monga National Park
A cornucopia of nature’s riches: great bush walking, horse riding, a scenic forest-drive for 2WDs (no, you don’t need a 4WD), rare flora, native animals in their home environment – and historic relics of early settlement. It’s all here in its natural beauty. Proving that many of the best things in life are, indeed, free.


But first an introduction to The Park itself.

This is an ancient region of near pristine, cool and warm temperate, rainforests. And with 26,000 plus hectares the variety of things to see and do is huge. Choose from the easy and accessible (you don’t even have to get out of your car) to the rather arduous and remote (such as an 18km trek down the mountain range on The Corn Trail).


In a world of ever shrinking rainforests and climate change, this is unquestionably an area of increasing environmental importance that everyone should experience (especially children) before… (well you know what we mean!)


The Mongarlowe and Buckenbowra Rivers add the magic and pleasures of water sports and recreations to the Park’s appeal.

Highlights include…

• Penance Grove – If you’d just stepped out of the 'Tardis' you might think you’d travelled back into the very distant past when Australia was part of the super, southern continent of Gondwana. You’ll be standing under a tall canopy of plumwood trees surrounded by ferns, mosses and lichen. In the right light the Grove can look positively luminous. The easily walked boardwalk that meanders through the area provides a great viewing platform… and there’s a 'surprise' for children when they meet the Grove’s unusual host.
  
  
• Mongarlowe Picnic Area – This is an easy 10 minute walk from Penance Grove. This sheltered and well-equipped picnic area (with toilets) is an ideal base from which to further explore the surrounding eucalyptus forests or the slow flowing Mongarlowe River (with the distinctive Monga Waratah dotted along its banks).

• Dasyurus Picnic Area – This is the first picnic area off the Kings Highway. It’s (again) on the banks of the Mongarlowe and is a great spot from which to start exploring the Corn Trail.
  
  
• The Corn Trail – This is an old, old route used to travel between the Tablelands down to the lower valleys of the South Coast. From the 1820s this Aboriginal 'highway' was used by settlers. Now you can explore it on foot with a walk – or on horse.
  
  
• The Loop – This is a 27 km car drive that winds its way through the old growth forests, tree fern valleys and lush, wet areas. It passes most of the favourite attractions in The Monga National Park and is a good way to first experience the area before deciding on where you’d like to return to for a longer visit.

THERE ARE NO CAMPING SITES IN THE MONGA. 


The Budawangs, Morton National Park
What The Budawangs have to offer is still best summarised by a 1970s National Parks Association pamphlet…


“The South Coast of NSW has long provided the holiday maker with those irresistible attractions of fine fishing, alluring lakes and great surfing beaches. Yet, parallel with, and only 20 miles from the coast, lies the (then) proposed Budawang National Park.An area rivalling The Blue Mountains in grandeur… nowhere else in NSW is there such magnificent mountain scenery so close to a coastal holiday resort.”

Spectacular views abound. And as spectacular views are all about open vistas the eye can quickly scan, it’s perhaps best to showcase the enticements of The Budawang Range by letting 'pictures' do the talking.


Indigenous tribes (Wandandian and Walbangas) have traversed the area for about 20,000 years. Known as 'Didthul' to local south coast tribes, Pigeon House mountain is a highly significant site for Aboriginal Australians. In 1770 the mountain was named Pigeon House Hill. Today the landmark is known by both names, recently being given the dual name of Pigeon House/Didthul Mountain.

“A remarkable peaked hill which resembled a square dove house with a dome on the top and for that reason I called it Pigeon House Hill” Lieutenant James Cook


Pigeon House/Didthul Mountain can be seen from nearly everywhere you trek in this wilderness – it’s an excellent reference point.


The range of country in this park is wide. Lush and moist to sparse and near-desert, flat to precipitous, remote to well-travelled. As a greatly experienced bushwalker of the region put it…


“The… topography of The Budawang Range contains a wealth of environments for plant life.Abrupt changes often result in startling changes… it is not uncommon to encounter the crowns of rainforest trees intruding upon a harsh heath land… from the shelter of a gully below”.
Ian Olsen, of the Budawang Committee 1982


The magic of The Park is attested to by the names given to its major features… the Pigeon House/Didthul, The Castle, Seven Gods Pinnacles, Admiration Point, The Nibelungs… and the Mecca of The Monolith Valley. All offer different experiences for the bushwalker, rock climber, camper, canoeist and 'birder'. The Clyde River and Yadboro Rivers hold further delights (including drinking water).

The famous bushwalker 'Paddy' Pallin summed it up pretty well…

“As any bushwalker knows, there are many wonderful wilderness areas within 250 kms of Sydney, but the Budawangs surely have a claim to be the most interesting and extraordinary of all”.
Patrick (Paddy) Pallin first visited The Budawang Range at Easter 1954.

The Budawangs within Morton National Park offer a unique wilderness experience. Visitors need to be experienced bushwalkers as there are no facilities and very few tracks and signs. Unexploded ordnance still exists in the former Tianjara military training area and for your own safety you should stay on track in the impact area. For bushwalking and other activities in this park please contact the Ulladulla office of the National Parks & Wildlie Service on the number below or refer to the Department of Environment and Climate Change website, click here to access the relevant page, you can also download the 'Requirements and Guidelines For Walking and Camping In the Budawang Wilderness, Morton National Park.

The Morton national Park is extensive, topographic maps are advised for the park, we recommend the following maps that cover the different ares -
North - Western area maps - Endrick 8927 - 4S;Tianjarra - 8927 - 1S
South Western area maps - Corang - 8927 - 3N;Brooman - 8927 - 3S;Tabourie - 8927 - 2S
Eastern area - Milton - 8927 - 2N
 
NPWS Uladulla Office: 02 44 549 500

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