The Park comprises of 260 hectares of natural and modified landscape and contains a variety of habitat types including beaches, estuary, mangroves, coastal rainforest and freshwater wetland. It contains at least 3 rare and endangered plant species. Popular activities include surfing (2 beaches), fishing (beach/rock/river), walking and picnicking.

Camping Area Facilities:
Toilets, hot showers, camp kitchen (electric BBQs, wash-up area and undercover dining/seating). All sites are UNPOWERED.
The Camping Area is approximately 10 minutes walk to the Mystics Beach and 15 minutes walk to the Minnamurra River. Water is bore-water and not suitable for drinking. Campers need to provide their own drinking water. Mosquitoes and Sandflies: Depending on wind and weather conditions occasionally there are mosquitoes and/or sandflies in the camping ground. It is advisable to bring the necessary repellents.

Access:
Access to the park starts from the carpark at the foot of the pass on the northern side of the Illawarra Highway, or from the Mount Murray railway station on the Moss Vale - Unanderra line.

Two walking tracks are provided for great bush walking, the Cascades Rainforest Walk and the Glenview Track. The Cascades Rainforest Walk is two kilometres return and starts at the picnic area at the foot of Macquarie Pass. If you follow the 1 kilometre track you will come to the Cascades where the water falls from a height of 20 metres.

The Glenview Track is open to walkers but closed to vehicles. The track crosses a creek which, 400 metres downstream, plunges over the Cascades. It has several branch tracks through tall open forest providing the walker with the opportunity to explore other parts of the forest.

The principal stream through the park is the Macquarie Rivulet. Visitors to Macquarie Pass National Park can relax with a picnic, bushwalking, swimming or observing the beautiful stands of rainforest.

For more information and a map of the park click to download the Macquarie Pass brochure.

The park consists of many sportsfield features such as three completed fields (a fourth yet to be constructed), fields cater for cricket, football, athletics, high quality surfaces, fields 2 and 3 include a growth addictive, "Sanoplant", which retains water and reduces the need for irrigation, energy efficient lighting, funded under the Federal Government's Regional and Local Community Infastructure Program and two amenities buildings including toilets, change rooms, referees rooms, first aid rooms, kiosks and storage areas.

Not only will it help you find local playgrounds and play services but it also provides playground photos, lists of facilities, map links and more for over 270 playgrounds across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

This site aims to provide parents, carers, and anyone involved with children, with information to help them find local playgrounds and play activities. We want to see our outdoor community playspaces used more and the quality of these playspaces improved for the whole community to enjoy.

Park & Play Shellharbour is an exciting new activity for young children and their carers in the Shellharbour area brought to you by Family Services Illawarra. It runs throughout school terms from 10am to 12pm. For locations please click here for the Park & Play Website

FREE weekly play sessions are being held in parks and outdoor spaces in local neighbourhoods around Shellharbour City and all parents and carers of children aged 0-5 years are welcome to get involved.

Here children can paddle, swim and play in safety and there are plenty of picnic and barbecue facilities, kiosk and toilets. The Pelican Park playground is a dynamic place for kids to play that was designed with wheelchair access in mind for children with disabilities.

The reserve is a hive of activity on weekends. Shelharbour City Council holds its annual Family Family Fun n Fireworks and Australia Day at Reddall Reserve.

Darcy Wentworth acquired a large estate around Shellharbour, which he left to five of his children. John Reddall, the grandson of Martha Wentworth, built Wentworth Cottage in 1896. The magnificent home was built on the highest point of Stoney Range, which is now Pioneer Drive.

In 1914 the property was bought by John Carmody and continued by his son John Raymond (Ray) Carmody who spent his entire working life on the family?s dairy farm.

Incorporated in the park is a lookout, which will be known as Carmody?s Lookout in honour of the Carmody family who resided in the homestead for most of the last century and boasts magnificent views of Shellharbour City. Other special features of the picturesque park are two mazes, which occupy the site of the former cottage, which was demolished in 1978.

Take a walk through the reserve and enjoy natural flora and fauna. The lookouts at Bushrangers Bay and Maloneys Bay take advantage of the coastal views, follow the Coastal Heritage Walk signs and learn more about the history and heritage of the site to the Aboriginal people. Click here to download the Bass Point Heritage Walk brochure.

In the past the Wodi Wodi tribe had a "walkabout area" between Picton, Stanwell Tops, Marulan and Nowra and would camp at Bass Point. Today Bass Point is entered on the Register of the Australian Heritage Commission and is recognised as one of the two most important archaeological sites on the NSW coast.

The Cities Service Boston Memorial at Bass Point remembers the Australian Soldiers who lost their lives going to the aid of sailors on the American Merchant Ship City Services Boston that ran into the rocks at Bass Point during a storm in May 1943.

Bushrangers Bay is a very popular diving and snorkelling location on the South Coast. The sheltered bay offers vast marine life some of which are rare in this area of the coast.

For more information and a map of the Reserve click to download the Bass Point brochure.

Location:
There are three points of access to the Reserve.
Shellharbour Road, Shellharbour
Blackbutt Way, Barrack Heights
Wattle Road, Flinders

Unique because of its location in the centre of an urban area, the forest contains a diversity of vegetation and wildlife. The area boasts extensive picnic and barbecue facilities as well as children's playgrounds. All year round it is one of our area's most popular family gathering places. A feature is a marvellous open air amphitheatre depicting various Australian wildlife and fauna.

The Reserve consists of various walking trails and vast open spaces as well as picnic facilities with gas and wood BBQ's, a cycleway, on the leash designed dog areas, a childrens playground and amenities.

For more information and a map of the reserve please click here to download the Blackbutt Forest Reserve brochure.