On New South Wale’s South Coast, Budderoo National Park is the place to go for tall eucalyptus forests, relaxing waterfalls and rocky escarpments. And, it’s just a short drive away from the coast.
The park is split between two areas, both paid and unpaid to enter. The only paid area of the park is Minnamurra Rainforest area, located about 20 minutes from Kiama, NSW. The other section of the park, which is unpaid, is in the highlands, about an hour from Kiama.
It’s a large national park without much else around, which makes it a great place to explore in peace. This makes for a relaxing trip and the ability to enjoy the park without any other distractions.
No matter which area of Budderoo National Park you chose to go visit, you’ll feel the parks natural calmness right away.
This guide to Budderoo National Park has everything visitors need to know about the park. Included are walking tracks, sightseeing and extras to do in the park. Both the paid, Minnamurra Rainforest area and the unpaid section of the park are separated in this guide.
Budderoo is right next to Morton National Park, but due to the latter being enormously destroyed by recent bushfires, it’s a good alternative national park to visit in the area.
Table of Contents
Minnamurra Rainforest Area
Those arriving to Minnamurra Rainforest Area won’t be disappointed by what there is to do in the park. This section is the paid area of Budderoo National Park, there’s a A$12 fee for all vehicles per day. Fees for bus or taxis are A$4.40 per adult and $2.20 per child. Once parked, there’s no additional fees to do the walking tracks or enjoy the picnic area.
Because this section of the park is paid, its facilities are also better equipped for visitors. This includes a tourist information centre, Minnamurra Rainforest Centre. This area of the national park also tends to be busier because it caters a bit more towards families.
Below is all bushwalks and hikes that can be done from the Minnamurra Rainforest section of the park. Aside from the walks, hang out and stay a while at Minnamurra Rainforest picnic area.
Bushwalks and Hikes
Minamurra Rainforest area is a perfect spot for quick day trip to the park. These short bushwalks and hikes through this section of the park are the only way to see the park’s waterfalls and rainforest. Estimated times for the hikes are from NSW Parks, and include the return journey.
Rainforest Loop – 1.6 km, 30 mins – 1 hour
This short walk starts at Minnamurra Rainforest Centre and goes through the dense rainforest on a well-maintained path. Staying in the rainforest the path goes over a suspension bridge, and has many viewing platforms. The Rainforest loop is the starting point for The Falls walk.
The Falls walk – 4.2 km, 1-2 hours
Starting from the Rainforest loop, The Falls walk is the path to see Minnamurra Falls, through multiple viewing platforms. It’s an easy walk with some steep sections, but the views are worth the trek.
Upper Budderoo National Park
This next section of Budderoo National Park is the largest section of the park. Even though the park is together on a map, it’s separated by different roads to access it. This upper section is accessed by the Illawarra tourism route, Jamberoo Mountain Road, or through other directions—depending on where you’re coming from.
Listed here is everything else to do in the park, there are no park fees to enter or park in this end of the park and all hikes and sightseeing are free. Because this section of the park is in the highlands, there’s many lookouts around the park—both on the main road and on hikes.
Bushwalks and Hikes
In the upper section of Budderoo National Park, all of the bushwalks and hikes are surrounding Carrington Falls, the park’s largest waterfall. It’s possible to do all of these within a day trip, if you’re fit. The hikes are a better way to see the park if you’re interested in more than just lookouts.
Tracks are listed from smallest to longest kilometres. All times and lengths of tracks are from NSW Parks and include the return trip.
Carrington Falls walking track – 0.6 km loop, 30 – 45 mins
Starting from the parking lot, this track can be done in either direction. There’s picnic tables and pit toilets next to the parking lot, at Carrington Falls picnic area, so this could easily be a spot for lunch. The well-maintained loop path has multiple spots to view Carrington Falls. The waterfall is Budderoo’s largest waterfall, which goes 90 metres down into the canyon.
After seeing Carrington Falls, it’s easy to navigate the rest of the area. It’s a bit of a middle point within the park.
Warris Chair Lookout Track – 1 km, 30 mins – 1 hour
This is a quick walk to stunning views in Budderoo National Park, it begins at the the Nellies Glen picnic area. The walking track wraps around the northern end of the cliffside outward from Carrington Falls. This means a view towards into Kangaroo Valley. After a recent rainfall, waterfalls can be seen throughout the cliffs.
It’s also possible to see the Kangaroo River, which comes from Carrington Falls. The track leads to a huge rock which is the ‘Warris Chair’ ending the trail, it returns on the same path.
Izzards Lookout Track – 1.1 km, 30 mins – 1 hour
This is an easy walk from Carrington Falls with more views of the canyon and into Kangaroo Valley, below. It’s the most north-westerly view of the river and valley. This is a relaxing walk in the park, next to tall gum trees and local birds, such as the black cockatoos.
Missingham Lookout Track – 3.8 km, 30 mins – 1 hour
Starting at Nellies Glen picnic area, this is the most easterly walking track in this section of the park. The entire trail (aside from some possibly flooded parts) is well-maintained and easy to navigate. And there are clear signs throughout the trail.
At close to four kilometres, the trail starts out by going through mixed pastures next to the park’s dense forest. It continues through some swampy parts of the trail before heading a bit south into the forest. There’s only some steep sections close to the beginning of the trail, but overall it’s not difficult. The trail goes to two different lookouts, each a few hundred meters away from the other. After the lookouts head back on the same walking path back to the parking lot.
Picnic Areas
There’s two different picnic areas within the upper section of Budderoo National Park. For both picnic areas, there’s just picnic tables available, there’s no rubbish bins so come prepared and take your rubbish with you.
Carrington Falls picnic area is right beside the walking trail loop to see the waterfall. The parking lot can get busy, but the picnic areas are strewn around the trees for some calmness away from the vehicle. Nellies Glen picnic area is the beginning point for tons of walks around the park (see walking tracks above!) Not only does it also have picnic tables, but there’s a small waterfall to enjoy with your lunch.
Camping
There’s only one campground in Budderoo National Park, Carrington Falls Campground. It’s a small, open-concept campsite with six camping spots. Due to its size, it’s suited best for camping beside your vehicle or tenting only.
However each site has its own picnic table, which is a bonus compared with other campgrounds. Fees are A$12 per night, which includes two people. Additional adults are another A$6 and A$3.50 per child (5-15 years).
Jamberoo Lookout 
Blue Pool, Budderoo National Park 
Jamberoo Lookout
Extras
There’s a few extra things in this national park that make the visit extra exciting. Before arriving (or after) to Budderoo National Park, check out Jamberoo lookout. This lookout points east towards the coast, from there you can see out to Kiama, Lake Illawarra and everywhere in between. On a clear day the ocean shines a deep blue and you can enjoy the beauty of the cities without the noise of their traffic.
Inside of the park, just off the main road to most of the walking tracks, there’s also access to a unique place: Blue Pool. Although don’t get too excited, depending on the weather, the pool might not actually be that blue. It’s still a nice spot to visit in the park itself. It has its own parking lot right next to Carrington Falls campground.
And if you’re heading to the park with a bike, head towards Budderoo track, which is 24 km and takes about two hours to complete. There’s wildlife, wild flowers and the protected rainforest to take in and enjoy.
If you’re interested in more national parks in the area, check out this guide for Booderee National Park and Beecroft Weapons Range—the latter isn’t a NP, but it has plenty of natural beauty to experience. And for hikes, check out the Drawing Room Rocks, and the Three Views walk, both located in Kangaroo Valley.
