Robertson Nature Reserve

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Overview

Only a short drive from Moss Vale and Wollongong, Robertson Nature Reserve offers a tranquil getaway with walking tracks, birdwatching and historic rainforest to discover.

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Just a short drive from Moss Vale and Wollongong near the edge of the Illawarra Escarpment, Robertson Nature Reserve is a tiny reserve packed with natural wonders to delight the whole family.

Just a few footsteps from the car and you’ll find yourself surrounded by this rare remnant of dense Yarrawa Brush rainforest, which once covered the entire surrounding area.

Wander under the shady tree canopy, step over moss-covered roots and mottled tree trunks. Listen for the whip crack call of the eastern whipbird, or the sounds of a short-beaked echidna scurrying along the rainforest floor – this special place is great for wildlife-spotting and birdwatching.

Stroll through the rainforest on the wheelchair-friendly Rainforest walking track, then enjoy a leisurely picnic lunch.

You can visit the park as a day trip from Sydney, or spend the weekend and stay at one of the many accommodation options in the charming township of Robertson.

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For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://uat.nswparks.cloud/visit-a-park/parks/robertson-nature-reserve/local-alerts

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All the practical information you need to know about Robertson Nature Reserve.

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Nearby towns

Robertson (1 km)

Robertson is known as the 'green heart of the Highlands' for a good reason - it's always green. Rich, fertile soil and abundant rural farmland make up Robertson's scenic landscape. It serves as a gateway to some of the State's best waterfalls.

www.visitnsw.com

Moss Vale (22 km)

Moss Vale is the rural centre of the Southern Highlands, with its regional livestock saleyards, farmers market and agricultural show. The meandering tree-lined main street and lush gardens make it one of the most picturesque towns in the region.

www.visitnsw.com

Bowral (26 km)

Spring is tulip time while summer has fragrant roses and autumn, flowering bulbs. Bowral Tulip Festival runs from the end of September until early October; the Autumn Garden Festival is held in May.

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Learn more

Robertson Nature Reserve is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:

    Natural wonders

    Rainforest, Robertson Nature Reserve. Photo: Michael Van Ewijk

    Robertson Nature Reserve is a tiny 5.3ha reserve, but it’s packed with natural wonders. It conserves one of the largest and least disturbed areas of rainforest remaining from the Yarrawa Brush. Step inside this dense cool or warm temperate rainforest and you’ll find unique shrubs, soft tree ferns, numerous vines and intricate fungi. Look up into the canopy at trees like sassafras, featherwood, coachwood and possum wood. Watch for the flashes of crimson rosellas darting through the trees or listen for the whip crack call of the eastern whipbird.

    • Rainforest walking track An easy walk along Rainforest walking track in Robertson Nature Reserve, near Wollongong, is the perfect way to recharge the batteries. Stroll under the rainforest canopy and enjoy birdwatching and wildlife spotting along the way.

    Historic rainforest

    Rainforest walking track, Robertson Nature Reserve. Photo: Michael Van Ewijk

    The dense rainforest you’ll find at Robertson Nature Reserve once covered 2500ha of the red basalt soil area around Robertson. The Yarrawa Brush, or ‘Brush’, as it was called by the early explorers who were trying to forge a route from the highlands to the coast, was first penetrated by Charles Throsby in 1817. However, the area was not significantly cleared until the 1860s, when settlement around Robertson began. But by the early 1900s, more than 80 per cent of the Yarrawa Brush was gone. Today, only about 500ha of fragmented patches survive, making Robertson Nature Reserve a special window into the past as well as an important place for conservation.

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    What we're doing

    Robertson Nature Reserve has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. View the detailed park and fire management documents.

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