Christmas Day has come and gone. Leftovers have been consumed and enjoyed on Boxing Day and now you are feeling a little stuffed and in need of some exercise. Well, what better way to shed some of those Christmas kilos and get out into the fresh air. Boxvale Walking Track in the Southern Highlands is a lovely place to spend a morning walking this stunning track and then meandering around the streets of Mittagong or Bowral - maybe find some more room to fit in brunch or afternoon tea!
Ascending to the start of the Boxvale Track
There are several highlights of this walk. The track crosses Nattai Creek and follows the embankment of the Boxway Tramway. It's hard to imagine that a locomotive once steamed along this track apart from some timber sleepers that can be seen and felt underfoot as you walk through the 84 m long tunnel, highlight number 1. It's amazing walking through here.
84m long tunnel
The track is dotted with wildflowers, ferns, fallen trees that almost make a canopy above some of the path. The feel of the area is tranquil and makes for a very relaxing walk.
Fernery
It's a good idea to bring plenty of drinking water. There are water features around but the water is unfit for drinking. A packed lunch or some snacks is also a good idea because the second highlight of this walk is the lookout at Nattai Gorge - breathtaking. There are some tables and chairs that you can rest upon if you wish, whilst relaxing and taking in the stunning view. It's approximately a 4.5km walk from the carpark to the gorge, so it's a relatively easy walk and plenty of beautiful scenery to feast your eyes on along the way.
This is an interesting and historical walk. It's fascinating to think that there was a coal mine in the Nattai Gorge and the line was built in 1888 to carry it 7kms to the main southern line in Mittagong. There was an incline and the area of its location is signposted, where the coal would be brought up from the gorge.
This is a walk that can be done as a day trip because the drive is only an hour and a half south of Sydney, however, you could make a weekend of it too and choose to stay in Mittagong, Bowral or Berry - it's great to have choices. Happy exploring.
