Hiking with Kids: tips for success, avoiding meltdowns and where to go in NSW

Choosing the best bushwalks for kids

Think back to what you loved as a kid. For me, it was Enid Blyton: the mystery and excitement of discovery, problem solving and finding what’s at the top of the Faraway Tree. The access into the bush wasn’t a smooth, easy path; it was broken up with things to scramble over (like nature’s adventure playground) with tree roots, rocks, caves and boulders and a variety of ups, downs and level ground.

Tips for hiking with kids

I asked a bunch of experts (parents with kids who love bushwalking!) for their best tips and advice on taking kids hiking and having a great time of it. Here’s their top tips:

• Slow down – and allow more time than usual to investigate cool plants, moss/fungi/insects, leaves, etc
• A positive mindset – Don’t think of the kids as a burden or hassle for your own hiking goals, think of it as an adventure you can do together
• Spark imagination – caves, waterfalls, cascades, giant trees, mountains of interesting shapes, rock formations, night walks with torches… and ghost stories!

• Choose interesting terrain – Opportunities for scrambling “nature’s playground”, (Felecia and Shaun, from Road Trips Australia)
• Problem solving and decision making – make navigation, route-finding and planning choices together. “Looks like those clouds are coming in quicker than the app said. What should we do about it?” Don’t jump to answer for them, prompt them to figure things out and make smart choices for themselves
• Discovery and investigation – if you know there’s something cool up ahead and it’s safe to do so, let them go and discover it for themselves.
• Set a challenge – Create a list or use an existing one (eg. Shoalhaven’s 100 beach challenge). Amanda Greggory Lloyd says, “Our kid had been to them all by 5 years old and so we extended it from Thirroul to Batemans Bay.”
• Snacks – No matter the age, we are all powered by snacks!
• Include their interests – What are they into? Can their hobby be incorporated into it? eg. photography
• BYO a friend or two, 3 or more!
• Carry their own pack – appropriate to their frame and help them pack it by asking questions of what they think they’ll need

“Kids can walk almost everywhere and everything. The key is to slow down and check out the critters, plants, rocks along the way, special leaves. Chat about bugs and enjoy the journey together.” Nicole St Vincent Welch

Best hikes for Kids in NSW (as recommended by parents!)

Sydney Region

• Northern Beaches
  • Warriewood Wetlands and Irrawong Waterfall ‘There’s a playground right at the start for meeting your friends. You can look down from the boardwalk and see the duckies (and other waterbirds) in the ponds, then walk through the rainforest along a level track – almost stroller-friendly except for a few steps near the end – and you get to a waterfall with a sandy beach where you can have a paddle. And if the kids are pooped and you have two adults, one can walk back and get the car and pick you up.‘ (Recommended by Jenny Edyejones).
• Mosman/Middle Head
  • Middle Head/Gubbah Gubbah ‘Some great short walks, combining some funky history and gun emplacements with speccy harbour views.’ (Recommended by Kym Goldsworthy). There’s also some good interps and audio tours. The concrete structures give lots of opportunities for imagination, scrambling and imaginative play, all with spectacular views of Sydney Harbour.
• The Shire
  • Royal National Park
    • Uloola Falls – a great beginner overnight camp for the family on the Karloo Pools Walking Track, with a toilet.
  • Heathcote National Park
    • Kingfisher Pools – another good campsite for beginners with opportunities to explore and paddle.

Blue Mountains

• Blackheath // Walls Cave – a great combo of gentle downhill walking, stepping stones, surprise canyon, a bridge and an impressive cave overhang with local Aboriginal significance. (Recommended by Dylan Jones)
• Lawson // South Lawson Waterfall Circuit
  • 5 waterfalls in about 3 km “Perfect for little ones” (Recommended by Kym Goldsworthy)
  • Dog friendly
• Lithgow/Newnes Plateau //
  • Lost City Walking Track – Dramatic rock pagodas in sculptural shapes and creek crossings. Julie Miller took her 11 & 5 yr old grandkids. ‘The kids managed the uphill haul better than I did!’
  • Glow Worm Tunnel Walking Track – Excellent interpretive signage with audio tour loaded with history and stories. Glow worms and the chance to walk through the pitch dark tunnel… a great family adventure. (Recommended by Cheryl Knott)
• Wolgan Valley // Newnes Industrial Ruins Walk – The ruins of Newnes mining town are fascinating. Walking the trail at night, with head torches adds a new dimension for kids! (Recommended by Mike Ashelford)

Central West

• Ganguddy (Dunns Swamp) with camping and giant boulder tracks to investigate.
  • Get in touch with the lovely John and Cindy from Southern Cross Kayaking paddling tours and hire.
  • Or Wirimbili tours to learn about this special place on an Aboriginal cultural tour.
• Mudgee // The Drip walking track – 2.8km return, grade 3,

Central Coast

• Killcare // Bouddi National Park – Maitland Bay Track – Wander downhill to the bay for beachcombing and a low tide, catch a glimpse of the 1898 shipwreck of PS Maitland, a the eastern end.
• McMasters Beach // Bouddi National Park – Little Beach – There’s options for shorter or longer walks along this track, including the Maitland Bay Track above. You can even book camping at Little Beach and Putty Beach for an extended family adventure! (Recommended by Amanda Greggory Lloyd.)

Snowy Mountains

• Thredbo // Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk (Summer) – allow a full day for this Aussie right-of-passage and try to start early to avoid the crowds. I’m old enough to remember parking at Rawsons Pass, but these days you could either take the chairlift from Thredbo and hike the classic out and back, or start at Charlotte Pass and mountain (or eBike!) to Rawsons Pass for a different vibe.
• Guthega // Illawong Walk – For the Indiana Jones suspension bridge vibes and opportunities for cooling off in the Snowy River, the Illawong Walk can even be seen on Google Street View Trekker.
• Perisher-Smiggins // Rainbow Lake – 2.5km return, grade 3
• Snowies Alpine Walk // Guthega to Charlotte pass (9km) or reverse for downhill
  • Swing bridges
  • Follow the river – paddling/swim opportunities
  • Basecamp Cafe at Guthega for rewards (seasonal opening, check times)
  • 2 cars to avoid the 18 kms
  • Stilwell Pub at Charlotte’s!
• Try bikepacking on the gentler inclines of Northern Kosci (Amanda Greggory/Loyd)

South Coast

• Nowra // Ben’s Walk – 5.5km circuit with impressive suspension bridge
• Kangaroo Valley // 3 Views Walk – 9.5km return, grade 3, ‘almost completely flat’.
• Ulladulla // Didthul-Pigeon House – 5km return, grade 4
  • Strenuous walk (early teens and older)
  • Ladders to climb
  • Epic views
  • Huge sense of achievement “we climbed that” (Recommended by Jenny Edyejones)
• Shoalhaven “the 100 beach challenge” a great motivator. Amanda Gregory Lloyd says, ’10/10 recommend’!

ACT/Canberra

• Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve has 24 signposted walks for all ages and abilities.

West

• Warrumbungle National Park – Grand High Tops & Bread Knife (14.5km loop, grade 4)
  • Suit mid to older teens due to challenge level (including need to carry good amount of water and changeable conditions)
  • Book Balor Hut campground, Ogma Gap Campground or Dows Camp for overnighter
  • Dramatic volcanic rock formations
  • Epic sense of achievement
  • Great views
• Ebor Falls – Muurlay Garriirlgundi track (2.1km return, grade 3)

North Coast

• Nightcap National Park // Protestor Falls walking track – 1.4km return, grade 3. Home to the Terania Creek protests in the late 70s. (Recommended by Holly Galbraith)
• Bald Rock National Park – Bungoona Walk – The easier climb to the top of Bald Rock that avoids the steep section of the rockface. (5.7km return, grade 3.)