I remember around, let’s say, 40 years ago, visiting Minnamurra Falls. It seems like yesterday that I was walking through the rainforest with school friends, carrying clipboards which had the work sheets that we were required to fill out with all the amazing sights we saw along the way. Let’s be honest, we probably didn’t fill out any of those worksheets that the teachers made us do, we were probably too busy giggling amongst ourselves or checking out the boys to notice our surroundings, let alone write down the features of a rainforest!

I cannot remember visiting since, Thats 40 years of driving past the turn of on my way down the South Coast and not once have I been able to check it out…. twice I have tried to visit, once we were turned away because the carpark was full and another time my planned visit couldn’t happen due to bush fire damage. This time though, we were good to go!

Minnamurra Rainforest Centre is found on the South Coast of New South Wales near Kiama. It has a visitor center in which the staff there can help with all your questions. We weren’t there to check out the displays, we were on a time limit, and I really wanted to discover the two walks that started from there, the Lyrebird walk and the Waterfall walk, so we quickly made our way through the exhibits to the other side of the building.

Starting off from the center we made our way along the Lyrebird walk. With a track that includes suspension bridges to bounce on, viewing platforms to look out over the lush rainforest this part of the trail is really enjoyable for all the family. The track is graded 3 and at 1.6km it should take anywhere between 30mins and half hour to complete and as it is a loop track it takes you right back to the visitors’ center.

Halfway along the Lyrebird track we came across an intersection and the turn off to the Waterfall Track. There was a sign warning of the step nature of the trail to the waterfall, and this was not exaggerated! The trail from here is around another 2.6km return and is estimated to take you another hour, the trail is a grade 4, the track is well formed and there are places to rest along the way. When we got to the waterfall, it definitely wasn’t as full of water as I expected but it still was worth the effort, just being amongst the lush rainforest was so lovely.

Overall spending a couple of hours at Minnamurra Rainforest Centre and checking out the two hikes they have there was a great way to spend a couple of hours.

What: Minnamurra Rainforest Centre and walking trails.

Where: 345 Minnamurra Falls Road, Jamberoo, NSW, 2533 – in Budderoo National Park on the South Coast of NSW.

Cost: $12 for National Park parking fee, or annual National Parks Pass.

Hours open: 9am – 4pm (Last access to the waterfall walk is 3pm or 4pm for Lyrebird Loop track)

Need to know: Even though most of the trails are undercover it is important to always remember to take plenty of water and wear sun safe clothing, there rainforest center has bathrooms, picnic areas, BBQs and drinking water, check out on the website for any alerts for the area before heading out there, be warned in busy periods you could be turned around due to the carpark being full.

Safe Travels

Kerrie