Whether you’re stepping out in fresh morning air for a peaceful stroll through landscaped gardens or embarking on a full-day bushwalk down sandstone gorges, the Southern Highlands is a walker's paradise. Located in Mittagong at the gateway to the Highlands, Fitzroy Inn Historic Retreat offers the perfect base to rest, recharge, and explore.
From flat, gentle town walks starting right at our doorstep to dramatic waterfalls and challenging national park trails, here is your curated guide to the best walks in and around Fitzroy Inn.
Gentle & Flat Walks (On-Site & Around Town)
Fitzroy Inn Estate & Heritage Walk
Distance / Difficulty: ~1–2 km | Very Easy (Flat)
Start Point: On-site at Fitzroy Inn
Highlights: Century-old oak trees, natural streams, landscaped gardens, original convict cell, and 19th-century colonial architecture.
The Experience: Start your day with a coffee in hand while wandering our 5-acre estate grounds. Pick up our self-guided historical trail brochure to discover the rich 1800s story behind the inn.
Lake Alexandra Reserve
Distance / Difficulty: 1.2 km loop | Easy & Accessible (~5 min drive from Inn)
Start Point: Lake Alexandra Park, Mittagong
Highlights: Paved lakeside path, birdwatching, duck ponds, and picnic spots.
The Experience: Perfect for an effortless morning stroll or a relaxed afternoon picnic under the trees.
Historic Berrima River Walk
Distance / Difficulty: 1.8 km loop | Easy (~15 min drive from Inn)
Start Point: Berrima Campground / Oxley Street
Highlights: Wingecarribee River views, platypus spotting, and 17 heritage interpretive signs.
The Experience: A gentle walk that blends rich colonial history with peaceful river scenery through Australia’s best-preserved Georgian village.
Scenic Bushwalks & Gorge Views
Box Vale Mining Track
Distance / Difficulty: 8.8 km return | Moderate (~10 min drive to trailhead)
Start Point: Box Vale Track Car Park, Welby / Mittagong
Highlights: Historic 1880s railway cutting, a 100m tunnel carved through solid rock, and sweeping lookouts over Nattai Gorge.
The Experience: Walk along a historic coal railway line under a canopy of native eucalypts. It offers flat walking for most of the way with an optional step-down descent into the gorge for experienced walkers.
Mount Gibraltar Reserve (The Gib)
Distance / Difficulty: 1.5–4 km options | Moderate (~5–10 min drive)
Start Point: Oxley Lookout or Bowral Lookout
Highlights: Ancient volcanic rock formations, native flora, and panoramic views across Bowral and Mittagong.
The Experience: Wind through cool mountain forest paths connecting several spectacular lookout points overlooking the entire Southern Highlands landscape.
Waterfalls & Nature Trails (Moderate to Challenging)
Fitzroy Falls (West Rim & East Rim Tracks)
Distance / Difficulty: 1.2 km (Lookout Loop) to 6 km (Full Rim) | Easy to Moderate (~30 min drive)
Start Point: Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre, Morton National Park
Highlights: Breathtaking 81-metre waterfall plunging into Yarrunga Valley, sandstone cliffs, and boardwalk lookouts.
The Experience: Named after Sir Charles FitzRoy (just like our inn!), this iconic stop features wheelchair-accessible views near the entry, or longer rim trails with dramatic canyon vistas.
Carrington Falls & Nellies Glen
Distance / Difficulty: 600m track to 3+ km network | Easy to Moderate (~35 min drive)
Start Point: Carrington Falls Picnic Area, Budderoo National Park
Highlights: 50m plunging waterfall, natural stone rock pools at Nellies Glen, and lush eucalyptus rainforest.
The Experience: Take in views from the cliffside lookouts or cool down nearby at Nellies Glen swimming hole during the warmer months.
Fairy Bower Falls & Morton National Park (Bundanoon)
Distance / Difficulty: 2.5 km return | Challenging (Steep sections & ladders) (~35 min drive)
Start Point: Gambells Rest, Bundanoon
Highlights: Escarpment edge walk, steel ladders down to the waterfall base, and lush fern gullies.
The Experience: Ideal for adventurous hikers seeking a heart-pumping trek into a cool, shadowed rainforest gorge.
Find out more local nature and outdoor activities in the Southern Highlands. https://www.walkmyworld.com/southern-highlands