This boardwalk reveals a hidden side of the Blue Mountains

Where is the new Blue Mountains boardwalk?

Situated on the quieter side of the Blue Mountains National Park in Mount Tomah is the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden on Darug Country. Opened to the public in 1987, the 186-hectare landscape is considered the highest botanic garden in Australia. It is already home to a handful of well-maintained tracks, but the newly opened Forest Lookout Boardwalk is providing a new perspective.

Blue Mountains Botanic Garden in Mount Tomah, NSW

The botanic garden showcases the region’s natural beauty. (Image: Destination NSW)

At 100 metres in length, the fully accessible platform leads visitors to a rarely seen eastern viewpoint that looks out over the region’s unique basalt cap forests. Sustainability was a key factor in the design. Built using natural materials, the structure is sympathetic to the landscape and cuts a path around trees rather than through them.

But it’s not (just) about the destination, it’s about the journey, too. Take it at a leisurely pace and you might spot a few of the adorable animals that call this place home – like lizards, sugar gliders and ring-tailed possums, as well as over 150 bird species. It’s also a great way to see the garden’s native and exotic plant species, including maples, camellias, rhododendrons and ferns.

A native Australian superb lyrebird in the bush

Keep your eye out for native bird species, like the superb lyrebird. (Image: Tracie Louise)

The fern holds particular significance to the region; in the Durgah language of the land’s Traditional Owners, ‘Tomah’ means ‘fern.’ Visitors can learn more about the fern and its life cycle through newly installed art panels along the way.

Afterwards, pop up to the onsite cafe for tea, browse the Garden Shop for gifts and homewares, join a creative workshop or pick up a native plant from the nursery. Guided walking tours are also run during the spring.

The Forest Lookout Boardwalk in the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, NSW

The new boardwalk is a short but sweet 100 metres in length.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Is it accessible?

The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden has accessibility parking (located in Car Park 1) and wheelchair-friendly bathrooms, as well as mobility scooters available to hire for $10. The new Forest Lookout Boardwalk has also been specifically designed to be accessible for all. Wheelchair users, parents with prams and those with reduced mobility can all enjoy the experience thanks to flat surfaces, safety railings and ramps.

Sustainability and accessibility were at the forefront of design.

How do I get there?

For those travelling from regional towns like Bathurst or Lithgow, you can reach the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden via the Great Western Highway and Chifley Road. Sydney’s train line and A32 highway make visiting popular towns like Katoomba easy, but Mount Tomah is a little further afield. Head to North Richmond, an hour’s drive from the CBD, where Bells Line of Road begins. The winding route twists and turns for 37 kilometres before delivering you to your destination.

Bells Line of Road in the Blue Mountains, NSW

Bells Line of Road winds its way through the Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

If you’re up for an autumnal road trip, Bells Line is an adventure in itself, cutting through historic settlements like Kurrajong and Berambing. It also provides access to many of Bilpin’s world-class cideries, which are recognised among Australia’s top 10 foodie wonders. It’s important to note that Bells Line of Road can be dangerous at times, especially after heavy rainfall and high winds. Check Live Traffic NSW for road closures or repair works.

The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

This boardwalk reveals a hidden side of the Blue Mountains

There’s a new way to witness this World Heritage-listed national park.

Where is the new Blue Mountains boardwalk?

Is it accessible?

How do I get there?

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