National park · Australia
Macquarie Pass National Park
Give it half a day, not a whole one: park at Clover Hill Road and walk the Cascades to the lower falls (1.5–2 h return), or the 4.5 km (2.8 mi) Rainbow Falls trail if the track is open; entry is free, so the only cost is fuel and time.Give it half a day, not a whole one: park at Clover Hill Road and walk the Cascades to the lower falls (1.5–2 h return), or the 2.8 mi (4.5 km) Rainbow Falls trail if the track is open; entry is free, so the only cost is fuel and time.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
11 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (11 km²)
approximate
Established
1969
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 11 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (11 km²)
- Small and elongated along the Illawarra Highway escarpment; boundary figures vary slightly by source (check).
- Established
- 1969
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- Not needed
- Base
- Sydney
Macquarie Pass National Park is a narrow strip of rainforest gully and escarpment along the Illawarra Highway, between Albion Park on the coastal plain and Robertson on the Southern Highlands. It is small — about 10 km² — and has no entry fee, no camping and no facilities beyond a car park and picnic tables at Clover Hill Road. Most visitors come for one short walk: the Cascades track to a small waterfall, 1.5–2 hours return. The longer Rainbow Falls trail climbs the creek through coachwood forest, roughly 4.5 km each way, and has been closed at times after storm damage. Treat it as a half-day stop on a drive, not a destination, and pair it with Budderoo National Park and the Illawarra escarpment lookouts.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1969.
Size and age
11 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (11 km²) · national park since 1969
Small and elongated along the Illawarra Highway escarpment; boundary figures vary slightly by source (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Sydney.
Why go
- A rainforest gully and waterfall walk on the Illawarra escarpment, 20 minutes off the highway between Albion Park and Robertson.
- Free entry and no booking: you can decide on the day, which suits a wet-weather stop on the drive south.
- Cool, shaded tracks when the coast is hot, and a completely different forest from the dry eucalypt of the nearby coast.
- Easy to combine with Budderoo and the Southern Highlands in one loop.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanWarm and humid; start early, leeches after rain
- FebWettest month on the escarpment; falls at full flow
- MarRain easing, forest still green, fewer people
- AprMild, clear, dry underfoot
- MayCool and quiet; best walking conditions
- JunCold mornings, short daylight; tracks can be greasy
- JulColdest; frost on the plateau above, sheltered in the gully
- AugCool and often clear; wattle starting
- SepSpring growth, wildflowers, comfortable temperatures
- OctWarm and dry; busy on weekends
- NovWarm; afternoon storms possible
- DecHot and humid; holiday crowds at the Cascades car park
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyrebirds and whipbirdsMar–Sep · Most vocal in the cooler months, especially early morning. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| LeechesDec–Mar · Common on the wet tracks in summer; wear long socks and check after walking. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Rainforest trees, ferns and coachwoodAll year · The gully stays green year-round; the falls run strongest after rain. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Sydney
M1 south, then the Illawarra Highway (A48) west from Albion Park; car parks signposted left and right off the highway.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Wollongong
Princes Highway to Albion Park, then A48 west for about 13 km (8.1 mi).Princes Highway to Albion Park, then A48 west for about 8.1 mi (13 km).
40–50 min
From Robertson and the Southern Highlands
A48 east down the pass; the Cascades car park is on the left before the descent steepens.
20–30 min
From Illawarra plan
Where to base, and how the escarpment parks fit a coastal stay.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Cascades and Clover Hill Road | The main visitor area: car park, picnic tables and the walk to the lower falls. | Open, free, no booking. |
| Rainbow Falls gully | The longer walk up the creek through rainforest to a taller fall. | Open when the track is intact; closed after landslips or storms (check). |
| Illawarra Highway corridor | The road through the park; lookouts and pull-offs on the pass itself. | Public road; no stopping on blind bends. |
Sketch map
- 1Cascades car park (Clover Hill Road) · Gate≈-34.566, 150.655Map ↗
- 2Cascades lower falls · Viewpoint≈-34.567, 150.659Map ↗
- 3Rainbow Falls trailhead · Trail≈-34.563, 150.649Map ↗
- 4Illawarra Highway pass · Ranger station≈-34.565, 150.651Approximate centre of the park along the highway.Map ↗
- 5Albion Park · Town≈-34.571, 150.776Map ↗
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the Illawarra Highway and Clover Hill Road, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | Free. NSW national parks do not charge entry at Macquarie Pass; only a few parks in the state take a vehicle fee (check). |
| Parking | Free | vehicle | Free at the Cascades and Clover Hill Road car parks; spaces are few (check). |
| Camping | Free | night | No camping in the park; the nearest sites are in Budderoo and the Southern Highlands. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Camping no permit
Dogs and vehicles off-road no permit
Park rules
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the national park; leave them at home or in care.
- Stay on track
- Formed walking tracks only; the gully sides are steep and loose.
- Fires and camping
- No camping and no fires in the park; there are no facilities beyond picnic tables.
- Rubbish
- No bins at the car parks; take everything out with you.
- Closures
- Tracks and the highway can close after storms, landslips or bushfire; check the NSW National Parks alerts page before driving (check).
Where to stay
Near the park
Albion Park and Shellharbour
Motels and holiday rentals on the coastal plain, 15–20 min from the car parks.
Near the park
Robertson and the Southern Highlands
Country pubs, B&Bs and farm stays above the escarpment, 20–30 min away.
Near the park
Wollongong
The widest choice of hotels and hostels, 40–50 min from the park.
Safety
Slippery rocks at the falls medium
Landslips and falling branches medium
Bushfire high
Snakes and ticks low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Cascades car park and picnic area are reached by sealed road with a short, fairly level walk to a viewing point.
- The falls track and Rainbow Falls trail are rough, with steps and creek crossings; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on the formed track: the rainforest understorey recovers slowly from trampling.
- Do not swim with sunscreen on in the small pools; the creek feeds the local water supply.
- Take rubbish home; there are no bins in the park.
- Carpool if you can: the Cascades car park holds only a handful of cars.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Macquarie Pass National Park?
Nothing. There is no entry fee and no parking fee at the Cascades or Clover Hill Road car parks, and no booking is needed. Your costs are fuel and, if you want a guided walk or a stay nearby, whatever you book outside the park.
What are the best hikes in Macquarie Pass National Park?
The Cascades walk to the lower falls is the short, easy option at 1.5–2 hours return from the Clover Hill Road car park. The Rainbow Falls trail is the longer one, roughly 4.5 km each way with creek crossings and rough sections, and it has been closed at times after storm damage, so check alerts first.
When is the best time to visit Macquarie Pass National Park?
March to May and September to October give mild temperatures, drier tracks and fewer people. Summer is hot, humid and leech-prone but the falls run well after rain; winter is cold and quiet with short daylight.
Can I camp in Macquarie Pass National Park?
No. There is no camping and no accommodation in the park. The nearest camping is in Budderoo National Park and other Southern Highlands parks, or you can stay in Albion Park, Wollongong or Robertson.
Do I need a park pass for Macquarie Pass?
No. NSW national parks do not charge entry here, and the multi-park passes sold in Australia and North America are not needed. If you are touring several parks, check each park's own fee page before you go.
Is Macquarie Pass National Park worth stopping for?
Yes, as a half-day stop rather than a destination. It is a good break on the drive between the Illawarra coast and the Southern Highlands, and it pairs well with Budderoo National Park and the Illawarra lookouts.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go