The ‘lost lookouts’ at Bundanoon in the NSW Southern Highlands are a series of old lookouts that used to be accessed on maintained tracks. My route took me firstly down to the atmospheric Dimmocks Creek, then later on an indistinct but marked track for a while to the first two lookouts with nice views of cliffs and Bundanoon Creek.
After that the route is no longer marked and the track almost entirely disappeared, so I spent 2-3 hours (return) bush bashing to visit two more official lookouts and one informal vantage point. I also enjoyed the mushrooms in autumn.
Many of these tracks were built over a hundred years ago when the village of Bundanoon was a popular destination for holidaymakers. It was my first time to visit the village, which is small and quaint I thought. Route notes at the end.
Bundanoon Lost Lookouts & Dimmocks Creek: The Scenery
Dimmocks Creek Side Trip
Here’s a video down on the creek:
Glow Worm Glen
Bundanoon Lost Lookouts
Video from that spot:
And a video from one of the other lookouts:
Route Notes
I started this walk on a bend in the unsealed Riverview Road that continues on to the Riverview walking track. There’s a large turning circle there which I used to park.
Dimmocks Creek
The Dimmocks Creek track starts a few metres away, and is at first quite easy to follow down to the creek. On your way you might not notice the right turn near the bottom that will take you to a rock ledge and views of the creek from above. I didn’t, but did notice this (now) left turn on my way back up. I tried to keep following the track but there is storm treefall and I don’t think the track exists much beyond the rock ledge.
Bundanoon Lost Lookouts
Return from Dimmocks Creek and walk north on the obvious track. Turn right towards Glow Worm Glen, which is a nice spot containing glow worms that can be seen at night.
Before the final constructed staircase that takes you down to the viewing platform, turn north-ish on a much less obvious track. Before long you will see (at least in 2026) pink tape on trees that marks the way. Follow this sometimes indistinct track to the first two lost lookouts – Buchanans Lookout and Ellsmores Lookout. All these lookouts have rusted fencing, so you’ll know when you’ve reached them.
Off Track
After Ellsmores Lookout (dots on my map) you can walk over bare rock for a while, but eventually you must re-enter the forest. This next section involved a face full of twigs. I dropped down to a creek and then climbed back up towards the cliff edge again, where the forest opened out.
I found two more old lookouts, and then another vantage point a little further on. I think these were two or three of the following four options: Macnabs Lookout, Morgans Lookout, Coal Seam View, or Ross Lookout. Perhaps the names don’t matter, but my track notes had them named so I was aiming to bag the named spots at least.
I was running out of time by this stage and so had to return, though I’m not sure I would have tolerated more bush bashing to reach the remaining lookout (Stonequarry Lookout on Google Maps; though I read it is good) and Christmas Creek Glen.
This walk took me most of the day, but if you stop at the second lookout you won’t miss out on all that much (though I enjoyed the achievement of finding the extra lookouts).
I used track notes in Best Walks of the Southern Highlands by Gillian and John Souter, published in 2012. After talking to another walker one week later, who coincidentally had a newer edition of the same book, I believe this walk has been removed. It’s a good book though, so here’s a link to the 2025 edition.
