Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park, NSW

This walk, in the lesser known Nattai National Park, starts on fire trails, but eventually descends into the cliff lined Nattai Valley. You can have lunch next to the picturesque Nattai River at the turnaround point.

Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park

The Starlights Trail is in a less frequented area of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The walk starts on fire trails, but eventually drops down into the cliff lined Nattai Valley, ending at the picturesque Nattai River. The area was a lot dryer than I remembered it, possibly a result of the recent drought. It’s a good walk if you want to get away from the crowds, as I don’t remember ever seeing anybody on this trail. Perhaps this is why we saw a goanna along the way, who stopped on a tree in a convenient spot for me to get a good picture.

Track Notes

We used track notes in A Day in the Bush, and there’s notes online at the NPWS website, and at Bushwalking NSW. There’s a right turn which could be missed as the fire trail drops down and takes a 90 degree left turn: the Starlights Trail goes straight ahead, and this spot may be marked by a cairn. At the end of the track keep going just a little to the river bank for lunch.

The marked point on the map below is my estimate of where the locked gate and car park at the start of the walk are: just keep driving down Wattle Ridge Road and the end will be obvious. There’s a NPWS sign there so you’ll know you’re at the right place.

Starlights Trail: The Scenery

Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
Dry woodland near the start.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
A big wattle tree.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
Big fire trails early on in the walk
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
The descriptively named Holy Rock.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
The hole in Holy Rock.

Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park

Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
There was a lush section in the gully about half way.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
The forest was looking dry.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
A rocky section where Sophia found the goanna.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
A goanna, with a very long tail. They tend to go up trees when disturbed.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
A goanna.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
Cliffs lining the Nattai River Valley in the second half of the walk.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
Some cliffs along the Nattai River Valley.

Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park

Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
The Nattai River.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
There was quite a bit of evidence of storm damage.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
I don’t remember this view being available the last time we visited, which makes me wonder whether this spot was under water.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
Cliffs above the Nattai River.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
What appears to have been the river bed at some point.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
A few wildflowers.

Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park

Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
Not seen bark like this before.
Starlights Trail, Nattai National Park
Quite a few wattles around.

Author: Edward Hathway

I'm a clinical psychologist and keen hiker.

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