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
