Gibbergunyah Reserve

Gibbergunyah Reserve is one of contrasts with secluded, shady walking trails and sunny, rocky outcrops to picnic on – a calm respite from the hurly-burly of town. At over 800 metres Ninety Acre Hill Lookout has sweeping views of the distant Blue Mountains from its lichen-clad boulders. Wombats and echidnas make their lairs in the crevices of the rocks below. There is a view of Mount Gibraltar from the Gib Lookout.

The bushland ranges from open woodland on the drier edges to tall moist fern-carpeted forest in the deeper gullies and is typical of sandstone ridges in the area. A variety of brightly coloured flowers bloom according to the season and tall banksia await fire to open their spiky, rock-hard seed pods.

The 200-hectare Reserve which is roughly 1.5 kilometre square links Mittagong and Bowral. It may be entered from either. From Mittagong, the northern access is at the end of Howards Lane, Welby. Access from Bowral is via a walking track beside a fairway of the Gibraltar Bowral Country Club. Trail Maps are located at both entrances. The downloadable map is indicative only, no distances are shown. Maps are also available from the Southern Highlands Welcome Centre.