Nattai National Park

Nattai National Park was reserved to protect landforms, geological features, catchments and biodiversity in the Sydney Basin. It forms an integral part of the Greater Blue Mountains World heritge Area's pristine bushland and wilderness, and protects the Warragamba Dam Catchment Area. Nearly 30 000 hectares of the park has been declared wilderness.


There are opportunities for self-reliant recreation, such as minimum-impact bushwalking and backpack camping, but only outside the three kilometre exclusion zone around Lake Burragorang.


Getting there

This park is near...
Sydney (110 km)


Best access routes
Nattai National Park is 100 km south-west of Camden. The easiest way to get there is from the Wattle Ridge Fire Road, running north-east from Hilltop or Wombeyan Caves Road, 110 km south of Sydney. The park lies east of Lake Burragorang between Warragamba Dam and Wombeyan Caves Road. There is no access to the 3 km exclusion zone around Lake Burragorang.
Road quality: unpaved sections


Facilities & things to do


Due to the Park's relative isolation and its water catchment status, it is only suitable for bushwalking.


Walking tracks


Walks through wilderness require a topographic map and compass, and all walkers will need to be experienced and well equipped. Notify the Picton office before setting out.




Wollondilly Lookout on Wombeyan Caves Road and Burragorang Lookout, west of Oakdale, provide magnificent mountain and lake views. You can also use the picnic facilities.


Natural environment

The area's combination of topography, climate and soil has resulted in diverse flora.


Native plants
There are sclerophyll eucalypt forests, woodlands and pockets of rainforest in the rugged escarpment terrain. The threatened Nepean river gum or Camden white gum, and Rudder's box have been been recorded.


Native animals
Nine threatened species have been recorded, including green and golden bell frogs, powerful owls, glossy black cockatoos, brush-tailed rock wallabies, tiger quolls, yellow-bellied gliders, long-nosed potoroos, squirrel gliders and koalas.


The park landscape: geology and landforms


The park is part of the Sydney Basin and is dominated by Hawkesbury sandstone scarps and cliffs. Underlying this sandstone are shales and fine sandstone, and further beneath is Illawarra coal. Wiannamatta shales are found in a few locations along the tops of high ridges.


Pest plants and animals


Introduced plants mainly occur along creek lines or where there has been disturbance, such as along the Wollondilly River and various fire trails. Populations of introduced animals are relatively low, but pest animals such as feral pigs, goats, foxes and cats can affect water quality and threaten native species.


Culture & history

Aboriginal heritage
The Nattai area is the traditional territory of the Dharawal and Gundangarra Aboriginal peoples. The Wollondilly and Burragorang valleys form a boundary or transition zone between the two.



History in the park
During the early period of European settlement, the Nattai area was a scene of exploration activity as colonists sought a way across the Blue Mountains. Some of the valleys were grazed as early as 1824 but it was not until 1827 that real settlement occurred. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, lead and silver were mined near the town of Yerranderie. Coalmining and timber getting were also carried out. Tourism was an important factor until the flooding of the Burragorang valley.





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