This Hidden Wildflower Garden Just Out of Sydney Opens Six Weekends a Year
This August, take the rare chance to peek inside the usually closed Muogamarra Nature Reserve.
After a weekend of warm weather in Sydney, it feels like spring is finally almost here. With it, the expansive wildflower garden of the Muogamarra Nature Reserve will open its gates to visitors for six weekends only from Saturday, August 12 through Sunday, September 17. Located up the coast just an hour north of Sydney's CBD, the reserve is closed most of the year to protect the fragile ecosystems and Aboriginal heritage sites within — so it's a rare chance to get a peek inside.
The reserve is dedicated to preserving wildflowers and contains over 900 species native to Australia — think waratahs, angophoras, banksias, pink boronias and native orchids to name a few. The parkland is also home to a variety of native animals, including echidnas, wedge-tail eagles and lyrebirds, which wander freely through the reserve.
Guided expert tours are available for pre-booking only through the NSW National Parks Discovery Guide, with options to reserve walking or kayak tours along the Hawkesbury River. Discovery tours include the brand new Muogamarra Highlights Walk, along with the shorter Bird Gully Walk and Lloyd Trig Walk. For those looking for an all-day hike, the six-hour Peats Bight Walk takes visitors on a leisurely trek along the riverbank.
If you're more of the DIY kind, visitors are also welcome to simply pack a picnic and enjoy a self-guided walk. The different paths wind along the river and rainforest, offering views of Aboriginal rock engravings and other historic relic sightings. Since it's the 50th Anniversary for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the opening weekend will also include a lineup of celebratory events within the reserve from August 12 through 13.
The Muogamarra Nature Reserve will be open from Saturday, August 12 through Sunday, September 17. Open Saturdays and Sundays only from 9am to 4.30pm with a park access fee of $15 adults/$10 children. To pre-book guided tours, head over here.
