Drawing Room Rocks Lookout is a Sweet Addition For Your Day Trip to Berry

Your trip to the famous Berry Donut Van is now guilt free and comes with a view! Andrew shows us how to enjoy all the sweetness of a day trip to Berry while still getting your steps in on the Drawing Room Rocks walk.

This adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Wodi Wodi people, a subgroup of the Dharawal nation, who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

Drawing Room Rocks Track is a 2.8km out-and-back, Grade 4 hike near Berry in NSW. This hike takes around 1-1.5 hours to complete.

Drawing Room Rocks Facts

Distance: 2.8km
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Elevation gain: 190m
Nearest town: Berry

Drawing Room Rocks History

The history of this area dates back long before it was developed by European settlers, with the original custodians, the Wodi Wodi clan, inhabiting the land south from Lake Illawarra to the Shoalhaven.

Although the first mention of the Drawing Room Rocks is unknown, the name was likely popularised around 1825, when Alexander Berry established what’s now the town of Berry (then called Broughton Creek) on his Coolangatta Estate, which included the land where the rocks are found.

Although Berry is known for establishing much of the area, his treatment of the local First Nations people is believed to be quite gruesome. This article on The Guardian delves further into this history.

How to Get to Drawing Room Rocks

The best way to reach the Drawing Room Rocks Track is by car, with the trailhead just a ten-minute (8km) drive from the town of Berry.

The trailhead can be located easily on Google Maps, with the last 100m of the drive being on an unsealed road. There’s very limited parking next to the trailhead (2-3 cars), with additional parking back along the unsealed road. You don’t need an off-road vehicle for this drive.

If you’re driving down from Sydney, Drawing Room Rocks is the perfect place to stretch your legs after the two-hour trip.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Where to Stay Along Drawing Room Rocks

Camping is not recommended, nor allowed, on the Drawing Room Rocks Track.

You can find campgrounds closer to Berry, and along the coast in Gerroa and Gerringong.

Skill Level

Beginner

While the Drawing Room Rocks Track is designated as a Grade 4 walking track, with some steep and undeveloped sections of trail, it’s generally accepted as a beginner-friendly bushwalk.

The track is well-defined and mostly protected from the sun, with the only real consideration to safety being the lack of railings at the top lookout section.

Essential Gear for Drawing Room Rocks

• Hiking shoes
• Water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Headtorch at sunrise/sunset

What it’s Like to Hike Drawing Room Rocks

As someone who is often driving multiple hours, to then hike for multiple days, the sheer convenience and bite-sized nature of the Drawing Room Rocks Track served as a happy reminder that not every adventure needs to be an epic.

Driving down from Sydney I wasn’t sure if I wanted to head straight to Berry for a bit of window-browsing and the inevitable trip to the donut van, or should I do the hike first?

After the two hour drive I started thinking about how nice it would be to stretch my legs and get a bit of fresh air before heading into town. That’s one thing I really love about this hike – it’s super easy to make it part of the day, rather than having the whole day revolve around it.

The trailhead is marked clearly on Google Maps, and after a very short drive on an unsealed road I was fortunate enough to snag one of the few parking spots right next to the sign which marks the start of the track.

Soon after hopping on the trail I was slowly but surely making my way upwards, with regular intervals of stairs and rocky outcrops followed by flat sections where I could catch my breath and appreciate the dense forest which protected me from the sun.

Up, up, up! Carefully navigating along exposed roots and winding through large white bags containing sand to be used in upcoming trail maintenance, eventually the treetops gave way to blue sky and I (rightly) guessed I would soon approach the lookout.

After a quick ‘G’day’ to a couple enjoying their packed lunch over views of the distant Shoalhaven shoreline, I made my way down the clifftop a bit further to the main show – an epic lookout of Broughton Head (Rodway Nature Reserve) set to the sweeping backdrop of Kangaroo Valley.

By the time I’d turned around and followed my path back to the car, I still had heaps of time to enjoy my day in Berry – and I felt like I’d really earned that trip to the donut van.

Tips For Hiking Drawing Room Rocks

• Drawing Room Rocks can be a popular destination! Don’t be surprised if others have had the same idea as you – especially on a sunny weekend
• Listen carefully – this area seems to be brimming with lyrebirds
• Heading up to catch sunrise or sunset? Don’t forget to pack a headtorch
• The track itself can be slippery in sections following rain. It’s worth packing proper hiking shoes and taking your time to navigate these sections carefully
• At the time of writing, the track is undergoing maintenance to smooth out rougher parts. You may need to pass by a few large sandbags along the way

Drawing Room Rocks FAQs

How long is Drawing Room Rocks walk?

The walk to the Drawing Room Rocks lookout is around 2.8km return and takes around 1-1.5 hours total.

Is Drawing Room Rocks dog friendly?

Unfortunately, the walk to the Drawing Room Rocks lookout isn’t dog friendly as it’s within the Barren Grounds Nature Reserve.

Keep Exploring the NSW South Coast

• Forest Bathing on the Forest Walk, Illawarra’s Natural Treasure
• 9 Best Walks & Hikes Around Wollongong & Illawarra 2025
• The Munjip Trail is NSW South Coast’s Freshest Hike & I Was One of the First to Walk It
• Mt Bushwalker – An Easy Stroll to an Unforgettable Lookout on NSW’s South Coast