The 6km return bush walk to Florence Head in Morton National Park offers views of the Budawang Ranges without the vert!

 

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Yuin people 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.

Highlights

  • Looking out over the coastal villages of the Shoalhaven
  • Epic mountain views of Didthul and The Castle
  • Peaceful walking in nature
  • Heaps of native birds and plants
  • A hike for the whole fam (or your mates who aren’t keen to scale cliffs to get to a view)

A Stroll in The Budawang Ranges

The Budawang Ranges that rise over the NSW Shoalhaven Coast are renowned for their challenging and rewarding hikes, like the excruciating Castle or iconic Didthul (Pidgeon House Mountain).

But despite its challenging reputation, there are some equally beautiful hikes that don’t require scaling cliffs and can be easily completed in an afternoon or morning with the family in tow. Florence Head, in Morton National Park, is the perfect example!

Earlier this year, after what felt like weeks of pouring rain, the NSW South Coast FINALLY saw a bit of sunshine. So my Dad, my partner Adam and I took advantage of a break in the weather and headed into the Budawang Ranges to walk to Florence Head.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

 

Florence Head Gives South Coast NSW Mountain Views Without The Climb, Eva Davis Boermans, Budawang Ranges, Valley, Didthul, Pigeon House mountain

Finding Florence Head

The walk starts off at the Little Forest Walking track which is a cute, 500m wheelchair-accessible walk with heaps of great info about the local area. From the end of that track, the trail heads towards the ocean and traverses along the front of the escarpment near Milton.

The track is mostly flat, compact sand, so it’s a nice cruisy walk suitable for beginners. As you walk you’ll see the impact of the recent bushfires but also the bright green regrowth coming back in full force. It’s a nice reminder of nature’s resilience. When we walked it was VERY wet but the track is usually well-drained and dry.

 

About halfway along on the left-hand side, follow a side trail to a rocky ledge overlooking Milton and the other small towns on the coast. A perfect snack and water stop.

 

Florence Head Gives South Coast NSW Mountain Views Without The Climb, Eva Davis Boermans, Budawang Ranges, lookout, ocean

 

The iconic outlines of Didthul (Pidgeon House Mountain) and The Castle sit against the horizon for most of the walk, but it’s not until you reach the very end that the full view can be appreciated.

 

Florence Head Gives South Coast NSW Mountain Views Without The Climb, Eva Davis Boermans, Budawang Ranges, Florence Head, Pigeon House mountain, lookout

 

The track ends at Florence Head in a large rock platform that drops away to the forest below. Take some time to perch up on the rocks, soak in the view and listen out for the Lyrebirds calling out in the trees below, before heading back along the track.

Essential Gear

  • Walking shoes
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Binoculars

 

How To Get There

If you type ‘Florence Head’ into Google maps, it won’t come up. Instead, look for ‘Little Forest Walking Track’ which forms the beginning of the walk.

To get there, head north from Milton for 9km along the Princes Highway, then turn onto Porters Creek Road which turns into Pointers Gap Road. After 10km, turn left at the T-intersection onto Porters Creek Dam Road. At the end of this road, you’ll find the Little Forest Walking trailhead.

Technically this is 2WD accessible but be aware that the road in is unsealed and can get washed out and slippery after heavy rain.

 

Skill Level

Beginner/Intermediate

 

Distance / Duration

6km / 2 hours