Barren Grounds - the Griffiths Track

This map was created using GPS Visualizer's do-it-yourself geographic utilities.

Please wait while the map data loads...

Route: Barren Grounds picnic area, Griffiths Track, Illawarra Lookout, Barren Grounds Lookout, Griffiths Track, Lamonds Creek, 

Date: 04/10/2020
From: Barren Grounds Road

Parking: Barren Grounds picnic area
Start Point: Barren Grounds picnic area
Finish Point: Barren Grounds picnic area
Region: Southern Highlands

Route length: 4.8 miles (7.7km)
Time taken: 02:17
Average speed: 2.3mph
Ascent: 180m
Descent: 167m

Points of Interest: Illawarra Lookout, Lamond's Creek

The Barren Grounds Nature Reserve sits atop a high plateau in the Southern Highlands, almost completely encircled by rocky cliffs at the top of Jamberoo Pass. It has a distinct shape and several hiking tracks crisscrossing the expansive plateau area. The most notable of these is the Griffiths Track which does a circuit of the plateau and has been on my mind for a hike. 

Getting to Barren Grounds should take around 90mins be we arrived some 2 1/2 hours after leaving Sydney. It seems that long weekends (Bank Holidays to you and me) are the same wherever you go, with long lines of traffic escaping the city. It also doesn't help that the most direct route up Jamberoo Mountain Road is was closed due to a landslide, requiring a long drive through the towns of Mittagong and Bowral. After planning to arrive mid-morning, it was well after 1pm by the time we finally parked.

The start of the Griffiths Track

Fortunately, this is not a long hike so we had plenty of time to do the circuit and get back to the car. We set off from the dusty car park, heading east along the Griffiths Track. 

Barren Grounds was originally gazetted a fauna reserve in 1956 to protect the habitat of the endangered Eastern Bristlebird and Eastern Ground Parrot. In 2009 it was declared an Important Birds Area.

A termite mound next to the path

The elevated heath of Barren Grounds

Some of the spring flowers had started to bloom

The Griffiths Track

Almost immediately we reached the Illawarra Lookout which has a sweeping view of the Illawarra coastline and the Jamberoo Valley. Sadly it was very hazy so the view, while obviously impressive, was not at its best. 

Jamberoo Valley from Illawarra Lookout

The low profile of Stock Yard Mountain

A distant Shellharbour

From the lookout, the Griffiths Track presses on, entering a cool section of rainforest before it emerges into the scrub once again. At the junction of paths is a steel structure, the Barren Ground Lookout, which gives you an elevated view of the surrounding bush. There is also a trig pillar hidden away among the trees, known as Saddleback Trig.

The Griffiths Track

More of the Barren Grounds heath

Entering the cooler rainforest

An enormous fallen tree next to the Griffiths Track

More spring flowers

Barren Grounds

Saddleback Trig

The view of Barren Grounds from the platform

Beyond the lookout, the Griffiths Track becomes a stony trail as it heads south towards Kangaroo Ridge. The ridge is an optional addition to this hike but more than doubles its length. After we passed the junction with the Kangaroo Ridge track, the path descends back into some woodland before we reached the charming Lamond's Creek.

The Griffiths Track continues

A vibrant display of Boronia

The Griffiths Track

Here, in a quiet clearing, the flow of the creek has created a natural stone bridge, surrounded by idyllic pools and cascades. It is definitely the highlight of the Griffiths Track loop, in my opinion, and the perfect place for a break.

Lamonds Creek

Lamonds Creek

Lamonds Creek

The stone bridge

A brief, steep climb is required to get out of the Lamonds Creek valley before a more gentle climb along the stony track takes you back towards the car park. 

The Griffiths Track

The final stretch back to the car park