Sublime Point Track

Starting from the end of Foothills Road, Austinmer, this walk leads to the Sublime Point Lookout via the Gibson and Sublime Point tracks. Sublime Point Track is one of the iconic treks of the Illawarra escarpment and a challenging walk through the lush coastal rainforest to the plateau above with incredible scenic views. The walk starts along Gibson Track and then ascends sharply to the Sublime Point Lookout, through dense forests dotted with tree ferns and palms. The summit features a café, a lookout, picnic area and toilets, and is a popular spot for family picnics and birdwatching. This is a very steep and fairly narrow track, with a series of steel ladders to assist walkers up the jagged cliff lines near the top of the climb. The track is well maintained and clearly signposted. The steep climb is ideal for experienced bushwalkers, and the numerous stairs and ladders will undoubtedly give your legs a good workout. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-34.3064683,150.9291257)
Mode	Bus Car Train
Directions	From Princes Motorway, M1 Turn on to Princes Highway, B65 then drive for 3.6 km Keep left onto Princes Highway and drive for another 125 m Turn left onto Lawrence Hargrave Drive and drive for another 220 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Lawrence Hargrave Drive and drive for another 1.8 km Turn left onto Henley Road and drive for another 680 m Keep right onto Railway Avenue and drive for another 20 m Turn right onto Railway Avenue and drive for another 50 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From Austinmer Train Station, head towards Railway Avenue along the concrete car park. Turn left and head along the footpath, keeping Railway Avenue to your right. Turn right at the intersection and head along Balfour Road, then turn left at the next intersection along Asquith Street. Turn left at the intersection with Buttenshow Drive, then turn right and pass over the little wooden bridge(about 70 metres from the intersection with Buttenshow Drive). Follow the dirt walking track gently uphill towards the “Gibson Track” signpost. Turn right when you come to the signpost, and join the Gibson Track to continue along Sublime Point Track.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start.
	After another 35 m turn left, to head along Railway Avenue.
	After another 50 m (at the intersection of Balfour Road & Railway Avenue) turn sharp right, to head along Balfour Road.
	After another 170 m (at the intersection of Balfour Road & Asquith Street) turn left, to head along Asquith Street.
	After another 740 m (at the intersection of Buttenshaw Drive & Asquith Street) turn left, to head along Asquith Street.
	After another 80 m (at the intersection of Gibson Track & Asquith Street) veer right, to head along Gibson Track (a walking track).
	After another 25 m turn right, to head along Gibson Track. After another 35 m pass the sign. After another 35 m pass the sign (on your left). Then head up the surface\|wood steps (about 35 m long) After another 20 m pass a seat (6 m on your right)., has a backrest. After another 85 m (at the intersection of Sublime Point Track & Gibson Track) continue straight, to head along Sublime Point Track. After another 45 m pass the sign.
	After another 35 m turn left, to head along Sublime Point Track. After another 60 m head up the surface\|wood;metal;ground steps (about 460 m long) Then pass a seat (on your right)., has no backrest. After another 70 m pass a seat (on your left)., has no backrest. After another 250 m pass the "Sublime Point Cafe" (225 m on your right). Then come to the viewpoint. After another 45 m head up the earthen steps (about 65 m long)
	Turn right. Then pass the sign. After another 35 m pass a seat (on your left)., has a backrest. After another 35 m pass the picnic table (10 m on your left). About 140 m past the end is a shelter.
	Turn around here and retrace the main route for 2.2 km to get back to the start. "Sublime Point Lookout". About 15 m past the end is a water tap. About 85 m past the end is a toilet.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Sublime Point Track

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	4.4 km
Time	1 h 30 min to 1 h 45 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Shelter: There is one 2.2 km from the start.

Toilet: There is one 2.3 km from the start.

Seat: There are 4 on route, on average they are 880 m apart with the largest gap of 2.3 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	1.2 km	[seat]
Seat	1.8 km	[seat]
Seat	1.8 km	[seat]
Seat	2.1 km	[seat]
Shelter	2.2 km	[shelter]
Toilet	2.3 km	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track
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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Bulli Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Monday 28 April
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers along the coastal fringe, slight chance elsewhere. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the evening.
  
  Tuesday 29 April
  
  16°C → 22°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  1 → 15mm
  
  Cloudy. The chance of fog inland in the early morning. High chance of showers, most likely from the late morning. The chance of a thunderstorm from the late morning. Light winds becoming south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then tending south to southwesterly in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 9 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 23.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:50am to 1:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 4 [Moderate]
  
  Wednesday 30 April
  
  16°C → 19°C
  Showers.
  95% chance of rain
  7 → 30mm
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely from the late morning. The chance of a thunderstorm along the coastal fringe. Winds southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning southerly 25 to 35 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 9 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching between 13 and 19.
  
  Thursday 1 May
  
  14°C → 19°C
  Showers.
  95% chance of rain
  7 → 35mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm along the coastal fringe. Winds southerly 25 to 35 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching between 13 and 18.
  
  Friday 2 May
  
  14°C → 20°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  1 → 10mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending south to southeasterly during the day then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 6 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 15 and 20.
  
  Saturday 3 May
  
  15°C → 21°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 8mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Sunday 4 May
  
  15°C → 22°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Monday 5 May
  
  16°C → 23°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area alerts
  Closed areas: Lower Escarpment Fire Trail closured
  The Lower Escarpment Fire Trail is closed while roadworks are underway. Please follow the directions of roadwork signs and NPWS staff.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office.
  
  Closed areas: IESCA Kembla Heights area is closed for the construction of the Kembla Stage 1 Mountain Bike Network
  Construction works have commenced on the first stage of the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Project at Kembla Heights.
  Construction is being carried out in accordance with rigorous environmental and cultural heritage planning approvals, the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy and our Cycling Strategy.
  People are reminded that the area is a closed construction site. Please stay off the tracks until they are opened in mid-2025 for your safety and to allow the network to be completed.
  
  Closed areas: Fire Trails Closed
  Roadworks will be underway on fire trails in Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area from Tuesday 14 January to Friday 2 May 2025.
  The trails to be closed include;
  
  Boomerang Fire Trail
  
  Stanwell Dam Fire Trail
  
  Dam Wall Fire Trail
  
  Hargraves Fire Trail
  
  Bendena Gardens Fire Trail
  
  Upper Escarpment Fire Trail
  
  Please follow the directions of roadwork signs and NPWS staff.
  
  Closed areas: Woodward track is closed due to storm damage
  Woodward track (accessed via Sublime Point) is closed due to damage from heavy rainfall events.
  For more information, contact the local park office.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

Weather Forecast

Alerts