In 1862, a young man called Boxall used four long saplings, a rope and a candle to explore a deep chasm out in the bushland of southeast NSW. The rubbly bottom he eventually landed on was 96m from the surface. Onlookers were all shaking their heads at his reckless behaviour but also itching to know what he'd found down there inside what is now known as The Big Hole.
Thought to be around 400 million years in the making, this is an extraordinary limestone marvel; a roofless cave which is over 100m deep and 50m wide. It can be reached by walking from Berlang campground, wading across Shoalhaven River, then continuing through dry eucalypt forest and unique nana heath, with expansive views of the park on your journey. The vast open chasm can be viewed from the lookout and, if you're there in the early morning or late afternoon, you may see its resident lyrebird come out from its ferny grotto to feed. For a more challenging hike, carry on to Marble Arch or return to Shoalhaven River for a picnic and a swim.
This hike is missing a route map and GPX file. If you have one for this hike, please upload your .gpx or .kml file here.
The weather can be extreme and unpredictable, so please ensure you are well prepared for your visit.
Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch.
Visit NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for more information on this trail.
The longitude and latitude of the start and end points are approximately only and should not be used for navigation purposes. Please contact me if you know the correct coordinates.
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The Big Hole walking track starts at Berlang campground in the northwest precinct of Deua National Park.To get there:From Braidwood, drive south along Cooma Road for 30 minutes.Turn left at the sign to Berlang/The Big HoleDrive 700m to Berlang campground carpark Parking Parking is available at Berlang campground. It can be a busy place on long weekends or school holidays, so parking might be limited.
Deua National Park in the South Coast, Country NSW and Snowy Mountains regions
Deua National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
If you have any great photos from this hike and are happy to share them, please upload your .jpg files here.
Please note: Uploading photos does not transfer ownership of copyright away from you. If requested, you will be credited for any photos you provide and can ask they be deleted at any time.
Australian Capital Territory
