Box vale walking track
Details
The box vale walking track takes you through a historic path out the back of Mittagong in the southern highlands. The bushwalk takes you through the track that was formed as a part of the coal mining in the area from the late 1800's. Some of the key highlights of the hike are the cuttings, walking between the rock faces along either side of you. The 100 meter tunnel through the rock hill is definitely a unique feature of this walk. At the end of the walk you are treated the the lookout of a valley of the Natti national park. This trail gives a great insight to the history of the southern highlands and its industry.
Since the box vale track was originally built for a train line for carts of coal, the whole track is reasonably flat. This means that the walk itself is quite easy and suitable for families or the casual hiker. The track is well marked and easy to follow, red markers are used to mark potentially unclear parts of the track, follow these and you won't get lost. The box vale track also has plenty of spots to stop, picnin tables can be found at the start of the track, one at the mid point of the track and then a couple at the end lookout. These stop points mean that you can take the trail at your own pace and even break the walk up with food breaks and a place to sit down.
Around the box vale track
The box vale walk is a part of a much larger circuit of nearby water falls, 40 foot falls and 60 foot falls. You can make the whole day of it by visiting all the other short tracks of the Mittagong area. There is also a small swimming area near the start of the box vale track. After a couple of hundred meters into the walk you will come across a river before some stairs. If you follow this river for about 50 meteres down stream you will come to the secluded swimming hole.
Hallo..just wondering which train station I should get off to go here. I live in Sydney.
Thanks
Ina Santoso
Hi Ina, the closest train station is the mittagong train station. The trail head is a bit far of a walk but there may be bus routes from the station towards Welby. Hope this helps.
thank you for the info.
hoping I could have a chance to bushwalk around Mittagong.
You’re welcome 🙂 From the Mittagong train station the start of the walks to 40 foot falls and 60 foot falls are not too far walking distance and a worth checking out.
Loved the walk but some better signage would help us find the way to tunnel and look out!
We did the walk to the 40 Foot Falls from Lake Alexandria with our two Pups yesterday. I would *NOT* say it’s easy. Steep parts, slippery rocks & we even got lost off the main trail. Many steps also, and not Dog accessible up the matters, unless another path we did not see. But, STUNNING
Badly signedand we just went in a lost circle very frustrating. Publishing a printable map would be appreciated. No data out there
I had a great walk but once again not enough sign post, its ok if you are a local, but
for everyone else its not good. I came across a family who became lost but found their way back to the car. The next day they tried again to find the old tunnel on the Box Vale track and were successful.
So the thing I keep hearing is, that we have great walks, great bush lands to explore but we are letting people down with tracks not being sign posted well enough.
Just wondering who is responsible for the up keep of the signs.
I walked the track 25 years ago with my walking club no picnic tables ,signs etc., . Car Park at start of walk, led to start of track, easy to follow, Maiden Hair Ferns every where, The only side track at that time
was on the right that led to .Lake Alexander . ..Only one main track that led you through the tunnel & then continued on to lookout. A great walk that we did in 2 other seasons. Now 90 years, brought back great
memories. Happy walking .
I walked this track last year, and the scenery was amazing. I just think that some additional signage would do this track the world of good!