New South Wales · Attraction
Box Vale Walking Track
Tunnels, gorge, and history
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
The Box Vale Walking Track near Mittagong follows the bed of a nineteenth-century coal tramway through dense bushland, sandstone cuttings, and an 84-metre hand-hewn tunnel to reach lookouts above the Nattai Gorge. It is one of the Southern Highlands' most rewarding and accessible heritage walks.
The track opened as a public walking trail in the 1980s after the old Box Vale coal mine and its associated tramway fell out of use. Today the well-maintained path passes through dramatic rock cuttings, over timber trestle formations, and through the long dark tunnel that was originally bored to carry coal wagons to the surface. A spur track leads to Forty Foot Falls, a tiered waterfall tucked into a ferny alcove.
The main return walk covers approximately 4.4 kilometres and takes around three hours at a comfortable pace, including time at the Nattai Gorge lookout where views extend across an almost entirely undisturbed wilderness. The track is rated easy to moderate, though a steep optional incline section, clearly signed as dangerous, should be avoided. Picnic tables and a car park are available at the trailhead off Boxvale Road near Welby.
The track is free to enter and open year-round. Walkers should carry water and wear sturdy footwear, particularly if visiting after rain when sections can be muddy.
Where to stay
Holiday parks near Box Vale Walking Track.
2 options via our booking partner
Mittagong Holiday Park
4.1km away
Moss Vale Holiday Park
13.6km away
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Scenic views