I recently rounded up my parentals to join me exploring one of the nicest (and most facinating) walks in the Highlands. Off we went – a group of intrepid adventurers ready to discover the secrets of the Berrima River Walk.
The walk starts at the Berrima River Reserve Campground which is tucked in behind the town – you can access it via Oxley Street.
It winds its way along the Wingecarribee River and is the site of a World War 1 Internment Camp so you end up exploring our beautiful bushland and get a history lesson all at the same time!
We had an absolutely wonderful walk, spotting lots of lizards and birds along our way – the wildlife is definitely abundant! We stopped sooooooo many times to sit and watch the rustling of the reeds along the river banks.
We ran into families taking their fishing rods out for the afternoon or couples enjoying the fresh air. We stopped and read every sign post that marked the location of an old hut, a pontoon, a watch tower or other little structure that had been built by the internees during the First World War.
It was fascinating reading about their lives in the camp but also to see the relics that have been left behind – footings of buildings, old metal drums or thick steel doors are just some of the remnants you will come across scattered through the bushland.
Other than these little clues of a world left behind, Mother Nature has totally reclaimed the landscape. We had so much fun looking at the pictures and trying to figure out the landmarks of where the buildings had stood.
We got totally carried away in our investigations and the walk probably took us much longer than most people would likely take, but we channelled our inner history nerd and got wrapped up in the century old story Berrima River Walk tells those who walk it.
There are some great pictures of the structures the internees built from all different kinds of materials – stone, tin cans (that was seriously cool!) and logs – they were an ingenious bunch!
The rest was up to us and our imagination. We chatted through what their lives would have been like back in 1915 – 1919 and came to the conclusion that is would have been very hot and very hard.
Berrima River Walk is a mostly flat track just under 2 kilometres long. It took us a bit over an hour – remember we stopped and read pretty much everything along the way – so very much achievable for all ages and fitness levels.
It was just so wonderful to get outdoors and really soak up some beautiful scenery tucked in behind Berrima that most people aren’t even aware of – not to mention the history that goes along with it!
We love sharing our awesome outdoor adventures with The Fold readers and want to make sure everyone stays safe and healthy when giving our walks and rides a crack for themselves. So, always check the weather forecast before you venture out. If you’re heading into a National Park, be sure to consult the National Parks website for up-to-date information about current alerts. Prepare yourself with the right equipment, clothing, safety items, with plenty to eat and drink if you’re going on longer hikes, and always let someone else know where you’re going and what time you are expected to be back. Have fun and stay safe!