AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Ben's Walk is a scenic riverside circuit that winds around the Shoalhaven River at West Nowra on the NSW South Coast, threading through rugged sandstone gorges, quiet forest and open grassy banks. The full loop is a leisurely 5.5-kilometre return that takes around two hours, but it flexes to any appetite—a short 10-minute return from the footbridge to the Nowra Showground and Hanging Rock makes a perfect taster for casual walkers and families.
The walk begins at the Nowra Showground, where you can fire up a barbecue and climb to Hanging Rock for elevated views out over the river and the mountains beyond. From there the bush track passes fern-filled gullies and rock steps before a fun, springy suspension bridge carries you across the water to Depot Farm Reserve and its riverside picnic area.
Good to know
- Tourist attraction
- Free parking
- Good for kids
- Official site
- 4.7 / 538 reviews
- Australia
A river walk with a view from Hanging Rock
Hanging Rock is the natural highlight at the start of the circuit. Perched above the Shoalhaven near the showground, it rewards a short climb with wide, elevated outlooks over the river and the hills and mountains rolling away in the distance—an easy, satisfying payoff for anyone who doesn't want to commit to the full loop. It's also why the lookout earns the walk its reputation as a photographer's favourite, with plenty of good spots for pictures along the way.
