This nature reserve near Sydney is open for just 6 weeks a year

Taylah DarnellBy Taylah Darnell
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The season is just about to start.

Sydney might be a concrete jungle, but it’s definitely not short on natural beauty. From coastal hikes to UNESCO-listed national parks, nature is never far away. But hidden on the city’s northernmost fringes is a reserve most locals have never heard of – a protected patch of bushland that opens to the public for just six weeks a year.

Where is it?

Muogamarra Nature Reserve is only a 45-minute drive from Sydney’s CBD, situated between the small suburb of Cowan and the iconic Hawkesbury River, which just got a brand-new walk. Its sheltered location, paired with a varied landscape and temperate climate, creates the perfect conditions for a flourishing environment.

Muogamarra Nature Reserve in Sydney, NSW
Muogamarra Nature Reserve sits near the Hawkesbury River. (Image: Tegan Burton/DCCEEW)

The natural sanctuary is a haven for Australian wildlife, with 14 native mammals, 16 reptile species and around 140 native birds recorded across its 2,274 hectares. Visitors are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for echidnas, brushtail possums, swamp wallabies, kookaburras and lyrebirds, among others.

Muogamarra Nature Reserve is also home to a thriving wildflower population, making spring the ideal time to visit. Native flowers are especially abundant, including dazzling waratahs, delicate eriostemons, angophoras, boronias, Gymea lilies and even native wild orchids.

Muogamarra Nature Reserve in Sydney, NSW
Stunning waratahs bloom throughout spring. (Image: John Spencer/DCCEEW)

Why the six-week limit?

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 was designed to conserve NSW’s diverse natural ecosystems, officially listed as ‘protected areas of NSW’. The network of nature reserves, including Muogamarra, is protected by the state government and managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service .

While many protected areas of NSW can be accessed year-round, Muogamarra Nature Reserve is only open to the public for six weeks of the year. This is due to ongoing conservation efforts, as well as a range of scientific and educational purposes. The fragile environment has remained relatively undisturbed for centuries, creating a remarkable landscape of cultural, botanical and geological significance.

Muogamarra Nature Reserve in Sydney, NSW
The nature reserve holds major botanical significance. (Image: Elinor Sheargold/DCCEEW)

Located on Muogamarra Country, it is also home to a number of important cultural sites for the Traditional Owners of the land, the Dharug and Guringai Peoples. Rock art, engravings, shell middens and earthenware offer insight into thousands of years of First Nations culture, a heritage that must be protected and preserved.

Add in the diverse array of flora and fauna that depend on this place, and it’s easy to see why it stays closed for most of the year. But for six weeks each spring, the gates open – offering visitors a rare chance to discover its natural beauty.

Planning your visit

There are multiple ways to experience Muogamarra Nature Reserve. Guided hikes are run during the six-week open window, all offering a different perspective. Beginners are encouraged to join the three-kilometre Muogamarra Highlights Walk or the 3.5-kilometre Muogamarra: Bird Gully Guided Walk.

Muogamarra Nature Reserve in Sydney, NSW
Take in views over the iconic Hawkesbury River. (Image: Elinor Sheargold/DCCEEW)

There’s also the Muogamarra: Lloyd Trig and Deerubbin Guided Walk, a 6.6-kilometre loop that provides uninterrupted views of the Hawkesbury River. If you’re up for a challenge, the 10-kilometre, full-day Muogamarra: Peats Bight Guided Walk is for you. Or tackle one of many gorgeous self-guided trails at your own pace. Hungry for more? Head to nearby Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, where you can explore bushwalks that lead to secret swimming spots.

Unfortunately, visitation in 2025 (from 9 August to 15 September) is completely booked out. But don’t despair – there’s always next year! Get in early to secure your spot now by emailing the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service directly or calling 13000 PARKS.

Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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Your first look at Australia’s brand-new luxury camp

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
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    The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

    Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit , a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

    Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

    Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon.
    Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

    Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

    Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

    Aerial view of Wilderluxe.
    Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

    Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’ , all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

    On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

    A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe.
    Sleep beneath the stars.

    Style and character

    When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

    Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

    The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe.
    Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

    ‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience . Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

    Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

    Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

    While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

    The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake.
    Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

    No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

    Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

    Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

    Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

    A person kayaking through serene waters.
    Paddle into peace.

    The details

    A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

    The interiors of the glamping tent.
    Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

    Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.