Thirlmere Lakes National Park Park

Address: Thirlmere Lakes National Park, New South Wales, Australia

Website: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/thirlmere-lakes-national-park

Hours: Open daily, 24 hours (parkland - check local NSW National Parks advisories for track closures)

Admission: Free (entry to the national park)

Thirlmere Lakes National Park protects a pair of freshwater lakes and the surrounding woodland near the town of Thirlmere in New South Wales, Australia. The park conserves lowland wetland and forest habitats atypical for the surrounding region.

The lakes are shallow freshwater bodies set within native eucalypt woodland and provide habitat for aquatic plants and animals of local conservation interest. The site is relatively compact and visited for short nature walks and birdwatching.

The area was designated as a national park to protect these distinctive lake ecosystems and their associated vegetation; specific management actions focus on preserving water quality and native habitats.

The park lies near the township of Thirlmere in Wollondilly Shire, inland from the Illawarra coast and within the greater Sydney-Newcastle region of New South Wales.

The park is about a 10-15 minute drive east of the town of Thirlmere in the Wollondilly Shire, roughly 80 km southwest of central Sydney. The main car park and picnic area are adjacent to the lakes off Lakes/Old Hume Highway; allow a short drive from the M31/Hume Motorway.

• Visit early morning for still water and the best light on the lakes; dragonflies and waterfowl are most active then.
• The main walking tracks can be boggy after rain-wear boots and choose boardwalk routes.
• Combine the visit with a drive along the Wollondilly River valley or a stop at nearby picnic areas; the park is small but secluded.