The iconic Sublime Point walking track is closed for the week for essential upgrades. Photo: Region.
The Sublime Point Track and Lookout Walking Track to Panorama House will be closed this week as the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) undertakes a helicopter operation to support essential upgrades.
The work, scheduled between Tuesday (6 January) and Friday (9 January), will see a helicopter lift around 126 loads of stone and track-building materials from the Sublime Point Lookout to various sites along the track, weather permitting.
Residents in the northern Illawarra suburbs of Austinmer, Thirroul and Coledale may see and hear the helicopter operating between 8 am and dusk.
NPWS Acting Area Manager Ben Owers said the upgrades were crucial.
“Work is critical in helping us restore safe access to one of the Illawarra’s most popular and iconic walking tracks,” he said.
“The helicopter operation is the most efficient and safest way to transport heavy materials to the site without further impacting the environment.”
This latest work at Sublime Point is the third helicopter operation since the track was closed in late 2025 for essential upgrades following significant damage by recent natural disasters.
The project is supported by the NSW and Australian governments’ Infrastructure Betterment Fund, established in 2019 to repair and rebuild public assets affected by natural disasters.
To protect the public, all entries to the Sublime Point Track and the Lookout Walking Track to Panorama House will be closed, with security personnel in place during the operation.
“We appreciate the community’s patience while we complete this vital work,” Mr Owers said.
NPWS regularly uses helicopters to transport construction materials to remote or rugged areas that are inaccessible by vehicle.
Though only 0.7 km (one way), Sublime Point is graded at level four out of five for difficulty due to its steep gradient, which not only includes more than 1000 new sandstone steps that replace timber ones in recent times, but also multiple steel ladders towards the end of the track.
The iconic track through the coastal rainforests up the escarpment leads to spectacular, sweeping views over the region.
Alternative rainforest walks can be found in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area, connecting to places such as the Wodi Wodi Track. For something easier, walkers can hit up the coastal path to Sandon Point, which is part of the longer Grand Pacific Walk.
In the meantime, residents are encouraged to check the NPWS website for updates, as work on Sublime Point may be postponed at short notice. You can also take a virtual tour of the Sublime Point walking track captured with Google Street View Trekker.
