Martinsville: Rainforest Walk, Views and Routes to the Watagans

If you’re looking for a hotel for a trip to Martinsville, you can get a sense of the destination from its outdoor activities. The Circuit Walking Track follows a creek through native rainforest; nearby, Monkey Face lookout offers sweeping views across Martinsville Valley. A route from Cooranbong to the Watagans passes through Martinsville. This gives you different options to consider when planning: an easy walk, a lookout with picnicking and birdwatching, or a drive into the Watagans.

Walking at Boarding House Dam

The Circuit Walking Track starts at the Boarding House Dam picnic area and follows a creek through native rainforest along an easy walking trail. Trees and ferns provide shade along the track in summer. At the end of the trail, visitors can paddle in the creek or the dam. This gives you a simple sequence to plan around: the trail itself is an easy waterside walk, with the option to paddle at the end. If you’d like to combine both activities, you can treat the walk and paddling as consecutive parts of your outing.

Views and birdwatching at Monkey Face

Monkey Face lookout is near Martinsville, with sweeping views east across Martinsville Valley. There’s a picnic area beneath old grass trees and ironbarks. Birdwatching is also possible there, and Glossy Black Cockatoos are often seen. Monkey Face therefore combines views, picnicking and birdwatching, while the Circuit Walking Track is an easy trail through native rainforest along a creek. The two places offer different experiences: Monkey Face is a lookout in the surrounding area, while the track starts at the Boarding House Dam picnic area.

Cycling and horse riding on roads

In Martinsville, paved roads with open, grass-lined drainage ditches and vegetated road verges make cycling and horse riding possible. This differs from the Circuit Walking Track, an easy walking trail beside a creek through rainforest. When choosing an activity, you can compare a road option for cycling or horse riding with a walking trail. The difference is in both the way you get around and the surroundings: roads and vegetated verges here, a path along the creek there.

Routes into the Watagans

A driving route from Cooranbong to the Watagans passes through Martinsville; from there, it continues either via Martinsville Hill Road or Freemans Drive to Mount Faulk Road. One way into Watagans National Park is via Martinville Road to Watagan Road, then uphill to Watagan Forest Road and from there for about six kilometres to the park. The first route offers two road options, while the route into the park gives a sequence of roads and the approximate distance from Watagan Forest Road. Check current park notices and road conditions before driving, as these may change.

Discover more destinations: Shoal Bay, Swansea, Maryville, Kurri Kurri, Adamstown, Belford, Salamander Bay, Mount View

For the main travel overview: Newcastle.