 Helensburgh is surrounded by the bushland of the Royal National Park, the Garawarra State Conservation Area and the water catchment of the Woronora Dam and adjacent Heathcote National Park, so is environmentally sensitive, though picturesque and naturally bound.This bushland location also makes Helensburgh susceptible to damage from frequent summer bushfires.The dry sclerophyll bush is home to several walking tracks and lyrebirds are not uncommon nearby.