This walk has a great mixture of ocean cliffs, with fantastic views, and beautiful forest. The walk follows the well maintained Burgh Track, passing great views of the ocean and the cliffs, before turning inland and exploring some eucalypt forest on the way to Helensburgh. The environment and views near Lady Wakehurst Dr are incredibly special as the track winds its way through a shrouded eucalypt forest. Let us begin by acknowledging the Dharawal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
The track between Garie and Little Garie. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.Looking down on North Era Beach. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.The track through the grasslands on the Burgh Ridge. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.The North Era Bushtrack. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.The view of the coast from Burgh Ridge (Nth) Int. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.Garrawarra Farm. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.The view just east of Lady Wakehurst Dr.. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.Going down to Lady Wakehurst Dr.. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.Along the track. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.The Hacking River. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.The Hacking River Firetrail. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.The large fenced in clearing. | Photo by Matt McClelland (wildwalks), 2007.
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
Getting started From the Garie Beach car park, the walk follows the sign to 'North Era', keeping the sea to the left. This track follows the base of the large grassy hill between the rocks and the ocean, to the Little Garie cabins and up past the Little Garie Community Hall.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
There is a seat (about 30 m back from the start)., has no backrest.
Find the car park at the start.
Find the seat at the start. , has no backrest.
Continue straight.
After another 20 m turn left.
After another 25 m pass the "Garie Surf Living Saving Club" (8 m on your right).
Then find the "Garie Beach Kiosk" (45 m on your right).
Garie Beach Kiosk
Garie Beach Kiosk
Garie Beach Kiosk is at the side of the carpark at the end of Garie Rd, in the Royal National Park. The kiosk is only open on weekends and most days during the summer holidays. The opening hours are based on demand and is generally open from 10:30am to 3pm (later in summer). The kiosk sells, cold drinks, ice creams, pies, salad rolls etc. Contact for Audley kiosk (same managers) 9521 2240.
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Garie Beach Kiosk is at the side of the carpark at the end of Garie Rd, in the Royal National Park. The kiosk is only open on weekends and most days during the summer holidays. The opening hours are based on demand and is generally open from 10:30am to 3pm (later in summer). The kiosk sells, cold drinks, ice creams, pies, salad rolls etc. Contact for Audley kiosk (same managers) 9521 2240.
Then pass the toilet (60 m on your right).
After another 25 m pass a seat (9 m on your left)., has no backrest.
Then pass the picnic table (9 m on your left)., has no backrest.
Continue straight.
After another 530 m cross the bridge (about 10 m long)
After another 6 m continue straight.
After another 130 m veer right.
After another 15 m find the "Little Garie" (10 m on your right).
Little Garie
Little Garie
Little Garie beach and cabin community is in the Royal National park about 800m south west of Garie Beach. The beach is a yellow sand looking east. The beach is edge lined along the edge with smooth rock with a rock shelf on both ends of the beach. There are no facilities or life saving services at the beach. The cabins built just above the beach are dotted through the valley and includes a green community hall and church up the hill on the south side.
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Little Garie beach and cabin community is in the Royal National park about 800m south west of Garie Beach. The beach is a yellow sand looking east. The beach is edge lined along the edge with smooth rock with a rock shelf on both ends of the beach. There are no facilities or life saving services at the beach. The cabins built just above the beach are dotted through the valley and includes a green community hall and church up the hill on the south side.
After another 135 m veer right.
After another 135 m pass a seat (on your right)., has no backrest.
After another 150 m come to the viewpoint.
After another 155 m pass a seat (on your right)., has no backrest.
After another 30 m head down the earthen steps (about 150 m long)
Continue straight.
After another 85 m veer left.
After another 140 m veer left.
After another 20 m continue straight.
After another 660 m continue straight.
After another 245 m veer right, to head along Coast Walk.
After another 210 m (at the intersection of Burgh Ridge Track & Coast Walk) continue straight, to head along Burgh Ridge Track.
After another 75 m come to the viewpoint.
Then pass the "Figure 8 Pools" (on your left).
After another 265 m come to the viewpoint.
After another 530 m continue straight, to head along Burgh Ridge Track.
After another 280 m (at the intersection of Garawarra Ridge Management Trail & Burgh Ridge Track) turn sharp right, to head along Garawarra Ridge Management Trail (a vehicle track).
After another 40 m head through/around the gate.
At the intersection of Garrawarra Farm Road & Garawarra Ridge Management Trail turn left (a service road).
After another 90 m turn right, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 135 m find the "Garawarra Farm" (25 m on your left).
Garawarra Farm
Garawarra Farm
Garawarra Farm is a clearing in the southern section of Royal National Park near the intersection of the Squeeze Way and Burgh Ridge track. This area was initially protected in 1934, when it and the surrounding area was turned into the Garawarra Park. This protection occurred after much lobbing from Myles Dunphy and the Mountain trails club, following their concerns of the impact been caused from logging and grazing in the area. This area and much more was re-named to Royal National Park in 1954 following the first visit of Queen Elizabeth II. The old farmhouse is now used by NPWS and is not open to the public. There is a large public carpark that are popular for people walking in the area.
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Garawarra Farm is a clearing in the southern section of Royal National Park near the intersection of the Squeeze Way and Burgh Ridge track. This area was initially protected in 1934, when it and the surrounding area was turned into the Garawarra Park. This protection occurred after much lobbing from Myles Dunphy and the Mountain trails club, following their concerns of the impact been caused from logging and grazing in the area. This area and much more was re-named to Royal National Park in 1954 following the first visit of Queen Elizabeth II. The old farmhouse is now used by NPWS and is not open to the public. There is a large public carpark that are popular for people walking in the area.
After another 150 m (at the intersection of Bola Heights Trail & The Burgh Track) veer left, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 1.4 km (at the intersection of The Burgh Track & Lady Wakehurst Drive) continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 570 m turn right, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 900 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 680 m veer left, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 115 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 450 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 135 m head through/around the gate.
After another 80 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 215 m veer right, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 330 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 185 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 75 m veer right.
After another 30 m turn left, to head along Halls Road.
After another 45 m (at the intersection of Gardiner Place & Halls Road) continue straight, to head along Halls Road.
After another 110 m (at the intersection of Halls Road & Nixon Place) continue straight, to head along Halls Road.
After another 265 m continue straight, to head along Halls Road.
After another 175 m (at the intersection of Parkes Street & Halls Road) turn right, to head along Parkes Street.
After another 410 m (at the intersection of Wilsons Creek Road & Parkes Street) turn right, to head along Wilsons Creek Road.
After another 65 m cross the bridge (about 4 m long)
Turn left.
Then head up the steps (about 25 m long)
Then pass the water tap (20 m on your right).
After another 8 m come to the end.
About 35 m past the end is a toilet.
Mo-Fr daytime
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities
Garie Beach to Helensburgh (The Burgh Track)
Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length
10.7 km
Time
4 h 15 min to 4 h 30 min
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
Some facilities on route
Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 3.6 km apart with the largest gap of 10.6 km.
Seat: There are 5 on route, on average they are 1.8 km apart with the largest gap of 9.3 km.
