Largely along service trails and well managed bush tracks, this walk goes from train station to train station through parts of southern Royal National Park. The bush track between Garrawarra and the Hacking River is incredibly beautiful as it winds its way down the hill through shrouded eucalypt forest and low lying scrub. 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 view of the Coast from just south of the Werrong Beach Intersection. | Photo by admin, 2007.The Garawarra Management Trail. | Photo by admin, 2007.The occassional view from the Garawarra Management Trail. | Photo by admin, 2007.Garrawarra Farm. | Photo by adminNear where the track meets the Bola Heights Trail. | Photo by adminThe Burgh Track as it goes down to Lady Wakehurst Dr.. | Photo by admin, 2007.The view just east of Lady Wakehurst Dr.. | Photo by adminThe shaded forest east of Lady Wakehurst. | Photo by admin, 2007.The Hacking River. | Photo by admin, 2007.The servicetrail at Int of Hacking River and Burgh Tracks. | Photo by admin, 2007.The track going up to Helensburgh. | Photo by admin, 2007.The large fenced in clearing. | Photo by admin, 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 top of Otford Station, this walk follows the signs to 'Royal National Park' up some stairs. Once at the top of the stairs, the walk turns left and climbs up the steep concrete path for approximately 50m to the top, where it comes to the intersection marked as 'Station Rd'. This walk turns left and follows the flat dirt road, passing an intersection with another road on the left. The walk continues along to the next intersection, where it turns right onto Fanshawe Rd. This walk follows Fanshawe Rd up the long hill until coming to an intersection with an asphalt road signposted as 'Lady Wakehurst Drive'. At the intersection, this walk turns left and crosses the road, continuing for approximately 25m until coming to a car park and the entry into Royal National Park. There is a large green sign here saying 'Otford Lookout'.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After another 15 m head down the steps (about 70 m long)
After another 35 m pass the car park (25 m on your right).
Then pass the water tap (25 m on your right).
Turn left, to head along Ramp.
After another 75 m (at the intersection of Beaumont Road & Station Road Fire Trail) turn left, to head along Station Road Fire Trail.
After another 215 m (at the intersection of Station Road Fire Trail & Lady Carrington Road) continue straight, to head along Fanshawe Road.
After another 220 m continue straight, to head along Fanshawe Road.
After another 80 m (at the intersection of Lady Wakehurst Drive & Fanshawe Road) turn left, to head along Lady Wakehurst Drive (a road).
After another 255 m find the "Otford Lookout" (on your right).
Otford Lookout
Otford Lookout
Otford Lookout is on the Lady Wakehurst Dr, Otford. The lookout is in the Southern Tip of Royal National Park. The Lookout is on the side of the road with some parking. There are no facilities, but there is a great view out to see and down south down the coast to Wollongong. There is a small grass clearing on the ocean side of the road.
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Otford Lookout is on the Lady Wakehurst Dr, Otford. The lookout is in the Southern Tip of Royal National Park. The Lookout is on the side of the road with some parking. There are no facilities, but there is a great view out to see and down south down the coast to Wollongong. There is a small grass clearing on the ocean side of the road.
Then pass the park (9 m on your right).
Turn right.
After another 50 m pass the sign (on your right).
After another 250 m (at the intersection of Werrong Beach Track & Cliff Track) veer left, to head along Cliff Track.
After another 30 m pass the "Werrong Beach Track" (on your right).
After another 1.5 km continue straight, to head along Garawarra Ridge Management Trail.
After another 50 m pass the "Garrawarra Ridge" (8 m on your right).
After another 320 m (at the intersection of Garawarra Ridge Management Trail & Lilyvale Track) continue straight, to head along Garawarra Ridge Management Trail.
After another 1000 m pass the "Bulgo Hill" (45 m on your right).
After another 380 m continue straight, to head along Garawarra Ridge Management Trail.
After another 1.1 km continue straight, to head along Garawarra Ridge Management Trail.
After another 105 m (at the intersection of Burgh Ridge Track & Garawarra Ridge Management Trail) continue straight, to head along Garawarra Ridge Management Trail.
After another 20 m pass the "Garrawarra Farm Carpark" (20 m on your left).
After another 20 m head through/around the gate.
At the intersection of Garrawarra Farm Road & Garawarra Ridge Management Trail turn left (a service road).
After another 25 m continue straight.
After another 65 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 15 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 120 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 50 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
After another 135 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 25 m (at the intersection of Parkes Street & Camp Creek Lane) continue straight, to head along Parkes Street.
After another 245 m (at the intersection of Parkes Street & Foster Street) continue straight, to head along Parkes Street.
After another 135 m (at the intersection of Wilsons Creek Road & Parkes Street) turn right, to head along Wilsons Creek Road.
After another 65 m continue straight, to head along Wilsons Creek Road.
Then 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 45 m come to the end.
About 30 m past the end is a toilet.
Mo-Fr daytime
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities
Otford to Helensburgh
Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length
12.4 km
Time
4 h 45 min to 5 h 15 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)
