Great hiking trails to enjoy this summer
Finding time for training during the festive season can be tricky, so we’ve rounded up some beautiful hiking trails right here in Sydney and the Illawarra.
With options here for just about every hiker, these walks provide the perfect option to grab a friend, catch up, and enjoy a summer hike in stunning surroundings with plenty of nearby options for great coffee!
For more details on any of the hikes and more, we suggest you check out the following websites and phone apps.
Ballast Point Park, Balmain Peninsula
Start Point – Ballast Point Rd, Birchgrove
Right at the very tip of the Balmain Peninsula, this little greenspace gem has views to Sydney Harbour that are magnificent. There are easy walking paths through this 2.5h space and even a few stairs for a few reps if you’re keen.
Lady Robinson Beach, Brighton le sands
Start Point – take your pick, from Kyeemagh to Sans Souci.
Hike Sydney’s longest beach – on the sand or on the promenade - enjoy 6km of bayside walking along the shore of Botany Bay from the mouth of the Cooks River to the mouth of the Georges River in the south.
Tip - If you want to go a bit further, head to Kiss the Barista at Dolls Point beach or get yourself booked into lunch at the gorgeous St George Sailing Club.
Hen & Chicken Bay, Cabarita
Start Point – Phillips St, Cabarita
Hen & Chicken Bay is a bay on the Parramatta River in Sydney’s Inner West. You can complete an 8.2km out and back foreshore walk on flat pathways, passing through numerous parklands. For more details on routes you can explore, visit alltrails.com.
Fairylands Loop Track, Lane Cove NP
Start Point – Fullers Bridge, Corner of Delhi Rd and River Ave, Chatswood West.
Hard to beat this favourite. This is a popular 5.4km loop track graded as hard by NPWS. It meanders along the Lane Cove River and includes parts of the Great North Walk Track. A stunning bush trail with some steep sections and stairs. For more information visit wildwalks.com or alltrails.com.
The Ridge Walking Track, Georges River NP
Start Point - Burrawang Reach picnic area, Burrawang Reach Rd off Henry Lawson Drive.
Near Picnic Point, this 3.2km return bush hike takes you along the Georges River and up on the ridge. Enjoy the interesting rock formations along the way and scenic views of the river. It has some stairs and short steep sections to get your legs working and heart pumping. Wildflowers in Spring are a feature.
Oatley Park including the 6.4km Lime Kiln Bay Circuit
Start Point – various entry points but the main entrance to the park is at Dame Mary Gilmore Rd, Oatley.
There are many opportunities for hikes in this 45-hectare bushland peninsula at the junction of Georges River and Lime Kiln Bay. Great vistas over the waterways, diverse birdlife and its ever-changing plant communities will keep you interested. There are a mix of flat sections but also a few hills to discover.
Tip - If you’re looking for somewhere new to take the kids or grandkids, there is a fantastic playground at this park.
Voyager Point Trail
Start Point – Voyager Point Park
This 4.8km loop is an easy, mostly flat walk with views of the river and the trail winds through interesting bushland. You can also access this walk from East Hills via a footbridge over the river (worth a look). You can view this walk at alltrails.com.
Castlereagh Nature Reserve including the 8.7km loop track
Start Point - The Northern Road, Berkshire Park NSW
With 490ha of bushland you can explore as much or as little as you like in this area. View the mostly flat fire-trails on www.alltrails.com. Great area to get your hiking pace going.
Curra Moors Loop, Royal NP
Start Point – Curra Moors carpark, Sir Bertram Stevens Drive (between Wattamolla Rd and Garie Rd)
This 10km loop trail is one of the best in the RNP. If you are up for a long hike to clear the head and work the body, the Curra Moors loop track is perfect. The bush meets the sea with dramatic sandstone cliffs and spectacular coastal views and the vegetation is a mix of woodlands and coastal heath. You will pass the spectacular Curracurrong waterfall and can take short detour north to Eagle Rock. Visit the NPWS website for more details.
Mt Kembla Summit & Ring Tracks
Start Point – End of Cordeaux Rd (Kembla lookout), Kembla Heights
A fabulous 3.5km out and back hike to the summit, away from the usual crowds, to enjoy spectacular views. It’s a narrow, sometimes rocky track through shaded Eucalypt forest, frequented by lyrebirds. This steep track will get your heart rate up and inspire you to do more. There is also the 5.5km ring track if you are keen for more.
Cape Banks Track, La Perouse
Start Point - Anzac Parade, opposite Goorawahl Avenue.
This stunning 7km return coastal track undulates through coastal vegetation and over rock platforms to Cape Banks, where the views south over Botany Bay are extensive. Enjoy the power of the ocean as you breathe the sea air. A great trail running track too. More information on the NPWS website.
Minerva Pool track, Dharawal NP, Wedderburn
Start Point – Victoria Rd, Wedderburn
This 2.4km return bushland track takes you to the pristine Minerva pool - a sacred site for the Aboriginal Dharawal people. Only women and girls may enter the waters at the pool. You might also visit the lesser known Jingga walking track. This short steep walk is more challenging and follows a a landscape of eucalyptus bushland and dramatic sandstone formations. A beautiful waterhole awaits you at the end of the track. For more information visit the NPWS website.