Written by Anna Somers
Summer is approaching fast so I’m here to highlight a few of my favourite hiking spots to enjoy in the good weather.
Hiking is a great, affordable, and low-impact exercise and has a bunch of benefits, including reduced stress, lower blood pressure, reduced levels of depression, and increased immune system function.
The varying difficulty and accessibility of trails means that there’s something for every level of fitness.
Since I’m only relatively new to hiking, I won’t delve into the more advanced equipment or tools – consider this a beginner’s guide to some local hiking hotspots!
So, what do we need to get started?
I recommend a good pair of shoes, even a pair of well-fitting runners.
You’ll also need a comfortable backpack to carry some lunch, water bottles, sunscreen, first aid kit, and anything else you might need depending on the length of the trek.
It’s also important to do some preparation before heading out – look up the trail, how to access it, the weather forecast, the difficulty, and the length of the track.
This helps you plan and determine if this is the right trail for your fitness level.
Always stay on the trails and don’t forget to let someone know where you’re headed if you’re hiking solo in the case of an emergency.
South Lawson Waterfall Circuit
After a day trip out to the Blue Mountains, I tried out the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit.
It’s about a 2.5km dog-friendly loop track and can take about 1.5-2.5 hours. It’s a pretty easy track depending on the weather with only a couple of steeper areas.
There are four waterfalls to check out along the way with some neat views.
Take a photo of the map and stick to the more formed paths because it can get a bit confusing with the intersecting trails.
It’s a very popular trail, and best enjoyed after a bit of rainfall – but it does get quite muddy.
There’s a lot of wildlife and I had the luck of coming across some lyrebirds early in the morning – the downside was I forgot my bug spray and met some March flies.
This is a great, moderately easy track if you’re looking to get started with hiking.
Lane Cove National Park
This one is my personal favourite!
Lane Cove National Park is a bit closer to the city centre than the other two areas on this list.
Entry costs $8/day per vehicle (unless you have a National parks pass) and there’s plenty of parking and a café.
There are a few different trails to choose from as well.
The Riverside walking track is a great beginner trail at 5km one way, taking 2-3hrs.
Fiddens Wharf walking track is a 3km loop with some difficult terrain and slopes.
From Fiddens Wharf, the dedicated and experienced hikers can continue onto a section of the Great North walk, a 20km one-way hike.
The Great North walk is a beautiful hike, but you need to be prepared as it can take at least 6-8 hours.
There are several more trails throughout the national park and there are multiple entry points so be sure to check the website and plan ahead for this one.
Curra Moors loop track; Royal National Park
The Royal National Park is definitely worth the drive for a day trip. Entry is about $12/day per vehicle, and you’ll want to bring some lunch with you.
There’s a range of trails within the Royal National Park (of note, the wheelchair accessible Bungoona path), but my favourite is the Curra Moors loop track.
There’s a mix of bushland and ocean views along this 10km loop. It can take about 4-5 hours and you can see the sites such as Eagle Rock, Curracurrong waterfall, and Garie beach.
Parts of the loop track are steep, but the trail was mostly a formed walkway. When I last hiked here, we could see a pod of whales from the cliffside!
A final note from Anna
Hiking is a great way to get amongst nature and escape the city. Make sure to be prepared, check for local alerts and warnings, and have a map handy to not get too lost.
It’s also important to clean up after ourselves – leaving the trails better than we found them is one of the cardinal rules of hiking.
Don’t forget to tell someone before you head out for a hike in case of an emergency.
These were only a few highlights around Sydney, but there’s always a trail around. Enjoy!
