Four Of The Shire’s Best Walks To Try This Spring
Put On Your Walking Shoes and Enjoy The Fresh Air and Sunshine
Before you start reading, we have recently updated this guide, rounding up the Shire’s 12 best walks. Check out our guide to the 12 Best Walks In The Sutherland Shire for our most comprehensive list!
Not much can outdo the simplicity of a good walk, especially if you’ve got the essentials: sounds of birds chirping, waves crashing, and a beautiful breeze. If you feel up for something a little different and have well and truly outdone the esplanade, you can thank Bree from Moore to Adventure for these awesome suggestions. An avid adventurer and local mum, Bree is confident she’s found four of the Shire’s BEST walking tracks. Needless to say, we are itching to get out and explore the tracks Bree has shared below. Take your pick and have fun!
Forest Path
The Forest Path is a magical walk found in the Royal National Park. It is a loop track which is an added bonus and a total of 4.4km! It may sound a bit lengthy, however, the gradient of the walk is easy, with only a handful of steps along the way. This track is extra beautiful and serene as it follows Bola Creek. There’s nothing more peaceful than the sound of free-flowing water. The kids will enjoy wandering through cabbage tree palms and swinging on Tarzan vines. Please note, if you have little ones, this walk is not pram friendly, so use a baby carrier.
This walk starts from the stone gates on Sir Bertram Stevens Drive. Walk down Lady Carrington Drive for approximately 700m and you will see a sign on your left for the Forest Path. Pack lots of snacks, water and your camera as the scenery is spectacular.
Distance: 4.4km
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1.5hrs - 2hrs (please note: suggested time was with kids)
2. Palona ‘Limestone’ Cave
With the same start as the Forest Path Track, the Palona Cave is a further 1km down Lady Carrington Drive. This walk is easy and the path is surrounded by jungle-like greenery, taking you into another world. You will reach a sign for ‘Limestone Cave' on the left. Keep your eye out for it as the sign is facing the opposite direction making it an easy one to miss.
From here the uphill track is narrow with a few logs to hurdle and rocks to jump over, but this just adds to the fun! You will reach the cave in approximately 800m. The limestone cave is a unique feature of the area, so allow time to explore the cave with its columns and stalactites. Beyond the cave is Palona Brook Falls. The waterfall adds to the excitement of this walk and allows you to rest and cool off before making your way back.
3. Eagle Rock (via Curracurrang Gulley)
If you’re up for an adventure, this walk is for you! The best place to start is from Wattamolla Car Park (P5). The track is 3.3km to Eagle Rock (one way). Halfway is Curracurrang Gully where you can rest and even have an ocean swim. The walk continues from there to Eagle Rock, with the adjacent turning slightly more uphill. The coastal views are amazing, along with all the wildflowers along the track. A highlight to the viewing point of Eagle Rock is crossing the sandstone steps along the Curracurrong Creek. Make sure you take a selfie with Eagle Rock! It doesn’t matter if you've done it a hundred times, this walking track never gets old.
4. Honeymoon Track To Audley
Honeymoon track starts at the Royal National Park Information Centre Car Park, near the Environmental Education Centre. You will see signage for this walk explaining the history of this beautiful track. It’s a lovely walk with cool caves for the kids to explore along the way. The walk is an easy one going down, but a hard one going back up. It is 1km long, but it’s steep (grade hard) heading up from Riverside Drive near the weir. You can rest up and enjoy a nice coffee from the Audley Cafe before tackling the steps uphill. Or you can organise a lift and skip the walk back up altogether!
A big thank you to Bree for testing out some of the Shire’s best walking tracks and sharing her top four with us. Being a local wedding photographer with over 11 years’ experience, it’s no surprise the images have brought a smile to our face.
Posted September, 2021
