Bushwalks around Sydney Accessible by Public Transport

There’s a wide range of bushwalks around Sydney that can be done by public transport, from easy walks to overnight adventures.

  • To the west in the Blue Mountains, the railway line offers easy access to walks from just about every station between Lapstone and Blackheath (and many walks that start and finish at different stations)
  • To the north, the Great North Walk can be done in short or long sections between Hornsby and Woy Woy (as well as other bushwalks in Ku-ring-gai Chase and Brisbane Water National Parks)
  • In the south there are are less options, but the Royal National Park and Heathcote National Park have a few walks you can accesa via the southern railway line.

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A secret cave and Aboriginal history along the Little Digger Track

A one-walk along the Little Digger Track and Two Creeks Track, from East Lindfield to Roseville. Along the way we explore a "secret cave", waterfalls and Aboriginal hand stencils.

Allenby Park – a hidden bush oasis in the Northern Beaches

Allenby Park is a small but relatively unspoilt patch of bushland in the Northern Beaches. Walking trails provide access to rainforest, a picturesque creek and waterfall and nice rock formations.
  • Allenby Park
  • Distance: 1.4km
  • Ease of access: Easy
  • End of Clearview Place, Brookvale (other access points possible)
  • Bus
  • B-Line bus to Warringah Mall, then walk to Clearview Place

An early morning walk along the Wedgewood Fire Trail in Cowan

The relatively unknown Wedgewood Fire Trail in Cowan ends at a large rock platform, which offers filtered bush views. It's not the most exciting trail, but offers some great wildflower displays in Spring.
  • Distance: 3.3km
  • Ease of access: Easy
  • Park on Pacific Highway (Cowan) or Cowan Oval at the end of Bujwa Bay Road
  • Train
  • Start of firetrail is 1.4km walk from Cowan station

An easy bushwalk down to Peats Bight in Muogamarra

One of the longer bushwalks in the Muogamarra Nature Reserve, the walk to Peats Bight combines the views from Deerubbin Lookout with the historic Peats Bight crater.
  • Muogamarra Nature Reserve
  • Distance: 11.6km
  • Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
  • Entrance to Muogamarra is off the Old Pacific Highway 3.5km north of Cowan. Approx 2.6km drive from the entrance to the Muogamarra Nature Reserve Visitors Centre along a gravel road.
  • Train
  • 6.4km walk from Cowan railway station

An easy loop bushwalk along the Muogamarra Bird Gully Walk

A relatively short and easy ranger-guided bushwalk at Muogamarra, the Bird Gully Walk descends into a valley where it crosses Muogamarra Creek. You'll see wildflowers, birdlife and some Aboriginal grinding grooves,

An easy loop walk along the Cascades Track in St Ives

The Cascades Track is a short trail down to a large rock platform and picturesque waterhole on Middle Harbour Creek, in the northern suburbs of Sydney. Combines with the Bare Creek Track and Cambourne Trail for a longer loop walk.

Bantry Bay Loop (Garigal NP)

The Bantry Bay Loop is a varied loop, which passes the Bantry Bay Aboriginal engravings next to the Engravings Track. It then descends to Bantry Bay along the Timber Getters Track and returns via the scenic Bluff Track.

Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk

The Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk is a short, easy and popular loop walk that offers sweeping views over the Barrenjoey peninsula, Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River.

Beyond Shark Rock Ridge – finding a route to Want Trig

An exploratory walk out along Shark Rock Ridge to Want Trig, with some stunning views over Cowan Creek. There is a rough trail all the way along the ridge, although some navigation skills and a topo map are essential.

Blackbutt Creek Track

A short, dog-friendly loop track though a small reserve in Ku-ring-gai. The Blackbutt Creek Track follows Blackbutt Creek and Falls Creek through tall forest,

Descending the Furber Steps in the Blue Mountains

The Furber Steps provides a very scenic route into the Jamison Valley in the Blue Mountains National Park, with multiple vantage points over the Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls. Return the same way, or via the Scenic Railway.

Exploring the historic Hydro Majestic walking tracks

The Wonderland Track, Sunbath Track and Colosseum Track form part of the network of historic Hydro Majestic walking tracks. They offer some great Megalong Valley views, and a steep descent through narrow slots in the rocks to the base of the Medlow Bath cliffs.
  • Distance: 6.8km
  • Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
  • Start/finish at Station St and Hydro Majestic
  • Train
  • Short walk from Medlow Bath railway station

Five Mile Creek Loop (Garigal NP)

The Five Mile Creek Loop is a somewhat complicated circuit through the northern part of Garigal National Park, incorporating formal trails and unofficial tracks to form a loop walk.
  • Garigal National Park
  • Distance: 11km
  • Ease of access: Moderate
  • Trail starts on Forest Way (0.9km from Mona Vale Road intersection). Small off-road parking area.
  • Bus
  • Bus to Forest Way from Chatswood, North Sydney and City QVB (Forest Coach Lines)

Hippocrene and Vera Falls Loop – an exhilarating walk past waterfalls & lookouts

The Hippocrene and Vera Falls Loop is a challenging but spectacular bushwalk in Wentworth Falls. It descends deep into the valley via some remote tracks, before returning via a cliff-top track. The bushwalk passes 11 waterfalls and many lookouts.

Middle Harbour Creek circuit

The Middle Harbour Creek circuit is a relatively long bushwalk around Middle Harbour Creek. The route goes down one side of the creek from St Ives to Roseville Bridge, returning on the opposite side. This loop combines the Governor Phillip Walk. Lyre Bird Track, Two Creeks Track and Lockley Track.

Mt Ku-ring-gai to Berowra – a popular section of the Great North Walk

Mt Ku-ring-gai to Berowra along the Berowra Track is a pleasant bushwalk that follows Cowan Creek for most of the way, with views on the descent from Mt Ku-ring-gai and the remains of a metal boat hull at Waratah Bay.

Overnight hike from Faulconbridge to Glenbrook via the Blue Labyrinth

One of the many routes through the Blue Labyrinth, the two-day walk from Faulconbridge to Glenbrook in the lower Blue Mountains combines tracks along Sassafras and Glenbrook Creeks with sweeping views from Lost World Lookout. It's a varied walk with lots of potential camping sites.

Pylons Loop (Warrimoo to St Ives Wildflower Garden)

The Pylons Loop from Warrimoo to the St Ives Wildlife Garden is a varied and partly off-track loop. It links the Warrimoo Track, Ryland Trail, Callamine Trail and Showground Trail and makes use of a number of fire trails that service electricity pylons. 

Ruined Castle – one of the best views in the Blue Mountains

Ruined Castle is one of the more popular half-day Blue Mountains bushwalks: it offers classic Blue Mountains vistas, pleasant walking through rainforest and 360 degree views from the rocky peak.
  • Blue Mountains National Park
  • Distance: 14.3km
  • Ease of access: Moderate
  • Scenic World (Corner Violet Street & Cliff Drive). Free parking. Alternate start point is Echo Point (parking fees apply) and Golden Staircase trackhead on Glenraphael Drive (graded dirt road; limited free parking at trackhead).
  • Train
  • Regular train services to Katoomba; taxi, bus or walk to Scenic World

Six Foot Track – an easy overnight bushwalk from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves

The Six Foot Track has become one of the "classic" NSW overnight walks since it was opened for bushwalking in 1984. It follows the route of the original six foot wide bridle track between Katoomba and Jenolan caves built in 1884.

Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach

Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach is an easy coastal walk, which passes through some beautiful sections of Sydney Harbour National Park and offers spectacular views of Sydney and Sydney Harbour. It also takes in a number of significant sites from Sydney’s military and settlement history.

The best views on the South Coast from the Illawarra Escarpment Track

The Illawarra Escarpment Track between Stanwell Park and Austinmer follows the top of the escarpment, with multiple lookouts providing spectacular views up and down the coast. There's even a cafe at Sublime Point, just before the steep descent at the end of the walk, where you can enjoy a coffee or a cold drink!
  • Distance: 17km
  • Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
  • Stanwell Park railway station to Austinmer station (or vice versa). Shorter route from Coalcliff  to Austinmer avoids muddy and rough section of Wodi Wodi  track.
  • Train
  • Train to Stanwell Park, Austinmer and Coalcliff on South Coast line. Infrequent services on weekends.

The Five Waterfalls of the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit

The scenic South Lawson Waterfall Circuit is a popular Blue Mountains bushwalk, which passes five picturesque waterfalls and is best done after some rain. It can also be combined with the Terrace Falls Reserve to form a longer Lawson to Hazelbrook walk.
  • South Lawson Park
  • Distance: 4km
  • Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
  • Honour Avenue, Lawson (two trailheads along the road)
  • Train
  • 1.1km walk to start of trail on Honour Avenue from Lawson station

The iconic Spit to Manly walk in Sydney – a walk best avoided on weekends

The Spit to Manly is a popular coastal walk in northern Sydney, which follows the coast from The Spit in Mosman to the Manly wharf terminal. It traverses pockets of rainforest and secluded bays and beaches

The spectacular Grand Canyon walk in the Blue Mountains from Neates Glen to Evans Lookout

One of the best bushwalks in the Blue Mountains, the Grand Canyon track descends from Neates Glen into a stunning rainforest-filled canyon, before finishing with spectacular escarpment views from Evans Lookout.

Thornleigh to Berowra – a popular section of the Great North Walk

Thornleigh to Berowra (or Mt Ku-ring-gai) is one of the more popular and varied sections of the Great North Walk, which traverses the Berowra Valley National Park Park. It can be done in shorter sections from around 7km to 30km, over 1-2 days. 

Upper Cambourne Loop (Garigal NP)

Th Upper Cambourne Loop is a very short but pleasant loop that combines the signposted Upper Cambourne Track with an informal MTB / bushwalking track. Some nice city views on the way back.

Waterfall to Engadine via the alluring Karloo Pool and Olympic Pool

Combining the Uloola Track, Karloo Track and Engadine Track, this walk traverses the Royal National Park from Waterfall to Engadine stations. It takes in the Uloola Falls and Karloo Pool, as well as the spectacular "Olympic Pool" on Upper Kangaroo Creek.