This walk has a great mixture of ocean cliffs, with fantastic views, and beautiful forest. The walk follows the well maintained Burgh Track, passing great views of the ocean and the cliffs, before turning inland and exploring some eucalypt forest on the way to Helensburgh. The environment and views near Lady Wakehurst Dr are incredibly special as the track winds its way through a shrouded eucalypt forest.
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There are closures in Royal National Park Today's Fire rating LOW MODERATE (No fire ban)
Bushwalking track notes photographs, maps and camping spots for Garie Beach to Helensburgh (The Burgh Track)
Cross sectional view of the Garie Beach to Helensburgh (The Burgh Track) bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Garie Beach to Helensburgh (The Burgh Track) bushwalking track
Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length
11km
Time
4 hrs 30 mins
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Signs
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience Required
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing
Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk. Gradient
11km of this walk has short steep hills and another 250m has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (85m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 7km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 3.8km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 8km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 3.2km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 7km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 3.8km requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 11km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
7km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 3.5km has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). The remaining (840m) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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North Era camping ground, Royal National Park, is a large dune area situated directly behind North Era Beach. This camping spot is popular with surfers, and it also has a toilet and a cleared area to pitch your tent. A maximum of 36 people (12 sites) can camp here[1], so there is plenty of room for everyone. Open fires are not permitted, you can carry a fuel stove for cooking. A camping permit is required from NPWS before arriving (Phone:(02) 9542 068). Water is often available from the creek (treat before drinking), If dry you can walk to Garie Beach for water, although the water here may also be dried up, during a dry period it is best to carry all your water with you.
(0 km)
Garie Beach Car Park
to
Little Garie Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 754 m
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 59 m
Descent = -47 m
From the Garie Beach car park, the walk follows the sign to 'North Era', keeping the sea to the left. This track follows the base of the large grassy hill between the rocks and the ocean, to the Little Garie cabins and up past the Little Garie Community Hall.
(0.75 km)
Little Garie
to
North Era Bush Campground Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 845 m
Time = 23 mins
Climb = 62 m
Descent = -74 m
Continue straight: From the community hall in Little Garie, the walk heads steeply up the hill, following the track to the south-west. To prevent erosion of the hill, wooden steps have been installed. From the top of the ridge, the track continues down the other side, keeping the ocean on the left while winding down into North Era Bush Campground.
(1.6 km)
North Era Bush Campground
to
Int of Burgh Ridge Track and Era Track (East) Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 914 m
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 59 m
Descent = -20 m
Continue straight: From the North Era Bush Campground, the walk heads up the grassy hill, keeping the ocean to the left. Just before the buildings, the walk comes to an intersection with a track on the right (which heads into the trees). Continue straight: From the top of the ridge, the walk heads down the hill, keeping the ocean to the left as it winds down between the cabins to the beach at the bottom. From here, the walk continues around the back of the beach following the coast, and up between the houses to the large clearing before the top of the hill. Here, the walk comes to an intersection with two rough bush tracks towards the top of the hill.
(2.51 km)
Int of Burgh Ridge Track and Era Track (East)
to
The Squeeze Way and Burgh Ridge track Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.28 km
Time = 32 mins
Climb = 181 m
Descent = -13 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill and away from the ocean, winding through the tall grass to the top of the hill, where it comes to a 'T' intersection with the track at the top. Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track heading up the hill and away from the ocean, towards the thick forest at the top of the ridge. The track winds up the long hill to the treeline, where it continues up through the forest, climbing to the top of the long hill where it gradually flattens out and comes to the intersection of the 'Squeeze Way' service trail at the end of the Garrawarra Farm car park.
(3.8 km)
The Squeeze Way and Burgh Ridge track
to
Int of Burgh and Bola Heights Tracks Track: Moderate - road,bushtrack
Length = 334 m
Time = 6 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -10 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads across the car park, following the right-hand side for a short while before it comes to the signposted intersection of 'The Burgh Track'[2], before reaching the paddock. Continue straight: From the 'Burgh Track' sign, this walk follows the sign away from the car park, keeping the paddock to the left. The track heads into the dense bushland, crossing a small creek and continuing along for a short while before coming to the intersection with the unnamed management trail.
(4.13 km)
Int of Burgh Track and Bola Heights Trail
to
Int of Lady Wakehurst Drive and Burgh Track Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.34 km
Time = 29 mins
Climb = 11 m
Descent = -163 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track, heading west through the bush and away from the service trail. The track winds through the dense scrub for a short while, before starting to drop down a long hill, which gradually steepens as it continues down the scattered wooden steps. At the bottom, the walk comes to the intersection with Lady Wakehurst Drive.
(5.47 km)
Int of Lady Wakehurst Drive and Burgh Track
to
Int of Burgh and Hacking River Tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 887 m
Time = 19 mins
Climb = 48 m
Descent = -18 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads north-west along the bush track, away from Lady Wakehurst Drive. The track soon passes two signs saying 'Burgh Track', following the one that also points to 'Helensburgh', passing two large boulders. The track soon tends downhill, following one of the tributaries of the Hacking River. The walk crosses the creek using the boulders as stepping stones. After a short climb up the bank, the track continues slightly further alongside the creek to an old disused management trail, marked by several signs pointing the way to 'Helensburgh'. At this point, the track turns and leads up the hillside to an intersection with the Hacking management trail, marked by a small trailmarker signpost.
(6.36 km)
Intersection of Hacking River Firetrail and Burgh Track
to
End of Halls Rd Track: Hard - servicetrail
Length = 3.47 km
Time = 1 hr 19 mins
Climb = 214 m
Descent = -114 m
Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk heads north along the management trail. The track undulates as it winds its way around the hill, tending west. Gradually, as the walk turns to the west, the track begins to rise steeply. The track goes up to the ridgeline and then flattens out for some time. The trail comes to an intersection and large fenced-in clearing (a tip), marked by a large sign saying 'Royal National Park'. Here the walk turns right to follow the fence for just shy of 500m before following a short track to the end of Halls Road.
(9.83 km)
End of Halls Rd
to
Helensburgh Railway Station Track: Moderate - road
Length = 1.18 km
Time = 24 mins
Climb = 25 m
Descent = -69 m
Turn left: From the end of Halls Rd, this walk heads south along the road, immediately passing Gardiner Pl on the right. After a while, the walk comes to a 'T' intersection with Parkes St. The walk turns right onto Parkes St, heading downhill along the footpath until reaching Tunnel Rd (signposted), opposite a 'Helensburgh' Station sign. The walk turns right and goes along Wilsons Creek Rd for a short while before turning left and taking the the steps down to Helensburgh Railway Station.
Fire Danger This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a LOW MODERATE rating and No fire ban in place. (Tomorrow the Fire Danger Rating is LOW MODERATE, No fire ban.) (Downloaded 7 years ago) This walk passes Illawarra/Shoalhaven fire area which currently has a LOW MODERATE rating and No fire ban in place. (Tomorrow the Fire Danger Rating is LOW MODERATE, No fire ban.) (Downloaded 7 years ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.
Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park feesCampingFacilities Current Park Closure information for Royal National Park Closure information last downloaded Sunday 27th of September 2015 07:00 AM Closed areas: The Coast track upgrade The Coast track will be undergoing construction works between Beachcomber Ave and Marley Beach over a 9 month period. Works include resurfacing, installation of raised board walk and stairs and will be undertaken between October 2015 and May 2016. During the works it will be necessary, at times, to close the Coast Track for visitor safety. Please be aware that during closures the full coast track walk will not be possible and you may need to plan your route to start and finish at a different location. The Royal National Park alerts page will be updated regularly so please check it before you leave home. Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact Royal National Park area office on (02) 9542 0632 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.
Closed areas: Wedding Cake Rock Access to Wedding Cake Rock is prohibited. National Parks and Wildlife Service has undertaken a geotechnical assessment of the rock, which found that there is high chance that it could collapse at any time. Safety fencing has been erected to protect the public while a more permanent solution is developed. This is a really beautiful location and a spectacular rock formation to look at, but the key is doing it at a safe distance from the edge.
Safety alerts: Audley precinct in wet weather Access across the Audley Weir may be closed due to river flooding during times of wet weather. During wet weather, NPWS advise park visitors to visit Live Traffic NSW to ascertain the status of the Weir crossing before commencing their travel to the park. During times of closure, access to Bundeena, Maianbar residential areas, Royal National Park Visitor Centre, including the Audley Dance hall and cafe, is via McKell Ave Waterfall.