Otford to Helensburgh

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-34.2106378,151.006054)
Mode	Car (There is free parking available.) Train
Directions	From Bryant Street Turn on to Fairford Road, A6 then drive for 15.1 km Keep left onto New Illawarra Road, A6 and drive for another 55 m Turn left onto Heathcote Road, A6 and drive for another 5.5 km Turn right onto Princes Highway, A1 and drive for another 6.6 km Keep left and drive for another 7.9 km Keep left and drive for another 590 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Princes Highway and drive for another 580 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Parkes Street and drive for another 390 m Turn right onto Cemetery Road and drive for another 520 m Turn left onto Boswell Street and drive for another 65 m Turn right onto McLerie Street and drive for another 190 m Turn right onto Handley Street and drive for another 80 m Turn left onto Walker Street and drive for another 45 m Turn right onto Tabratong Road and drive for another 215 m Turn right onto Otford Road and drive for another 2.3 km Turn sharp left onto Lady Carrington Road and drive for another 420 m Turn slight right and drive for another 150 m
Finish	(-34.1771762,150.9946809)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car (There is free parking available.) Train

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the top of Otford Station, this walk follows the signs to 'Royal National Park' up some stairs. Once at the top of the stairs, the walk turns left and climbs up the steep concrete path for approximately 50m to the top, where it comes to the intersection marked as 'Station Rd'. This walk turns left and follows the flat dirt road, passing an intersection with another road on the left. The walk continues along to the next intersection, where it turns right onto Fanshawe Rd. This walk follows Fanshawe Rd up the long hill until coming to an intersection with an asphalt road signposted as 'Lady Wakehurst Drive'. At the intersection, this walk turns left and crosses the road, continuing for approximately 25m until coming to a car park and the entry into Royal National Park. There is a large green sign here saying 'Otford Lookout'.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After another 15 m head down the steps (about 70 m long) After another 35 m pass the car park (25 m on your right). Then pass the water tap (25 m on your right).
	Turn left, to head along Ramp.
	After another 75 m (at the intersection of Beaumont Road & Station Road Fire Trail) turn left, to head along Station Road Fire Trail.
	After another 215 m (at the intersection of Station Road Fire Trail & Lady Carrington Road) continue straight, to head along Fanshawe Road. After another 220 m continue straight, to head along Fanshawe Road.
	After another 80 m (at the intersection of Lady Wakehurst Drive & Fanshawe Road) turn left, to head along Lady Wakehurst Drive (a road). After another 255 m find the "Otford Lookout" (on your right). Otford Lookout Otford Lookout is on the Lady Wakehurst Dr, Otford. The lookout is in the Southern Tip of Royal National Park. The Lookout is on the side of the road with some parking. There are no facilities, but there is a great view out to see and down south down the coast to Wollongong. There is a small grass clearing on the ocean side of the road. Then pass the park (9 m on your right).
	Turn right. After another 50 m pass the sign (on your right).
	After another 250 m (at the intersection of Werrong Beach Track & Cliff Track) veer left, to head along Cliff Track. After another 30 m pass the "Werrong Beach Track" (on your right).
	After another 1.5 km continue straight, to head along Garawarra Ridge Management Trail. After another 50 m pass the "Garrawarra Ridge" (8 m on your right).
	After another 320 m (at the intersection of Garawarra Ridge Management Trail & Lilyvale Track) continue straight, to head along Garawarra Ridge Management Trail. After another 1000 m pass the "Bulgo Hill" (45 m on your right). After another 380 m continue straight, to head along Garawarra Ridge Management Trail.
	After another 1.1 km continue straight, to head along Garawarra Ridge Management Trail.
	After another 105 m (at the intersection of Burgh Ridge Track & Garawarra Ridge Management Trail) continue straight, to head along Garawarra Ridge Management Trail. After another 20 m pass the "Garrawarra Farm Carpark" (20 m on your left). After another 20 m head through/around the gate.
	At the intersection of Garrawarra Farm Road & Garawarra Ridge Management Trail turn left (a service road).
	After another 25 m continue straight.
	After another 65 m turn right, to head along The Burgh Track. After another 135 m find the "Garawarra Farm" (25 m on your left). Garawarra Farm Garawarra Farm is a clearing in the southern section of Royal National Park near the intersection of the Squeeze Way and Burgh Ridge track. This area was initially protected in 1934, when it and the surrounding area was turned into the Garawarra Park. This protection occurred after much lobbing from Myles Dunphy and the Mountain trails club, following their concerns of the impact been caused from logging and grazing in the area. This area and much more was re-named to Royal National Park in 1954 following the first visit of Queen Elizabeth II. The old farmhouse is now used by NPWS and is not open to the public. There is a large public carpark that are popular for people walking in the area.
	After another 150 m (at the intersection of Bola Heights Trail & The Burgh Track) veer left, to head along The Burgh Track.
	After another 1.4 km (at the intersection of The Burgh Track & Lady Wakehurst Drive) continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
	After another 570 m turn right, to head along The Burgh Track.
	After another 900 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
	After another 680 m veer left, to head along The Burgh Track.
	After another 115 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
	After another 450 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track. After another 15 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track. After another 120 m head through/around the gate.
	After another 80 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
	After another 215 m veer right, to head along The Burgh Track.
	After another 330 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track. After another 50 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
	After another 135 m continue straight, to head along The Burgh Track.
	After another 75 m veer right.
	After another 30 m turn left, to head along Halls Road.
	After another 45 m (at the intersection of Gardiner Place & Halls Road) continue straight, to head along Halls Road. After another 110 m (at the intersection of Halls Road & Nixon Place) continue straight, to head along Halls Road.
	After another 265 m continue straight, to head along Halls Road.
	After another 175 m (at the intersection of Parkes Street & Halls Road) turn right, to head along Parkes Street.
	After another 25 m (at the intersection of Parkes Street & Camp Creek Lane) continue straight, to head along Parkes Street. After another 245 m (at the intersection of Parkes Street & Foster Street) continue straight, to head along Parkes Street.
	After another 135 m (at the intersection of Wilsons Creek Road & Parkes Street) turn right, to head along Wilsons Creek Road. After another 65 m continue straight, to head along Wilsons Creek Road. Then cross the bridge (about 4 m long)
	Turn left. Then head up the steps (about 25 m long) Then pass the water tap (20 m on your right).
	After another 45 m come to the end. About 30 m past the end is a toilet. Mo-Fr daytime

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Otford to Helensburgh

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	12.4 km
Time	4 h 45 min to 5 h 15 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one 12.5 km from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	12.5 km	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track
Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Bulli Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  
  Saturday 27 July
  
  Clear.
  
  Partly cloudy. Patches of morning frost about higher ground. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm in the north in the morning. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning westerly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day. Daytime maximum temperatures between 14 and 19.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection not recommended, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]
  
  Sunday 28 July
  
  9°C → 15°C
  Shower or two. Wind easing.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers in the south, slight chance elsewhere. Possible small hail in the south. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h turning southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 3 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 8 and 15.
  
  Monday 29 July
  
  9°C → 15°C
  Shower or two. Wind easing.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Patches of morning frost about the Southern Highlands. Winds southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 15.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Tuesday 30 July
  
  9°C → 15°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Patches of morning frost about the Southern Highlands. Medium chance of showers along the coastal fringe, slight chance elsewhere. Possible small hail along the coastal fringe. Winds south to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 15.
  
  Wednesday 31 July
  
  10°C → 16°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Thursday 1 August
  
  11°C → 16°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Friday 2 August
  
  11°C → 16°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Saturday 3 August
  
  10°C → 17°C
  Cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Royal National Park alerts
  Other planned events: Ironbark Flat picnic area partial closure
  Some sections of Ironbark Flat picnic area, particularly near the river foreshore, will be closed from Wednesday 12 June 2024 until the end of August 2024, dependant on conditions. The closure is due to post-flood turf repairs and to allow the new turf to establish.
  Please take note of signage and barriers in place protecting the work area.
  
  The Audley Dancehall and Cafe, Royal National Park Visitor Centre and unaffected portions of the picnic areas will remain open to visitors during the repair works.
  
  For further information, please contact Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648.
  
  Other planned events: Pay Machine notice
  Pay machines in this park are being upgraded from Thursday 22nd of July to Thursday 1st of August 2024.
  The upgrade is designed to enhance reliability for your convenience. During this process park use fees can be paid as follows:
  
  Coin payments may not be accepted at pay machines; however, credit card payments are accepted.
  
  Credit card payments can also be made at vehicle entry stations, Royal National Park Visitor Centre, and the Park’nPay app.
  
  Cash payments can be made at the Royal National Park Visitor Centre.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the Visitor Services & Compliance Team on 02 9542 0666.
  
  Closed areas: The Coast track partial closure
  Walking the full length of The Coast track from Otford to Bundeena or Bundeena to Otford is not currently possible due to several track closures along its length. These closures are necessary due to erosion, rockfall risk and ongoing track upgrade works.
  Please note the following closures:
  
  Palm Jungle Loop track between Burning Palms, Werrong lookout is closed for track upgrades and storm impact remediation until December 2024.
  
  The Garie to Little Garie section of The Coast track is closed due to hazardous rockfalls and erosion.
  
  North Era campground is closed until further notice.
  
  Garie Road, Garie Beach and the Garie precinct is closed until further notice due to damage and subsidence of the road surface. Walkers approaching from the north (e.g. from Wattamolla or Bundeena) should exit the track via Curra Moors track.
  
  Bushwalker access is available for the following sections of The Coast track:
  
  South bound access - Bundeena to Curra Moors track via Wattamolla and return only. No access to Garie Beach.
  
  North bound access - is via Garawarra Farm Ridge trail and Burgh Ridge track to North Era and return, during track upgrades.
  
  Figure 8 Pools access - Access via Garawarra Farm only to Garawarra Ridge trail and Burgh Ridge track.
  
  For further information please contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648.
  
  Closed areas: Temptation Creek track and trail closures
  Fire trails and walking tracks in the Temptation Creek Precinct will be closed on weekdays from Monday 8 July to Friday 6 September 2024 for fire trail maintenance works. The closed areas are:
  
  Florence Parade vehicle trail, between Farnell Avenue and Grays Point Road.
  
  Anana Hill vehicle trail, between Angle Road and Greenhaven Road.
  
  Temptation Creek vehicle trail
  
  Gardiners Garage vehicle trail
  
  Northern section of Rawson Parade vehicle trail. The section between Loftus Oval and the NPWS Royal National Park area office carpark will remain open.
  
  Grays Point School walking track
  
  Savilles Creek walking track.
  
  Please do not enter closed areas and follow instructions of NPWS staff and contractors.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 9542 0632.
  
  Closed areas: Areas closed for deer control program
  Some areas in Royal National Park are closed to the public between sunset and sunrise from Wednesday 30 May to Friday 29 December 2024 to enable a deer control operation to be carried out.
  The affected areas include:
  
  All picnic areas in the Audley precinct
  
  Asset protection zones adjacent to Maianbar, Bundeena and East Heathcote.
  
  Wattamolla and Garie picnic areas
  
  North Era campground and coastal areas between Garie Beach and Figure 8 Pools
  
  Garrawarra Farm
  
  Lady Carrington Drive
  
  Bonnie Vale campground and picnic area.
  
  These closures will be signposted at entry points to the closed areas. If you have approved bookings to camp you can still access campsites during these times.
  Ground shooting will not take place during school holidays or on weekends or public holidays.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648.
  
  Closed areas: Werrong Beach track
  Werrong Beach track in Royal National Park is closed until further notice due to landslides. Signs will be in place around the closed area.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Closed areas: North Era campground closed
  North Era campground is closed until further notice due to operational activities. For more information please contact the local area office on 02 9542 0648.
  
  Safety alerts: Curra Moors track in poor condition
  Sections of Curra Moors loop track are in poor condition due to erosion. Please use caution and be aware of unstable edges.
  Planning for repairs is in progress. For more information, contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648.
  
  Closed areas: Garie Road closed due to damage
  Garie Road is closed until further notice due to damage to the road surface.
  This road may remain closed for some time to allow for extensive repairs. A reopening date is not currently known.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. Please check Live Traffic NSW for updates before driving to Garie Beach.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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