Garigal is such an underrated national park. We’ll be honest - for a long time - we were also part of that bandwagon, preferring to go to Ku-ring-gai and Royal National Parks, despite Garigal being our closest park.
That changed recently when we decided to get to know it better, and discovered that it is full of incredible walks, secret beaches, waterfalls and much more. Added to that, there is virtually no one else on the trail most of the time!
We love the wild feeling that you find on many of the tracks, with dense wet eucalypt forest and emerald creeks which somehow look even more incredible on misty overcast days.
Having now walked most of the trails in the park, here are our favourites.
The Best Garigal National Park Walks
These are the 9 best walks in Garigal National Park:
1. Two Creeks Track
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6.3km
Elevation: 97m
Time recommended: 1.5 hours if you’re only walking it one way
Starting Point: Lindfield Oval
Type of Trail: Return
Accessible by public transport: Yes
The Two Creeks Track is the most popular walk in Garigal National Park and the only one we’ve found that ever gets busy. It’s easy to see why, because it’s an absolutely fantastic bush walk and so close to the city.
Pretty much as soon as you set foot on the track you feel like you’ve escaped the hustle and bustle of the outside world, and the traffic noise fades away to be replaced with the sound of the laughing kookaburras.
Whilst the beginning of the track is nice enough, it’s from 2.5km in when you’ll really start to see why we love this trail so much. You’ll be walking alongside the pretty creek with sweeping bush views and even some mangroves which are a favourite haunt for kids to poke around and look for crabs!
You’ll also experience a hidden oasis complete with palm trees and lots of dense patches of ferns which are always a delight.
Whilst there are some ups and downs, much of the track is flat allowing for a leisurely stroll.
Here’s our detailed guide to the track.
2. Two Creeks with the Little Digger Track
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 7km or 10km
Elevation: 217m
Time recommended: 2 hours
Type of Trail: Circuit
Our personal favourite way of walking the Two Creeks Track is to make it a loop walk using the Little Digger Track. You can either do it as a 7km loop which cuts off a little of the Two Creeks Track, or as a 10km loop which covers the whole Two Creeks Track and then briefly doubles back to join the Little Digger.
As well as experiencing all that we’ve mentioned above on the Two Creeks, you also get to experience a little pocket of rarely visited rainforest.
And when we say rarely visited, we mean it, because in places the path is quite overgrown. We love this part of the walk and the feeling of being out in the wilds, leaving behind the crowds on the main Two Creeks trail.
The path is more rugged and as well as the gorgeous forest, you’ll also pass several small cascades. The signposting is pretty poor but we’ve given more details in the post linked above.
The Two Creeks Track is great, but when combined with the Little Digger, it’s one of our favourite bush walks in Sydney.
3. Stepping Stone Crossing to Cascades
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 11.9km
Elevation: 248m
Time recommended: 3.5 hours
Starting Point: Hunter Avenue, St Ives
Type of Trail: Return
Accessible by public transport: Yes
This was it. This was the trail that got us hooked on Garigal.
We hiked on a wet misty day and the scenery looked like something straight out of a David Attenborough documentary.
Don’t be fooled by the beginning of the trail along the Pipeline Track, which is very underwhelming, because as soon as you hit the forest floor you are going to be in for a treat.
You’ll cross the river on the cute stepping stones before making your way to the Cascades following the creek through wet eucalypt forest.
It’s incredibly atmospheric with huge mossy boulders and lots of vegetation, which all the rain had really brought to life. It even feels humid down there, like a proper rainforest.
The cascades are a lovely place to finish but really the walk along the creek was the highlight for us.
The trail has one steep climb and some undulating track which has lots of rocks and tree roots to watch out for.
Here’s our full trail guide for all the details.
4. Seaforth Oval to Bluff Lookout
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6.3km
Elevation: 236m
Time recommended: 1.5 - 2 hours
Starting Point: Seaforth Oval
Type of Trail: Circuit
Accessible by public transport: Yes
This gorgeous loop track offers a lot of variety; great bushland, fantastic bay views and some rugged sections which give you a little bit of a work out. It’s easily one of the best walks near Manly.
Our favourite part of the walk is the section which follows Bantry Bay, and offers lovely views before you come to a series of picturesque overhangs which make you feel miles from the city.
The steep climb up to Bluff Lookout rewards you with a fabulous view, and a lovely picnic spot before you continue through the bush to finish the circuit.
Some of the walk is a shared use trail but we personally haven’t encountered any cyclists on it, and I think the fact you need to be quite an experienced rider probably means it’s fairly quiet on that front.
The walk has a mixture of terrain and does involve some very light scrambling.
We’ve got a detailed guide to the trail here.
5. Governor Phillip Walk
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 7.7km
Elevation: 185m
Time recommended: 2 - 2.5 hours
Starting Point: Ferguson Street in Forestville
Type of Trail: Return
Accessible by public transport: Yes
I don’t think we’ve ever heard more birdlife on a hiking trail than we did on this track.
Almost the entire trail was alive with the sounds of the shrieking cockatoos and more melodious kookaburras, as well as a variety of other birds we can’t identify.
As with the Stepping Stones Track, the beginning is a real let down, but it isn’t long before you hit the forest and you’re suddenly surrounded by tall tree ferns and lots of little cascades.
There are thousands of ferns, several little sandy beaches where you can take a paddle in the emerald water and lots of beautiful forest to walk through.
You come out at the Stepping Stones, so if you were looking for a long day walk you could walk on to the Cascades for one epic adventure.
The further through the forest you get the more dense, wet, and humid it becomes, and you’ll hit some boulders and rocks to climb over. It’s definitely one of our favourite walks in the park.
Here’s our full trail guide.
6. Frenchs Creek
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Distance: 5.3km
Time recommended: 1.5 hours
Starting Point: Wanniti Road, Belrose
Type of Trail: Return
Accessible by public transport: Yes
The Frenchs Creek track offers a great way to get to the Cascades, particularly if you’re short on time.
The narrow trails winds through the bush with the chance to visit two incredible and little known waterfalls. One does require the use of ropes, so it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the other is very easy access.
The easy access waterfall
The track has beautiful bush views throughout, and the creek itself is incredibly picturesque, with lots and lots of gorgeous tree ferns. When you arrive at the Cascades there is lots of space to spread out and have a paddle and a picnic.
The trail is mainly downhill with some flat sections on the way and heading back you obviously have the climb back out - but it’s never very steep or arduous.
We finished this walk around sunset and spotted a wallaby by the top of the track above the first waterfall so keep an eye out if you’re visiting early morning or late afternoon!
7. Heath Trail to the Cascades with Frenchs Creek
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 8.5km
Elevation: 228m
Time recommended: 2 - 2.5 hours
Starting Point: Ralston Avenue, Belrose
Type of Trail: Return
Accessible by public transport: Yes with a short amount of additional walking
This track does require 1.5km of walking on quiet residential streets to form the loop, but it’s a great way of doing two different trails, and not having to go back on yourself.
The first couple of kilometres on the Heath Trail probably won’t blow you away - you’re walking downhill on a wide stony fire trail, which is shared with mountain bikes.
But after that you hit a really beautiful area of bushland, with lots of gorgeous plants and overhangs, and the trail is flat and easy going.
You’ll then hit the Cascades which we’ve mentioned already, but they really are a must visit in Garigal. It’s such a peaceful spot, particularly after rain when all the little cascades come to life.
On leaving the Cascades you then take the Frenchs Creek trail, which we love (it’s detailed above). At the very end you do have to walk predominantly uphill on residential streets, but it’s not too steep and still has lots of nice gum trees to keep the bush vibes going.
You can read our full trail guide here.
8. The Magazine Track
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6.8km
Elevation: 224m
Time recommended: 2 hours
Starting Point: Cook Street in Roseville
Type of Trail: Return
Accessible by public transport: Yes
If solitude is your thing then you should definitely head to the Magazine Track. We didn’t see another soul on the track despite hiking in the middle of the day, and that’s definitely not because it’s a bad walk.
It actually leads to one of our favourite spots in the whole park - Garigal’s own Robinson Crusoe beach! Flat Rock Beach is a real hidden gem and has that wild and deserted feeling.
It’s also a good spot to take a dip if you’re walking on a warm day.
The track to there is also really pretty, first through the fairly dense bushland before it opens out and you get some fab views of Bantry Bay.
It’s not a difficult track but it can be rough in places and does undulate for much of the way.
We have all the details in this post.
9. Bluff Lookout and Natural Bridge Track
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Distance: 3.8km
Elevation: 110m
Time recommended: 1 -1.5hrs
Starting Point: Grattan Crescent, Frenchs Forest
Type of Trail: Return
Accessible by public transport: Yes
This short circuit track takes you to two of Garigal National Park’s best features: Bluff Lookout and the Natural Bridge.
Starting at Grattan Crescent head first to Bluff Lookout which offers a fantastic view over Bantry Bay before continuing onto the Natural Bridge Track.
The somewhat rough and rocky track heads downhill for 800m before you reach the Natural Bridge. We visited on a really wet day and the cascades had really come to live.
In fact, this whole area felt more alive after rain and there were lots of new little waterfalls which were a constant relaxing sound in the background.
There’s one hill to climb on this trail which takes you through the bush and up to a tree lined fire trail. You’ll then have a very brief period of road walking, followed by a rugby pitch before you cut back into the bush.
It’s a lovely shady section with dense vegetation and you’ll soon come out to a rocky outcrop where there is a reasonably well preserved kangaroo engraving.
All in all it’s a lovely little bush walk which can be completed in just an hour.
Packing suggestions for Garigal National Park
Having the right gear can make a huge difference. Here’s what we pack and have relied upon for years:
Sunscreen: Cancer Council Active. With a high SPF, but not the greasy feel of other sunscreens. Makes a big difference when you’re working up a sweat on a sunny day! Check it out on Amazon
Good Rain Jacket: North Face This is an essential item we always pack in our bag! This jacket from North Face is designed to keep you dry but also comfortably warm (many rain jackets will make you feel like you’re in a sauna). Check it out on Amazon
Bushman Spray: Good for keeping off the mozzies and any other bugs. Check it out on Amazon.
Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). Check on Amazon or direct with Osprey
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab (for men and women). We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going. Check them out on Amazon
Trekking poles: We’ve used Black Diamond for years as they are light, solid and durable. Check them out on Amazon.
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check them out on Amazon
Essential information about Garigal National Park walks
Garigal National Park entry fee
You only need to pay the $8 parking fee if you start any of the trails from Davidson Park. None of the trails we mention above start at Davidson Park so you don’t need to pay any fees.
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Have you done much hiking in Garigal National Park? What’s your favourite track? Let us know in the comments below!
