The Piles Creek Loop is a must do walk on the Central Coast. For such a short walk, it really makes an impact with several gorgeous waterfalls, caves, a fab swing bridge and overall great jungle vibes. We originally came to check out Girrakool Falls, which is a real beauty, but we left raving about this fantastic trail.
If you’re planning a visit to nearby Somersby Falls, we highly recommend you combine with the Piles Creek Loop for an all day adventure.
Here’s what to expect on the trail.
The Piles Creek Loop Track
The stats
Distance: 5.75km
Elevation: 270m
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of trail: Circuit
This trail is made up of two sections: the Girrakool Loop and the Piles Creek Loop. You can only access the Piles Creek Loop from either the Girrakool Loop, the Hawkesbury Track or the Kariong Scout Trail.
The Girrakool Loop is a pretty easy and short trail, but the Piles Creek Loop is a moderate walk which undulates much of the way and is rough in sections. There are quite a lot of stops including viewpoints, waterfalls and a suspension bridge so you’ll find yourself taking longer than you might think for the distance.
We recommend allowing 2-3 hours to take it all in without having to rush.
Starting the trail
The trail begins at the far side of the car park and the track leads into the bush.
After 150m walking through the forest, you will come out at a rocky platform where you will find some Aboriginal engravings.
Some of them were not very clear, but the outline of the person was particularly well preserved.
The rocky platform with engravings
Aboriginal engraving
Continuing on from the engraving, site you’ll walk on a sandy bush track until you reach the Broula Lookout 450m later.
We were walking this track after quite heavy rain, and even though you couldn’t see any cascades on the first part of the trail, you could always hear the running water, which was really peaceful.
From Broula Lookout you can hear a waterfall but you can’t see it as the foliage is quite dense.
After another 150m you’ll reach the Illoura Lookout and the offical start of the Piles Creek Loop. From the Illoura Lookout you can hear two substantial waterfalls, but again you can’t really see them, but you will be able to further along the trail!
The view from the Illoura Lookout
Onto the Piles Creek Loop
From the Illoura Lookout you turn left onto the Piles Creek Loop and immediately head over the creek on some cute stepping stones.
You’ll notice a marked difference in the terrain from the beginning of the trail when you’re on the Girrakool Loop, to when you are on the Piles Creek Loop which is much rougher.
After just a few hundred metres you’ll reach a series of overhangs which were dripping wet on our visit and it really brought all the greenery to life.
The overhangs are covered in ferns and it makes for a really atmospheric stretch of track.
Through the jungle
The path continues through the bush and is fairly rocky, but nothing too difficult. If it weren’t for periodically climbing over rocks, this section would actually be quite flat, but the terrain makes it feel like you are doing a little bit of climbing.
After 800m you’ll reach another lookout, this one has great bush views, and again you can hear a waterfall but you can’t yet see it. There’s a running theme here…..
After a couple of hundred metres you’ll begin to descend through the forest. If you’re visiting after some decent rain they will be a pretty waterfall on the left handside.
There is a lookout part way down the hill but the view is really obscured. To get a clear view of the falls you’ll want to scramble down the side trail beside the lookout.
It’s pretty slippery with no firm footing and then you have to scramble over a few rocks. It’s not the nicest of descents, but doable to get a good view if the waterfall has good flow.
You’ll then continue a little further down the trail where it becomes really jungly. There are huge mossy boulders and lots of hanging vines. You’ll pass over a small wooden bridge before you begin climbing uphill and the rainforest vibes continue, with lots of gorgeous Cabbage tree palms.
This was one of my favourite parts of the whole trail. We never saw another person on this walk, and this bit in particular felt like you were properly out in the wilds.
The climb
After you’ve been walking for 3km on undulating trail, you’ll reach a really fun part of the walk - a huge swing bridge.
I still enjoy things like this as much as when I was a kid, and the views of the creek and surrounding forest are great. It would be even more picturesque if the water was a slightly more inviting colour, but we’re not complaining, it was still gorgeous!
After the bridge you’ll turn right to keep on the Piles Creek Loop and then you have a fairly steep climb ahead. It’s on a mixture of dirt track and staircases and it can be quite rocky in places.
It’s not difficult as such, but it does mean it’s a bit slower than you might expect.
You’ll continue to have lots of overhangs on your left and some lovely bush views to your right. After a while it’s not continuously uphill anymore but it does undulate frequently.
It was fine going up but I wouldn’t really recommend walking this track in the other direction, as I wouldn’t want to come down this part of the trail.
Maybe it was because there had been so much rain but going down would definitely have been slippery, especially as some of the mud was quite slick.
Onto the falls
After 1.75km on leaving the bridge, you’ll reach the Bundilla Lookout. From here you can finally get a clear view of a waterfall, this one is the Piles Creek Falls.
It’s a lovely view, but we have another spot just off the trail that we prefer which you’ll come to next.
Continuing on from the lookout you’ll head downhill for a few minutes before you come to a junction. You can either continue straight on, to do the other side of the Girrakool Loop, or head right to reach the Illoura Lookout again and go back on the same trail you came in on.
We’d recommend taking the Girrakool Loop. It’s almost exactly the same distance, and you get to see different scenery. It has a few more stairs than the other route but barely any really, it’s predominantly flat.
Before you go though, head to the right towards Illoura Lookout and take the unmarked side trail by the thin wire fence. It’s less than a minute from the turnoff.
You’ll head downhill for roughly a minute before you’ll come to the spectacular Girrakool Falls on your right.
It’s well worth the tiny detour and is by far our favourite falls on the track as well as one of the prettiest falls close to Sydney.
It’s a lovely place to sit and relax - just watch out for the slippery rocks.
Once you’ve enjoyed this beautiful spot you can head back through the bush, on the well formed Girrakool Loop Track.
After a 500m gentle walk through the forest you’ll see the Andamira Lookout. This is a much smaller falls, and I imagine just a trickle unless there has been recent heavy rain, but it’s worth a look before you reach the picnic area again 300m later.
Packing suggestions for the Piles Creek Loop
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 the Piles Creek Loop
Getting to the Piles Creek Loop
The Piles Creek Loop is reached via the Girrakool Loop track from the Girrakool Picnic Area. It’s 74km and roughly a one hour drive from Sydney. There are no suitable public transport options.
Gate opening times
The area is open from 7am to 8pm during daylight savings and 7am to 6pm at other times. Please check the sign on the way in to make sure this remains the same.
Parking fee
To park at the picnic area costs $8 per day unless you have an NSW parks pass ($65 a year for all parks except Kosciuszko). If you don’t want to pay the fee you can park outside the gates 600m down the road which is free with no time limit.
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