Narrabeen Lagoon
This is one of my favourite local walks, especially early in the morning. The trail takes you through beautiful bushland, mangroves and parklands, all the while winding around Narrabeen Lagoon, home to nearly 200 species of birds.
In Summary
There are many ways to attack this 8.4k track. You can do it in one go as outlined here, or in sections with parking and rest stops at regular intervals. As it is a loop track you can start at any point and travel in either direction. To walk the track you’ll need about two hours or you could make a day of it, stopping to eat, play, paddle or swim at various spots along the way.
The walk is, for the most part, very well sign-posted. Much of the path is suitable for wheelchairs and prams, though there may be a bit of four-wheel driving required, especially after rain. Sunscreen is always a good idea, and you might also want to pack the Aerogard as sections are a little swampy.
Avoid peak times if you can as it can get pretty crowded. The track is a shared path for walkers, runners and cyclists so be sure to keep to your left to avoid collisions. If you do take your dog, be aware that it must be kept on a leash at all times.
Berry Reserve to Jamieson Park
I started my walk in Berry Reserve, parking in the carpark beside the Tramshed cafe and playground.
Markets are held here on the third Sunday of the month and though the carpark fills quickly on most weekends, you can usually find street parking nearby.
Berry Reserve is the first of a few reserves on the walk where you’ll find picnic areas, barbecues and toilets. And plenty of ducks. In this reserve especially they are big, in size and number, and if they think you’ve got food, they’ll shadow you for a crumb..
Leaving the carpark, take the path to your left to begin the walk, following the signs towards Jamieson Park. Along the way you’ll pass the Boatshed Cafe and Pro Kayaks , a popular spot to hire kayaks, stand up paddle boards and pedal boats. Continue on through Wheeler Park and beyond where the path juts out onto a roadside footpath for a few hundred metres, before meeting Jamieson Park.
Here are some lovely shady areas, fishing spots, picnic tables and barbecues as well as a large grassed area perfect for ball games. Jamieson Park Paddle offers hire equipment here.
Jamieson Park to South Creek
Leaving Jamieson Park, follow the signs along a dirt track which extends for about two kilometres. The path here is shady and very pretty especially where it curves along close to the lagoon.
About half way along this 2k stretch you’ll start to see signs commemorating Australia’s military past. The signs are an informative diversion into Australian history, each offering a short synopsis of Australia’s military involvement from colonial times to today. I was here on April 24 and local public school students had hung croched poppies along the trail in preparation for ANZAC Day. RSL Lifecare’s ANZAC village is located just off this section of the trail and their cafe is open to the public.
Keep following the trail until you get to South Creek Reserve where the path winds off to the right over a small blue bridge.
By now you’ll have no doubt encountered some of the beautiful birdlife that inhabits the lagoon. According to local wildlife officers, one third of all of bird species in Sydney reside here alongside native possums, echidnas and numerous lizards. I’m sure there are also snakes and other crawly things around too but don’t worry, the regular traffic on the path generally keeps them hidden in the undergrowth.
To Middle Creek Reserve
The path changes as you cross a couple of blue metal bridges on the way to Middle Creek Reserve. Just beyond South Creek as you pass Cromer Golf Club on your left, look out on your right for a large colony of quite vocal black swans, that congregate in the area.
A little further along you will pass the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation before crossing a big blue bridge over Middle Creek where you’ll begin to hear the hum of traffic as the path winds toward the Wakehurst Parkway.
Middle Creek Reserve has been recently upgraded as evidenced by the great facilities here which include toilets, barbecues, large shaded seating areas and even a bike repair station. A large grassy area beside a sandy beach make it an ideal spot to stop for a rest, a picnic or even a spot of fishing.
To Bilarong Reserve
Beyond Middle Creek Reserve you enter the Graham Jones track, a sturdy mostly metal walkway, ideal for wheel chairs and prams. Much of this path hugs the lagoon and it is pretty and peaceful if you can ignore the near constant traffic flying by at 80ks per hour on the Wakehurst Parkway.
The metal walkway gives way to a dirt track as you cross the bridge at Deep Creek.
Continue through Deep Creek Reserve and onto Bilarong Reserve where there are more picnic and toilet facilities as well as a great children’s playground with a large sandpit populated by sculptured stone creatures. There is climbing equipment for the big kids and and an enclosed area for littlies. And for adults who still have the energy, a little further along there an exercise area with bars and hydraulic strength training equipment.
The final stretch
Leaving Bilarong reserve the path meets the Wakehurst Parkway and things get noisy, but only for a bit. Walk up to the Pittwater Rd intersection and turn right to cross the bridge keeping an eye out for the pelicans who often nap on the the overhead lampposts.
After crossing the bridge, the path continues alongside the lake, past the laidback and friendly H2O Cafe and round the bend back to Berry Reserve for rest and refreshment.
