Parramatta Lake Trail
Who knew there was such beauty and tranquility so close to the roaring traffic of James Ruse Drive in the sprawling city of Parramatta? Well a lot of locals probably, but it was a pleasant surprise to me.
The Reserve is open all year round from 6:30am - 5:30pm (7:30pm in the summer). The walk is a fairly easy one for most, but for young children there are the shorter She-Oak and Banksia Tracks. If you have the time, pack a picnic and make a day of it. There are BBQ facilities, a dedicated swimming area, playgrounds and free parking.
The Parramatta Lake Trail is a loop track, or a few tracks really though the longer yellow track is the one outlined here. Look out for the signs pointing to the Lake Trail as this is the one you’ll follow for most of the way. At times the path will take you on the green or red track, but as long as you keep the lake on the left you’re heading in the right direction. (See map below for track details.)
The trail
The trail begins east of the carpark with a small bush food and medicine garden displaying plants used by the Burramattagal clan who lived in the area prior to white settlement. Evidence of their occupation remains today in the form of remnant shelters and hand stencils though these are not signposted.
From here you basically follow the lake around in an anti-clockwise direction. For the most part, it’s pretty easy going though there are a few rockier, hilly sections toward the end.
Some paths are level and clearly marked out but be prepared for a few steps and bit of rock climbing in parts. The trail can get pretty muddy in the wet and is pretty much impassable after heavy rain.
Along the trail
Apart from the beautiful bushscape and the sparking waters, there is much to enjoy a long the trail. The tall trees along the track offer plenty of shade. Among the many native species are grey gums, blackbutts and banksia trees and weeping casuarinas skirt around the fringes of the lake.
There is plenty of wildlife here too and once you tune out to traffic noise you’ll hear the competing cries and croaks of the many bird and frog species that call this area home. Wildflowers in the springtime attract birds, butterflies and lizards, and in the summertime, you might catch sight of some of the local snakes. (Watch your step around the creek crossing which is home to some of the more venomous ones.) Water dragons aplenty soak up the sun on rocks beside the river while echidnas and sugar gliders mostly hide from view in the surrounding bushland.
Towards the end of the trail you’ll come to Hunts Creek and a dam, the first built in Australia.
Lake Parramatta is actually a man-made reservoir, created with the construction of this dam here in 1856. Until 1909 the lake supplied water to homes in the area. In 1909 the dam was decommissioned and the area was dedicated as public recreational land and in 2012 it was proclaimed as a Wildlife Refuge in recognition of the diversity of wildlife and threatened species in the reserve.
To finish
Beyond the dam, a paved path will take you back to where you began. There is a small cafe here, a toilet block and plenty of picnic spots, seating and BBQ facilities. There is also a designated swimming area, marked out by buoys. Patrolled from late October to the end of March, it can get very busy in the summer time. You can hire watercraft nearby including kayaks, peddle boats and stand up paddle boards
While you’re in the area
Parramatta Park is a just short drive away and worth a visit if you have the time. Within the grounds of this large park are many attractions, most notably Old Government House, the oldest remaining public building in Australia, and a huge bat colony on the banks of the river at the eastern side of the park.
We only had a little time to spend here but stay tuned, I’ll be heading back soon!
