Discover these scenic walking trails

Lake Macquarie’s walking trails are nothing short of amazing. From our tranquil wetlands to the beauty of our local beaches, there is so much see and do and there is no better way to experience it all than on foot.

Warners Bay Foreshore

The Warners Bay Foreshore trail has it all! This 8.9 kilometre walk hugs the lake foreshore for its entirety, providing walkers with spectacular views, plenty of rest areas and of course, the chance to stop at one of the many cafés for those looking to enjoy a coffee along the way. Starting at the Lions Park car park at Eleebana and finishing at the Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery at Booragul, the Warners Bay Foreshore trail includes a 380 metre-long elevated boardwalk and is great for walkers of all abilities.

Mount Sugarloaf

Boasting stunning views of Lake Macquarie and the surrounding Hunter region, Mount Sugarloaf has several trails leading from the car parks to the picnic areas, lookouts and the summit. The beauty of the Mount Sugarloaf track is that walkers have the ability to choose the difficulty and length of their journey, with trails from 275 metres up to two kilometres. Pets are prohibited on for this trail.

Yuelarbah Track

Starting at Teralba, the Yuelarbah Track leads you to the shores of Lake Macquarie, through Speers Point and continues past Warners Bay. The trail finishes at the Glenrock State Conservation Area, where you can enjoy views of the lagoon and beautiful bushland. The walk in entirety is 25 kilometres, however for walkers who are looking for something a little less time-consuming there are other varied finishing points.

Glenrock Lagoon

The Glenrock Lagoon walking track provides the perfect opportunity to step away from the chaos of everyday life and explore the tranquil Glenrock State Conservation Area. With protected Aboriginal sites and wildlife including bats, bandicoots and gliders, there is plenty to see along the way. This trail also boasts stunning views from Leichardt lookout, Burwood Beach and of course, Glenrock Lagoon. Pets and smoking are prohibited.

Fernleigh Track

The Fernleigh Track is one of the region’s most popular shared pathways and follows a disused rail line between Adamstown and Belmont. The trail provides walkers and cyclists with a peaceful and scenic route as it stretches through beautiful bushland and wetland areas. The Fernleigh Track is accessible from Adamstown Station, Park Avenue; Burwood Road, Kahibah; Station Street/Hudson Street, Whitebridge; Cowlishaw Street, Redhead; Railway Crescent, Jewells; and Railway Parade, Belmont.

Awabakal Nature Reserve

For walkers looking for a more adventurous and challenging track, Awabakal Nature Reserve trail is the perfect fit! With up to five kilometres of routes, the track has many coastal viewpoints and offers great spots to stop and appreciate your surroundings. The track is also passes many popular whale watching spots. The Awabakal Nature Reserve’s starting point is accessible from Collier Street, Redhead and takes around one hour to complete.

Green Point Foreshore

Green Point Foreshore Reserve is one of Lake Macquarie’s most scenic natural attractions. The walking track allows you to enjoy the Lake as well as rainforest views and is accessible from the car park at the Shores Way, Belmont. For the most part, the track is flat however, there are some steep sections as you follow the path. There is also signage along the way that tells the history of the site.

Caves Beach Walk

Caves Beach is a well-known and popular spot for swimmers, so it is no surprise that the Caves Beach walk is also a great local attraction. From the starting point at Caves Beach car park, walkers can enjoy a beautiful ocean outlook. The track continues along the cliff line, leading to Spoon Rocks, which features the remains of a break wall constructed to load coal into waiting ships. The trail is around five to six kilometres.

Belmont Lagoon

According to an Aboriginal legend, the Belmont Lagoon is the Teardrop of the Moon and formed the night the moon cried. Situated between the ocean and the Lake, the Belmont Lagoon Walk attracts a large variety of birds and marine life, which also adds interest to the trail. It is an easy grade walk, being relatively flat and under five kilometres in length. The track is great for families looking to spend the day in the great outdoors as well as leisurely walkers interested in the many qualities the Belmont lagoon has to offer.

Watagan Trail

Last but certainly not least is the Watagan Trail! This challenging walk leads from Heaton Lookout to McLeans Lookout taking in some of the best forest scenery and vantage points in the Watagans. The trail is eight kilometres each way and passes through Wallis Creek Canyon, revealing beautiful moss-covered overhangs and rainforest plants. If you are a lover of all things nature than this is must-do this summer.

The Ken and Audrey Owens

The Ken and Audrey Owens walkway consists of a mixture of timber and concrete footpaths making this walking trail wheelchair and pram accessible. This walk offers pathways, boardwalks, rest stops, wetland bridges and whale/surf observation platforms. Whether it be the short route or the longer route of 4km this walking trail is ideal for everyone in the family.

Galgabba Point Walk

This easy 1 hour loop flat walk along a bush track offers scenic views of beautiful threatened plant species, an array of local fauna including the Regent Honey eater, Swift Parrot and Squirrel Glider just to name a few. Be sure to check this one out.

Wangi Wangi Point

Take a relaxing bushwalk behind our Wangi Point Holiday Park Holiday Park through the towering eucalyptus trees whilst admiring the scenic views of Pulbah Island. This 1.8km loop track is the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle and take in the beauty of nature.

Kilaben Bay Nature Walk

This walk starts from Toronto Fire Station leading down a fire trail and links to the elevated Boardwalks through to Kilaben Bay. The walk features five separate vegetation communities and over 100 different bird species.