Need a place to head out hiking or go mountain biking? Cawleys Road trail starts just off the old highway near Helensburgh and heads through low, open forest filled with scribbly gums, banksias and waratahs. It's a wide track, surfaced with bitumen and gravel, generally flat, and suitable for all walking, mountain biking, cycling or horse riding levels.
Stop for a breather and lunch at Kellys Falls picnic area. A beautiful series of waterfalls cascading into a rainforest gully are a great accompaniment to your break. Those who are mountain biking can also explore some of the other trails connecting to Cawleys Road trail.
Among the scribbly gums and waratahs, you're likely to see swamp wallabies or echidnas. Honeyeaters and wattlebirds are also attracted by many of the wildflowers, including Gymea lilies, grevilleas and banksias.
Grade 5 (Difficult) - Walks for the Most Experienced: Grade 5 represents the most challenging walking tracks on the
AWTGS. These are only recommended for very experienced and fit walkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep, and unmarked. Walks may be more than 20 kilometers. These challenging walks demand a high level of fitness and experience to navigate difficult terrain, significant elevation changes, and potentially unformed paths.
Mountain bikers and horse riders share this path with bushwalkers. Please be considerate to other trail users.
Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go birdwatching
Visit NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for more information on this trail.
The longitude and latitude of the start and end points are approximately only and should not be used for navigation purposes. Please contact me if you know the correct coordinates.
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Leave a trip plan
Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.
Getting there
Getting to the trailhead: Garawarra State Conservation Area.
To Wilsons Creek Road. Cawleys Road trail is in the western precinct of Garawarra State Conservation Area. To get there:From the F6, take the Helensburgh exit and continue along Parkes Street until you reach the roundabout in the middle of the shopping centre. Continue east along Parkes Street down to Helensburgh Station.Drive past the station and to the end of Wilson’s Creek Road to a bridge over the railway linePark your car on the roadside, then walk over the bridge into the reserve and the trail on the western side of this bridge is Cawleys Road. Park entry points Wilsons Creek Road See on map Parking Parking is available on Wilsons Creek Road or along the Old Princes Highway between Waterfall and Garawarra Hospital.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
About the region
Garawarra State Conservation Area in the Sydney and surrounds and South Coast regions
Garawarra is open sunrise to sunset but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Similar walks nearby
Looking for more walks in or near Garawarra State Conservation Area? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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