Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Garie Beach to Garawarra to Burning Palms Circuit hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Garie Beach to Garawarra to Burning Palms Circuit
Time
Distance
Climb
Style
7 Hrs
13.5 km
754 m
Circuit
10.7 km SSE of Heathcote
Royal National Park
Track: Hard
Using a variety of tracks this trail follows the coast as well as going inland to Garrawarra Farm. With great coastal views and a magnificent palm jungle this track demonstrates perfectly the diversity of the Royal National Park. Of historical significance are the houses scattered along the coast that were built in the depression. Spare time along the way to have a swim at one of the many fantastic beaches.
Bushwalking can be fun and interesting when you are well prepared. Please ensure you and your group are well prepared and equipped for all possible dangers. The authors, staff and owners of wildwalks take care in preparing these notes but do not accept responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained when using these notes. Please take care and feel free to provide feedback through our website. Please note that side trips and alternate routes mentioned in these notes are not included in the tracks overall rating, distance or time estimate. The notes also only describe the side trip and alternate routes in one direction.
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Garie Beach, Royal National Park, is large south east facing beach. The beach is backed by steep headlands and gullys, which allow access by road and to the numerous cabins on the hillsides. Garie Beach is a popular with surfing beach. The beach is patrolled 9:00-5:00 everyday from late Dec to late Jan. For the remainder of Summer, it is patrolled on the Weekends only.
(0 km) Garie Beach Carpark to Little Garie Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.8 km
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 59 m
Descent = -47 m
From the Garie Beach Carpark the track heads south following the directional signposts to North Era. This track goes along under the eave of the hill up to the north and between the water. This is achieved along a narrow trail that is protected from the water by large boulders and rockshelf. this section of the track is quite pleasant as the trail is very flat allowing time to check out the surrounding cliffs from the waterlevel. Once arriving at North-Era there is a sign stating that the track does not continue around the waterlevel due cliff erosion issues. As such, the track climbs the small hill and goes past the buildings. Just past the Little Garie Community Hall, the track comes to an intersection. Just north-west of this is a small campsite with fireplaces.
(0.75 km) Little Garie to North Era Bush Campground Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.9 km
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 62 m
Descent = -74 m
From the community hall in Little Garie the track heads steeply up the hill to the south-west following the bushtrack. To prevent erosion of the hill wooden steps have been installed. Once at the top there is a seat and this perfectly compliments the great views over the Pacific Ocean and the region. Once on the top of the ridge the track descends steeply to North Era Beach. Once on the beach the trail continues south-west until arriving at the North-Era Bush Campground sign.
(1.62 km) North Era Bush Campground to Burgh Ridge Track (nth) Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.9 km
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 57 m
Descent = -20 m
From the North Era Bush Campground the track heads up the faint track to the south-west. Once reaching the ridge the track comes to an intersection with a very faint bushtrack going off to the north along the spur towards the treeline. Once from the top of the spur the track descends to the south-west and shortly after comes to South Era Beach. The track crosses behind this and climbs the slight hill to the south. Across the clearing at the top of this hill the track comes to an intersection with two rough bushtracks on the top of the hill.
(2.52 km) Int of Era and Coast Tracks to Int of Garawarra Management Trail and Era Bushtrack Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1.3 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 182 m
Descent = -12 m
From the intersection the track heads up the bushtrack to the north-west. This has some good views over the gully to the north-east and the small group of houses. The track goes uphill until coming to an unmarked intersection at the top of the hill. This has great views down and along the coast. From the intersection the track heads north-west along the bushtrack. The track in this section gradually becomes steeper and steeper going further from the cliffs. It also becomes quite rough. Once reaching the ridgeline the track becomes better managed and flattens out considerably. At this point the track turns gradually to the west for a short period before coming to an intersection marked with a large boom gate and signpost saying Coast Track.
(3.8 km) Int of Garawarra Management Trail and Era Bushtrack (Garrawarra Farm) to int of Cliff and Burning Palms Tracks Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 3 km
Time = 55 mins
Climb = 90 m
Descent = -71 m
From the intersection marked with the sign saying Coast Track/ North Era the track heads south-west along the servicetrail. Approximately 50m along this the track passes a small sign saying 'Cliff Track/Burgh Track'. The servicetrail continues south-west with several small ups and downs until coming to an intersection with a bushtrack heading off to the left approximately halfway. This is a small sidetrip which has fantastic views of the ocean and the cliffs. Back on the main servicetrail the track continues along the flat until coming to an intersection with a track signposted as the Lilyvale Track. From the intersection the trail heads south-west along the servicetrail. This goes through a beatiful rainforesty type environment along a consistently flat and well managed servicetrail. At the end of this section the track comes to an intersection with a bushtrack marked with sign saying North Era 6.5km.
(6.83 km) Int of Cliff and Burning Palms Tracks to Int. Fig 8 Pool Trk and Coastal Trk Track: Hard - Bush Track
Distance = 2.1 km
Time = 1 Hrs
Climb = 66 m
Descent = -252 m
From the intersection the track heads south-east along the bushrack towards the water. This begins by gradually going down for several hundred metres however as the track nears the water it suddenly becomes much steeper and sharply turns to the north-east. After the change in direction the track heads through the 'Palm Jungle' along the narrow bushtrack. At this point the track is largely clear but in some places there are obstacles. these include fallen trees and branches. The track continues in this manner for some time before the track emerges into grasslands and following what is almost a trench. Interestingly in the grasslands before entering the Palm Jungle there are frequently wild venison around which are remnants of when the area was farmed with them. This continues with the track rising slightly before going down again to the end of Burning Palms Beach, which is marked with several signposts pointing to Otford.
(8.95 km) Int. Fig 8 Pool Trk and Coastal Trk to Burning Palms Beach (southern end) Track: Hard - Bush Track
Distance = 0.9 km
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 17 m
Descent = -55 m
From the end of the palm jungle and the start of the grasslands the track heads north-east through the grasslands through what is almost a trench. Interestingly in the grasslands before entering the Palm Jungle there are frequently wild venison around which are remnants of when the area was farmed with them. This continues with the track rising slightly before going down again to the end of Burning Palms Beach, which is marked with several signposts pointing to Otford.
(9.83 km) Burning Palms Beach (southern end) to Burgh Ridge Track (sth) Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.9 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 80 m
Descent = -6 m
From the south-western end of Burning Palms Beach this track heads north-east behind Burning Palms Beach along the narrow footbridge. Towards the end of the beach the track changes to being a metal footbridge. This continues until the trail passes several small Depression Houses. From here the track begins to head steeply up the hill. This continues until the track reaches an intersection on the top of the hill at a small sign saying 'Coast Track'.
(10.77 km) Burgh Ridge Track (sth) to North Era Bush Campground Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1.1 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 20 m
Descent = -93 m
From the intersection the track heads south-east through the ferns in what is almost a trench. During this section the track goes through dense ferns and there are many rabbit tracks going down the hill. As such these form a slight network that is the maintrail however this trail is no more defined than the other trcaks. This goes quite steeply down until reahing a cleared section of the hill. Off to the north-west there is another track that goes back up the hill. Also to the morth are a lage group of depression houses. From the intersection the track heads down the hill along the faint track. This hill is cleared of vegetation and so offers good views of the Ocean. Accompanying this it is also get a good view of the Depression Houses in the area from above. Once reaching South Era Beach the track goes behind the beach and joins up with the bushtrack on the other northern end. This goes up to the top of the spur, where it comes to an intersection with a faint bushtrack going off to the north along the spur towards the treeline. From the top of the spur the track descends the hill to the east towards the buildings. At the bottom of the hill the track comes to a sign saying North Era Bush Campground.
(11.88 km) North Era Bush Campground to Garie Beach Carpark Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1.6 km
Time = 40 mins
Climb = 121 m
Descent = -121 m
From North-Era Bush Campground the track heads north-east along North Era Beach until the end where it steeply goes up the hill until the to. he hill wooden steps have been installed. Once at the top there is a seat and this perfectly compliments the great views over the Pacific Ocean and the region. From here the track immediately heads steeply down the other side of the hill following the bushtrack. To prevent erosion of the hill wooden steps have been installed. This continues until reaching the intersection with the bushtrack, just beyond the Little Garie Community Hall. From the intersection, just to the north-west of the Little Garie Community Hall, the track heads down the hill to the north, going towards the water. This passes several old Depression Houses until at the bottom the track passes a Coast Walk sign, providing information on the cliff erosion issues in the area. From here the track heads to the north-east between the water and the hill along a very narrow trail. his section of the track is quite pleasant as the trail is very flat allowing time to check out the surrounding cliffs from the waterlevel. This continues until the track arrives in the Garie Bech Carpark.
Hiking near Sydney 
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