Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Loftus to Winifred Falls hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Loftus to Winifred Falls
Time
Distance
Climb
Style
4 Hrs
11.1 km
406 m
One way
0.5 km NNE of Loftus
Royal National Park
Track: Hard
Following well-maintained bushtracks and servicetrails this track descends into the Royal National Park before going to a spectacular set of pools and cascading falls on South Western Creek. The Royal National Park Information Centre on Sir Betram Stevens Drive is approximately in the middle of this walk and is a great spot to grab a bite to eat before continuing to the falls. Unfortunately, its necessary to have a car to get from Winifred Falls out of the park.
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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(0 km) Loftus Station to Int of Princes Hwy and Royal National Park Servicetrail Track: Moderate - road
Distance = 0.7 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 15 m
Descent = -10 m
From Loftus Station this track exits the station on the east side, and joins onto the Princes Hwy. Once on the road the track passes the old Royal National Park Tramway and crosses to the east side of the hwy at the traffic lights and goes south along the road for approximately 450m before coming to a fenced in servicetrail off to the left
(0.68 km) Int of Princes Hwy and Royal National Park Servicetrail to Royal National Park Discovery Centre Track: Moderate - servicetrail, footpath
Distance = 2 km
Time = 30 mins
Climb = 19 m
Descent = -19 m
From the intersection of the servicetrail and the Princes Hwy, the track proceeds around the wire fencing (around by the brown cottage is the easiest). On the other side of the cottage the track joins up with the servicetrail and proceeds south-east. Approximately 50m along this section the track passes another servicetrail going off to the east. Continuing past this the track joins up with the old Royal National Park Tramway lines and heads south along the servicetrail next to them. 50m before coming to the National Park Education Centre Carpark the track passes the Tramway Station, which is quite interesting historically. As mentioned before 50m beyond this the track comes to the carpark of the visitor centre. From the entry into the carpark the track heads south across the carpark going towards the large group of buildings. This is the Royal National Park Discovery Centre. Around the southern side of these at the end of the grass clearing the trail comes to the start of a bushtrail. This is marked with large signposts saying Honeymoon Trail.
(2.67 km) Royal National Park Discovery Centre to Int of Honeymoon Track and Reid Park Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1 km
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 16 m
Descent = -130 m
From the southern side of the National Park Education centre at the large signs saying Honeymoon Trail the track goes steeply down the stairs to the south. The track continues in this manner until just before the end where it slightly flattens out before coming to the Parklands at Audrey. During the Honeymoon Track the trail become quite steep in places but log-stairs have been installed all the way down to assist the descent. Also during the track it is possible to get some good views of the Hacking River however these are scattered at best.
(3.71 km) Int of Honeymoon Track and Reid Park to Royal National Park Information Centre Track: Moderate - road
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 17 m
Descent = -9 m
From the intersection the track heads south-east through the park until reaching Audley Rd. At this point the track turns left and crosses the concrete bridge over the Hacking River. After crossing the river the track turns right and heads south up Sir Bertram Stevens Drive for approximately 200m until coming to the Royal National Park Discovery Centre
(4.05 km) Int. Winifred Falls Trk and Sir Bertram Stevens Dr to Sir Bertram Stevens Drive Access Int. Track: Hard - Bush Track
Distance = 1 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 120 m
Descent = -6 m
From the Visitor Centre the track crosses Sir Bertram Stevens Drive to the sign marked 'Winifred Falls Track'. The track heads up the stairs to a flat area above the road. The track then continues past a pipeline valve to head north east up a sandstone block formed track. The track continues north east swinging right, up the hillside to a rocky outcrop. The track continues to wind in a south westerly direction up the hill for some time. The track then turns left near the top to continue for some time to the intersection.
(5.06 km) Sir Bertram Stevens Drive Access Int. to Warumbul Rd Int. Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 1.2 km
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 29 m
Descent = -29 m
From the intersection the track heads north east for approximately 100m. The track then swings right for approximately 500m down to a creek bed. The track then rises approximately 500m from the creek bed to the intersection after the gate.
(6.25 km) Warumbul Rd to South West Arm Pools Trk Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 1.4 km
Time = 30 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -117 m
From the intersection at the gate the track heads south down the hill for approximately 200m. The track then steeply descends as the vegetation changes to more trees. The track continues to wind down the hill for some time steeply down in some areas. The track then descends right to contour for some time before the track turns left. The track continues down the hill to the flat clearing of the intersection.
(7.69 km) South West Arm Pools Trk to South West Arm Pools Optional Side Trip: Track: Hard - Bush Track
Distance = 0.4 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = -10 m
From the intersection the track heads north, down stream, leaving the clearing of the intersection down a steep rocky section of track. The track reaches the pool below Winifred Falls within 15m. The track then leads from the pool along the creek line or above the creek line for approximately 300m down stream to a large pool with three large boulders on the left.
(7.69 km) South West Arm Pools Trk to Int. Mt Bass Trail and Anice and Winifred Falls Trks Track: Hard - Bush Track
Distance = 0.7 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 82 m
Descent = -25 m
From the intersection the track heads south east for approximately 10m to a grass plant. From the grass plant the track continues for approximately 10m up stream to cross the river above the small waterfalls. From the creek and waterfall the track heads south onto a rockshelf where the track turns right, heading steeply up a hill. The track continues up the hill continue for approximately 50m to a creek. The track then traverses a spur to a second creek. The track leads north east for approximately 100m to the sign marked intersection.
(8.41 km) Int. Mt Bass Trail and Anice and Winifred Falls Trks to Caldasac Mount Bass Trail Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 26 m
Descent = 0 m
From the intersection the track heads up the hill keeping relatively straight as it climbs gently for approximately 100m to the caldasac of the service trail.
(8.76 km) Caldasac Mount Bass Trail to Int. Bundeena Drive and Mt Bass Trail Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 2.3 km
Time = 35 mins
Climb = 78 m
Descent = -2 m
From the caldasac the track heads up through an area of tall trees which leads south east. The track leads left as it comes to the ridgeline. Approximately 40m of flat is passed by the track to an area with views of Sydney CBD on the left. The track then continues along the flat of the ridge turning left twice as it continues for a little while to the intersection.
Hiking near Sydney 
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