Otford to Helensburgh

Download & Print Map and Notes

5 hrs 15 mins

12.9 km One way

589 m

Hard track
Largely along service trails and well managed bush tracks, this walk goes from train station to train station through parts of southern Royal National Park. The bush track between Garrawarra and the Hacking River is incredibly beautiful as it winds its way down the hill through shrouded eucalypt forest and low lying scrub.

Maps for the Otford to Helensburgh walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Otford 1:25 000 Map Series 91294S OTFORD NSW-91294S
Appin 1:25 000 Map Series 90291S APPIN NSW-90291S
Campbelltown 1:50 000 Map Series 90291 CAMPBELLTOWN CW-90291
Port Hacking 1:100 000 Map Series 9129 PORT HACKING 9129
Wollongong 1:100 000 Map Series 9029 WOLLONGONG 9029

Cross sectional view of the Otford to Helensburgh bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Otford to Helensburgh

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

Length 12.9 km
Time 5 hrs 15 mins
.




Grade 4/6



Hard track
AS 2156.1 Gradient Short steep hills (3/6)
Quality of track Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Signs Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience Required Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
Infrastructure Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

10km of this walk has short steep hills and another 3.1km is flat with no steps. The remaining (250m) has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

10km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 2.8km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (360m) follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs

Around 8km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 4.8km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 10km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 2.5km requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 13km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

6km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 3.6km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats). The remaining (3.5km) has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Otford to Helensburgh walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Otford to Helensburgh walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Otford to Helensburgh walk starts at the Otford Train Station (gps: -34.210782, 151.00562)
Your transport options to Otford Train Station are by;
Train. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)



The Otford to Helensburgh ends at the Helensburgh Railway Station (gps: -34.176925, 150.99472)
Your transport options to Helensburgh Railway Station are by;
Train. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)


Fire Danger

Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Illawarra weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.

Forecast snapshot

Park Information & Alerts

Comments

 


Short URL = http://wild.tl/oth


Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)

Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂