Glenrock Lagoon

This map was created using GPS Visualizer's do-it-yourself geographic utilities.

Please wait while the map data loads...

Route: Yuelarbah Walking Track, Flaggy Creek, Leichhardts Lookout, Burwood Beach, Glenrock Lagoon, Scout Camp, Scout Camp Road, Burwood Track, Yuelarbah Walking Track

Date: 27/08/2022
From: Burwood Road

Parking: Burwood Road
Start Point: Yuelarbah Walking Track
Finish Point: Yuelarbah Walking Track
Region: Glenrock State Conservation Area

Route length: 5.0km
Time taken: 01:57
Average speed: 4.0km/h
Ascent: 122m
Descent: 130m

Points of Interest: Flaggy Creek, Leichhardts Lookout, Burwood Beach, Glenrock Lagoon

Glenrock Lagoon is a little slice of paradise, almost in the heart of Newcastle. You'd find it hard to believe it's only a couple of kilometres away from NSW's industrial heartlands. It gets its European name Glenrock due to its rugged nature, reminiscent of the glens of Scotland. Its Aboriginal name is Pillapay-Kullaitaran, meaning "The Valley of the Palms" because Cabbage Palm was common in the area.

There are several tracks and trails in the area, many intended for mountain bikers, with fittingly exciting names like Six Shooter and Seismic. Some, however, are exclusively for walkers such as the Yuelarbah Track which forms the first half of this short circuit around the lagoon.

The route begins from a small car park off Burwood Road that is owned by the national park authority. It makes its way along a short wooden walkway elevated above Flaggy Creek before reaching a more traditional path.

The Yuelarbah Track

The track follows Flaggy Creek downhill until it crosses the stream by a wooden footbridge, providing good views up and down the valley. After the crossing, Flaggy Creek drops down some small waterfalls which can be seen from the track. 

Flaggy Creek

Flaggy Creek

Flaggy Creek

Flaggy Creek

Before long we reached a series of junctions with several trails - you can use this to start a return circuit back to the car park if you wish. We pressed on, crossing Little Flaggy Creek and reaching Leichardt's lookout which has a sublime view of Glenrock Lagoon and the ocean beyond. it is named after Ludwig Leichhardt a Prussian naturalist and explorer who, in 1842, described the view down into Glenrock Lagoon as well as other important geological sightings in the area.

Crossing Little Flaggy Creek

Little Flaggy Creek

View from Leichhardt's Lookout

Glenrock Lagoon

Flaggy Creek

From the lookout the Yuelarbah Track continues on, becoming far narrower and steeper as it winds through the bush. This section, between the lookout and the beach, was extremely muddy after weeks of heavy rain in NSW.

The Yuelarbah Track

Steps descend the steeper part of the track

Glenrock Lagoon

The track was very muddy after weeks of heavy rain

We popped out of the trees on the magnificent Burwood Beach, which blocks the outlet of Flaggy Creek to create Glenrock Lagoon. The beautiful beach once formed part of Burwood and Glenrock Collieries and sections are littered with old mining equipment including carriage wheels and tracks, most of which are slowly being reclaimed by the sea. At one point in its life, the colliery was the largest in the southern hemisphere until it was closed in the 1940s. The site has now been taken over by a Scout camp.

Approaching the beach

Burwood Beach

Burwood Beach

Burwood Beach

Burwood Beach

Burwood Beach

Burwood Beach

The Pacific

We took a break on the rock shelf above the beach for a bite to eat before continuing on, crossing the sand bar that blocks the lagoon and heading inland again towards the Scout Camp. The access road to the camp provides a link to the Burwood Track and our route back to the car park. 

Glenrock Lagoon

Glenrock Lagoon

The Burwood Track is an easy section of bush walk between the Scout Camp and the Yuelarbah Track. It passes above a section of the old colliery that has been well-preserved and is listed on the State Heritage register. It's not long before the Burwood Track meets the Yuelarbah Track which will take you back towards the car park.

Flaggy Creek