Birdwood Gully

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Route: Bednal Road, Birdwood Gully Park, Tidswell Reserve, Sassafras Park, Gooch's Track, Tom Hunter Park, Springwood Creek, Bednal Road

Date: 07/12/2025
From: Bednal Road

Parking: Perry Avenue
Start Point: Bednal Road
Finish Point: Lucinda Avenue
Region: Lower Blue Mountains

Route length: 2.6 km
Time taken: 02:02
Average speed: 3.21 km/h
Ascent: 213m
Descent: 211m

Points of Interest: Springwood Creek, glowworm cave

Birdwood Gully, close to the village of Springwood, is often touted as one of the best dog-friendly hikes in the Blue Mountains. The gully was officially named after Field Marshal William Birdwood, the esteemed commander of the ANZACs during the 1915 Gallipoli campaign. Following the war, his popular tours of Australia inspired local communities to name landmarks in his honor.

As the name suggests, the walk centres on Birdwood Gully, a small sandstone creek that feeds into Springwood Creek, which in turn winds its way north through bushland before eventually joining the Grose River system. Like much of the upper Grose catchment, these creeks have quietly carved their way through the plateau over millions of years, shaping the narrow gullies and rock overhangs that make this area so appealing.

A sign marks the beginning of the hike

The circuit around the gully is only 2.6 km, making it ideal for a relaxed morning or afternoon walk with a dog.

The land here lies within Darug Country, and long before Springwood became a railway village, these gullies and creeks would have been used as travel corridors and reliable water sources. Rock overhangs, like those found along the walk, often provided shelter, and nearby sandstone country is rich in Aboriginal rock art and occupation sites.

There are several access points to the circuit and plenty of on-street parking — Perry Avenue was our choice, giving easy access via Bednal Road. After negotiating an awkward bend in the road, we entered Birdwood Gully Park, with the dog enthusiastically leading the way. Almost immediately, the track crosses Birdwood Gully itself, which on a hot day like this was reduced to a series of shallow pools.

Birdwood Gully Park

Birdwood Gully Park

Birdwood Gully Park

The path follows the creek downstream through open bushland, passing sculpted sandstone outcrops and pockets of lush, creek-side vegetation. The sandstone here is classic Triassic Hawkesbury sandstone, laid down around 200 million years ago and later eroded into ledges, alcoves, and cliffs by flowing water.

Tidswell Reserve

One of the more interesting rocks on the way to Springwood Creehk

Further along, Birdwood Gully Park merges into Sassafras Park, and the track descends to the confluence of Birdwood Gully and Springwood Creek. This shady junction is one of the highlights of the walk — a quiet, sheltered spot with plenty of room for a splash, which was mandatory for the dog on a warm afternoon.

Springwood Creek

From here, the Birdwood Gully Loop follows Springwood Creek upstream through the most scenic section of the hike. The track ducks beneath shallow rock overhangs before entering a narrow sandstone corridor where the creek has cut a small gorge. A low waterfall spills over a rock shelf here, though you’ll need a wet spell to see it at anything approaching full flow.

Springwood Creek

Springwood Creek

Springwood Creek

Some directions etched onto the floor

Springwood Creek

Dry cascade on Springwood Creek

Old graffitti

The path climbs beside the cascade, still shadowing the creek, before turning away from the water and heading uphill. Stone steps guide you to a large sandstone cave, home to a small colony of glow worms — a reminder of how these shaded, damp gullies support pockets of rainforest and specialised wildlife even so close to suburbia.

Springwood Creek

Birdwood Gully Round

The glowworm cave

A final climb through a cleft in the cliffs brings you out onto Lucinda Avenue, marking the western side of the circuit. From here, it’s a short stroll back to the starting point, completing a compact but surprisingly varied loop.

Climbing back to Lucinda Avenue

For such a short walk, Birdwood Gully packs in a lot: layered sandstone geology, cool creek lines, quiet bush, and a glimpse into how both people and water have moved through this landscape for thousands of years. It’s an ideal introduction to Blue Mountains walking — especially if you’ve got a four-legged companion in tow.