Looking for the perfect bushwalk right in the heart of Western Sydney? The Lake Parramatta Lake Circuit is a fantastic loop trail that offers a complete escape into nature without leaving the suburbs. Hugging the scenic foreshore of Lake Parramatta Reserve, this easy-to-moderate walking track winds through vibrant eucalyptus forests, crosses historic sandstone gullies, and showcases spectacular water views at every turn. Whether you are keen for a morning trail run, a family weekend bushwalk, or a spot of birdwatching, this hidden oasis is one of Sydney’s best-kept secrets.
The Lake Circuit - Lake Parramatta
📍 SYDNEY AND SURROUNDS
Distance4.0 km
Duration00:20 hrs
Elev Gain+90 m
Elev Lost-81 m
Date
08 February 2025
Starting Point
Lake Parramatta Visitor Hub
Difficulty
Easy
Pace / Gear
3.3 km/h — Light day pack
Highlights
Lake Parramatta Dam, Lake Parramatta
🗺️ Interactive Route MapPinch or use wheel to zoom
Completed in 1856, the Lake Parramatta reservoir was the first large dam built in Australia, forming a crucial part of Parramatta’s water supply until 1909. After the city was connected to Sydney’s water system (following the construction of the Cataract Dam), the need to supply water from Lake Parramatta waned.
The enduring legacy of the dam was the creation of a water reserve protecting its catchment. This was later expanded to cover the natural area now protected in Lake Parramatta Reserve.
The reserve is best explored on foot. There are four walking tracks that, once combined, create the 4.2 km Lake Circuit. These are the Heritage Path, Reservoir Track, Upper Lake Track and Arrunga Bardo Walk. The tracks aim to cater for most abilities and are also dog friendly.
The Heritage Path starts at the café next to the main car park. It is a short 300m hike along a paved path to the Dam Wall Lookout along the lake’s southern shoreline, passing the swimming and boat hire areas. The lookout has views of the dam wall and the lake. The Heritage Path is suitable for assisted wheelchairs.
On the Heritage Path
Lookout along the Heritage Path
Lake Parramatta
Lake Parramatta
From the Dam Wall Lookout, the trail continues behind the Lake Parramatta Dam wall, crossing Hunts Creek via stepping stones. From the other side of the creek, the views of the dam are impressive, with the lake and the visitor hub in the background.
Dam Wall Lookout
Starting the Reservoir Track
The 600m long Reservoir Track starts from the dam and leads to the Reservoir Lookout, a great viewing point with some of the best views of the lake. It crosses Hunts Creek below the dam before climbing the opposite side of the valley.
Crossing Hunts Creek below the dam
Lake Parramatta Dam
Lake Parramatta
Lake Parramatta
Lake Parramatta
Lake Parramatta from Reservoir Lookout
From the Reservoir Lookout, the Lake Parramatta Walk continues as the 2.1 km long Upper Lake Track. As the name suggests, this walking track explores the northern (or upper) part of the reservoir. This section is the authentic bushland part of the circuit walk but is still relatively easy to do.
Heading along the Upper Lake Track
One happy hound
Lake Parramatta
Upper Lake Track
Upper Lake Track
At the northernmost part of the lake, the trail crosses Hunts Creek once again, to turn back south via the eastern side of Lake Parramatta.
Hunts Creek
Hunts Creek
Hunts Creek
Upper Hunts Creek Crossing
From the Arrunga Bardo Lookout, the circuit walk continues as the Arrunga Bardo (“Calm Waters”) Walk, which is the last section before arriving back at the visitor hub.
The are plenty of sign posts along the trails
Upper Lake Track management trail
Lake Parramatta
Lake Parramatta
Arrunga Bardo Lookout
Lake Parramatta
Beyond the dam, a paved path will take you back to where you began. There is a small café here, a toilet block and plenty of picnic spots, seating, and BBQ facilities. There is also a designated swimming area, marked out by buoys. Patrolled from late October to the end of March, it can get very busy in the summer.
Tucked away at the end of Perry's Lookdown Road near Blackheath lies a pair of remarkable, easily accessible geological wonders that many Blue Mountains visitors completely miss. Combining the short, family-friendly walks to the striking Wind Eroded Cave (often called Wave Rock) and the rugged Anvil Rock Lookout offers a fantastic, low-effort double bill. In just under a kilometre of walking, you can explore a massive wind-sculpted sandstone overhang before standing on a dramatic clifftop platform that serves up spectacular, panoramic views across the Grose Valley directly toward the volcanic dome of Mount Banks.
Wind Eroded Cave & Anvil Rock
📍 BLUE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Distance0.65 km
Duration00:28 hrs
Elev Gain+21 m
Elev Lost-21 m
Date
28 July 2024
Starting Point
Anvil Rock ROad
Difficulty
Easy
Pace / Gear
4.4 km/h — Camera
Highlights
Wind Eroded Cave. Anvil ROck
🗺️ Interactive Route MapPinch or use wheel to zoom
Close to the end of Perry's Lookdown Road are two interesting Blue Mountains features many travellers overlook: Wind Eroded Cave and Anvil Rock. Previously only accessible along an unsealed road, some major upgrades undertaken by the National Parks Service have made travelling to these two locations easier by sealing the Perrys Lookdown Road and providing an upgraded car park. Separate trails lead to either feature, and a combination of the two is just 1 km — perfect if you are short on time or simply wasting time in the mountains. First up; Wind Eroded Cave.
It's only 130m from the car park to Wind Eroded Cave, first down a short set of steps and then along an obvious track. While it's called a cave, it is more of a large overhang shaped by millennia of wind erosion, which sandblasts the rock. Also known as Wave Rock (which is perhaps a better description), the feature is much taller than it is deep.
The path to Wind Eroded Cave
Wind Eroded Cave
You can scamper up into the cave to get a real sense of just how big it is, though there isn't much else to do. When you've had your fill, return to the car park the same way as you came.
Wind Eroded Cave
Wind Eroded Cave
The interesting shapes caused by the wind erosion
Wind Eroded Cave
Next is Anvil Rock. The trail is longer than Wind Eroded Cave (500m return) and starts with a few steps to gain the short ridge that leads to the lookout. You'll encounter a bench overlooking the valley commemorating Joyce Brister (1916 - 2010), a prominent resident of Blackheath.
The commemorative bench atop the cliffs
Continuing along the ridge, the lookout is impossible to miss: it first appears as a weathered sandstone rock formation resembling a blacksmith’s anvil. The lookout was named “Anvil Rock” in 1938 by Blackheath Council, the same year the original access road to the lookout was constructed. Steps and a short ledge carved into the rock take you around to the lookout itself.
Anvil Rock
The ledge leads to the lookout
The lookout consists of a large flat sandstone platform with a great view of Mount Banks to the east, on the opposite side of the Grose Valley. A secondary platform, accessed by some steps, is home to an actual anvil, now acting as a direction plaque.
Anvil Rock Lookout
Anvil Rock Lookout
Mount Banks
Mount Banks and the Grose Valley
The suburbs of Sydney, visible beyond Mount Hay
The anvil was donated by Stan Miller, company secretary for Bradford Kendall Industries, who was a keen bushwalker in the area, and was installed at Anvil Rock in 1948. A couple of years later, the brass directional plate was added to the anvil.
Anvil Rock's resident anvil
The directional markers on the anvil
The anvil remained in place until around 1970, when it was assumed vandals pushed it over the cliff, judging by the scrape marks on the rocks, and it was considered lost. Remarkably, it was found in 2005 during a police rescue operation before being restored and re-bolted to Anvil Rock in 2008.
Anvil Rock
The Grose River at the bottom of the valley
Grose Valley from Anvil Rock
After soaking in the views, it's a simple case of retracing the path back to the car park. The nearby Perrys Lookdown is worth a visit to get a slightly different perspective of Mount Banks from the lookouts atop Docker Head. You can also use the car park to embark on longer, more arduous hikes into the Grose Valley 300m below.
