Lake Parramatta is a hidden natural oasis located just two kilometres from the bustling Parramatta CBD. This historic reservoir is surrounded by 85 hectares of pristine bushland, making it a hotspot for swimming, kayaking, and bushwalking. You can explore the scenic Lake Circuit walk to spot native wildlife or relax with a picnic by the water's edge. It is the perfect escape for city dwellers looking to immerse themselves in nature without leaving Greater Sydney.
The Lake Circuit - Lake Parramatta
📍 SYDNEY AND SURROUNDS
Distance4.3 km
Duration01:20 hrs
Elev Gain+111 m
Elev Lost-112 m
Date
01 January 2026
Starting Point
Lake Parramatta Visitor Hub
Difficulty
Easy
Pace / Gear
3.8 km/h — Water bottle
Highlights
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 and formed 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 draw water from Lake Parramatta gradually declined.
One lasting legacy of the dam was the protection of its catchment as a water reserve. Over time, this protected area was expanded, eventually becoming the natural landscape now preserved within Lake Parramatta Reserve.
The reserve is best explored on foot. Four walking tracks combine to form the 4.2 km Lake Circuit: the Heritage Path, Reservoir Track, Upper Lake Track and Arrunga Bardo Walk. Together, they cater to a wide range of abilities and are also dog-friendly.
The circuit begins on the Heritage Path, which starts beside the café near the main car park. This short 300-metre stroll follows a paved path along the southern shoreline, passing the swimming area and boat hire facilities before reaching the Dam Wall Lookout. From here, there are clear views across the lake and down onto the historic dam wall. This section is suitable for assisted wheelchairs.
On the Heritage Path
Lookout along the Heritage Path
Lake Parramatta
Lake Parramatta
From the lookout, the trail continues behind the dam wall and crosses Hunts Creek via stepping stones. From the far bank, the view back towards the dam is particularly impressive, with the lake and visitor hub framed in the background.
Dam Wall Lookout
Starting the Reservoir Track
The Reservoir Track begins at the dam and climbs for 600 metres to the Reservoir Lookout, one of the best vantage points in the reserve. The track crosses Hunts Creek below the dam before climbing the opposite side of the valley, gradually opening up views across the water.
Crossing Hunts Creek below the dam
Lake Parramatta Dam
Lake Parramatta
Lake Parramatta
Lake Parramatta
Lake Parramatta from Reservoir Lookout
Beyond the Reservoir Lookout, the circuit continues as the 2.1 km Upper Lake Track, which explores the northern end of the reservoir. This is the most bushland-feeling section of the walk, winding through native forest and offering frequent glimpses of the lake, yet it remains a relatively easy and well-formed track.
Heading along the Upper Lake Track
One happy hound
Lake Parramatta
Upper Lake Track
Upper Lake Track
At the northern end of the lake, the trail crosses Hunts Creek once more before turning south along the eastern shoreline. From Arrunga Bardo Lookout, the walk becomes the Arrunga Bardo (“Calm Waters”) Walk, the final leg of the circuit that leads back towards the visitor hub.
Hunts Creek
A paddle in Hunts Creek
Hunts Creek
Upper Hunts Creek Crossing
Clear signage is provided throughout, making navigation straightforward. Once back near the dam, a paved path returns you to the starting point.
The are plenty of sign posts along the trails
Upper Lake Track management trail
Lake Parramatta
Lake Parramatta
Arrunga Bardo Lookout
Lake Parramatta
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.
Whether you're visiting for the historic dam or just to get the dog out for some fresh air, the Lake Circuit is a fantastic way to escape into nature without leaving the city. It’s an easy, scenic loop that offers a little bit of everything—from quiet bushland to great swimming spots. Next time you have a spare hour or two, grab your walking shoes and head down to the water.
Discover the magic of the Glow Worm Tunnel walk in Wollemi National Park. This easy 3.7 km return trail follows an historic railway line into a subterranean world lit by thousands of bioluminescent glow worms. Benefiting from a recent $4.3 million upgrade, this family-friendly day trip near Newnes perfectly blends raw Blue Mountains adventure with easy accessibility.
The Glow Worm Tunnel
📍 WOLLEMI NATIONAL PARK
Distance3.7 km
Duration01:35 hrs
Elev Gain+77 m
Elev Lost-77 m
Date
25 October 2025
Starting Point
Glow Worm Tunnel Road
Difficulty
Easy
Pace / Gear
5.6 km/h — Light day pack
Highlights
Glow Worm Tunnel
🗺️ Interactive Route MapPinch or use wheel to zoom
The Glow Worm Tunnel is one of those walks that feels like a proper little adventure—part bushwalk, part history lesson, part natural light show. Hidden away deep in Wollemi National Park, this old railway tunnel is best known for its glow worms, but the walk in is just as much a part of the experience.
Getting to the trailhead is half the fun. Glow Worm Tunnel Road is unsealed and can be rough in places, especially after rain, but in dry conditions it’s usually fine for most vehicles. As the bush thickens and phone reception drops out, it starts to feel reassuringly remote—exactly what you’d expect from this corner of Wollemi. There’s a car park at the end of the road with basic facilities and clear signage marking the start of the walk.
The car park is reachable in a humble 2WD
The new visitor signage at the beginning of the track
The tunnel itself has recently had a major upgrade, with $4.3 million spent on safety improvements designed to protect both visitors and the glow worms. Inside, new raised walkways and handrails make it easier to move through the tunnel while helping preserve the delicate habitat that the glow worms rely on.
The walk to the tunnel is around 6 km return and follows the old Newnes railway alignment. It’s mostly gentle and easygoing, with a wide, well-formed track winding through open eucalypt forest and sandstone cuttings. One of the standout features early on is the series of hand-cut rock walls along the track—a reminder that this was once a working industrial railway serving the shale oil operations at Newnes in the early 1900s. Considering how remote the area still feels, the scale of the construction is pretty remarkable.
Glow Worm Tunnel Track
You'll pass a pond along the way
Glow Worm Tunnel Track
Heading through the rock cutting
Almost out of nowhere, the tunnel appears—an understated stone entrance set into the hillside. As you head inside, the change is immediate. The air cools, the light quickly fades, and the outside world begins to feel a long way away. Inside the tunnel, the darkness becomes absolute; however, using the handrail and a red light torch allows you to shuffle along its length.
Over this bridge
And between this rocks
The tunnel entrance
The entrance to the tunnel
The entrance to the tunnel
Leaving the light behind
About halfway through, the real magic reveals itself. Turn off your torch and let your eyes adjust, and tiny blue points of light slowly begin to glow overhead. Thousands of glow worms cling to the ceiling, their soft blue-green light created through bioluminescence as they lure insects into fine, sticky threads. In the total darkness of the tunnel, the effect is surreal—like standing beneath a quiet, underground night sky.
The glow worms begin to appear
The tunnel itself is 387 metres long and was built in the early 1900s as part of the railway servicing the shale mines in the Wolgan Valley. Its constant moisture, cool temperatures, and flowing stream have created the perfect conditions for a permanent glow worm population to thrive.
Glow worms
The glow worms found in places like the Glow Worm Tunnel are native to Australia and New Zealand, where several species occur. New Zealand is especially famous for them, particularly the colonies at the Waitomo Caves; however, those are typically only accessible as part of a guided tour.
Glow worms
At the far end of the tunnel, the passage opens into a small clearing. The area is shaded, with moss-covered rock walls and a trickle of water running through, providing the cool, damp conditions that help maintain the tunnel’s permanent glow worm population. This eastern opening also allows airflow and light to enter, contributing to the tunnel’s stable microclimate.
The tunnel exit
The tunnel exit is impressive
There is more visitor infrastructure in the clearing
Normally, you’d continue north along the Tunnel Track to meet the Old Coach Road as it climbs out of the Wolgan Valley. However, recent landslides have closed the track and, according to NPWS, it will remain closed until further notice. For now, the only option is to turn around, head back through the tunnel, and retrace your steps to the car park.
The Glow Worm Tunnel
The Glow Worm Tunnel
The Glow Worm Tunnel walk manages to strike a rare balance between being easy to access and feeling like a genuine adventure. You don’t need any special skills or equipment—just sturdy shoes, a torch, and a willingness to head a little off the beaten track for one of the most quietly memorable walks in the region.
