EXPLORE // Cawleys Road Trail
Easy Family Friendly Bushwalk With No Stairs [Yay!] + Fun Creek Crossings
By Anna Dempsey
Whether you’re on two legs, on two wheels or on a saddle, this easy family-friendly walk weaves its way through the stunning bush of the Garawarra State Conservation Area in Helensburgh.
The creek-crossings, hills and dips will delight bikers, hikers and horse-riders alike!
Here’s what you need to know about the Cawleys Road Trail.
Family Friendly :: This is a great trail for families, especially on bikes. There are some steep dips and inclines and several shallow creeks to navigate through [yes through, no bridges!] so keep that in mind in wet weather.
Easily Accessible :: This walk is easy to access, with parking at either end of the walk at Wilson’s Creek Road past Helensburgh Train Station or along the Old Princes Highway between Waterfall and Garawarra Hospital. You can take the train to Helensburgh Station and make your way to the start of the trail at Wilson’s Creek Road, over the railway bridge.
Dog-Friendly :: Leave the pooch at home for this walk. While horses are permitted on the track, as a National Parks conservation area dogs are not allowed.
Stairs :: There are no stairs – woo hoo! You can see from the park this is a Grade 2 trail. Having said that, it’s not a flat trail. There are some steep inclines to be aware of.
Length :: The trail is 2.4km one-way
Time :: Allow 45 mins – 1 hour + 15mins on foot – faster on wheels or horseback!
Trail History
As the name suggests, Cawleys Road Trail is an old road passing from the Old Princes Highway in Helensburgh through the Garawarra State Conservation Area.
The trail is wide and for the most part, paved and while signage is scant, you can’t go far wrong so long as you stay on the main road itself.
The track remained an official road until the early 2000’s and you can see some parts of the now-defunct road as you go along the track.
Most of the old road has been reclaimed by nature and it has all the makings of a post-apocalyptic zombie movie.
Ghost Town
This area was actually home to a town in the late 1800’s through to the early 1900’s.
We were curious about what used to be here and did some digging.
It turns out that this area was home to a busy camp village named after Cawley’s Creek, which took its name from a local farmer.
It housed hundreds of railway workers and their families and had a shop, a school, a hotel, a railway station and a post office.
No trace of the old village remains except Cawley’s Tunnel at the Wilson Creek end of the trail…eerie!
Long and Winding Road
We’ll keep the road theme going here because while it’s not particularly long, it is winding!
We started the track from the old highway and if you start here, don’t worry, the slightly industrial feel of the overhead lines is quickly replaced as you reach the bridge which takes you over the highway and onto the official start of the track.
If you’re familiar with the roads surrounding the northern suburbs of the Illawarra you know the hilly nature of this neck of the woods.
Cawleys is no exception, making it ideal for eager mountain bikers.
There are peaks and troughs. Not excessively hard, but perfect for a slow burn walk [in our case], or a vigorous uphill climb on your bike.
The Road Less Travelled
As you depart the hum of the highway or railway, this track gives way to spectacular bush and birdsong. You’ll feel like you’ve got the place to yourself and you most probably have!
It’s a hidden gem for nature lovers. There are some fantastic lookout spots with views across the top of the trees and down towards the train tracks below.
Each time we’ve walked this track we’ve been the only walkers aside from one or two mountain bikers.
We reckon with the dips and climbs and wide open road, this would make an excellent spot for an invigorating trail run, says us as we puffed up one of the hills!
Canopies, Critters and Creeks
As you move further into the trail, you’ll be greeted by a canopy of the Sydney Red Gums, huge Red Bloodwoods, towering Gymea Lillies and Old Man Banksias, all of which are synonymous with this area of the Illawarra.
The trail cuts through several fern-lined creeks so pack some waterproof shoes or prepare to paddle as there are no bridges!
Rocky ledges on either side of the main creek provide a perfect pitstop to cool off and explore further.
We saw huge numbers of dragonflies dancing alongside the water.
Keep your eyes peeled for swamp wallabies and echidnas.
The bird watching in this area is fantastic. We noticed most of the bird action was towards the open tall forest at the Wilson’s Creek end of the walk.
Good To Know :: The creeks can get pretty high after wet weather, so wear shoes you don’t mind getting a bit wet or avoid the trail if there’s been a big downpour!
What’s Nearby :: Since you’ve been so good, it’s time to get a little naughty and head to the Gelato Man on Walker Street, Helensburgh.
Gelato Man uses seasonal ingredients in their authentic gelato and sorbet, flavours change frequently, so you’ll be in for a treat.
There are sometimes queues out the door of this excellent gelateria for a good reason!
