Sometimes it’s easy to forget how lucky we are in Newcastle – we are so spoiled with pristine beaches, a stunning coastline and postcard-worthy bush walks.
The Yuelarbah Walk from Kahibah to Burwood Beach offers all of these things in abundance – and it is a perfect walk for kids and families.
Part of the Great North Walk that extends from Newcastle to Sydney, this scenic track in Glenrock State Conservation Area takes you along bridges, past waterfalls and through beautiful rainforest.
The tracks are well maintained and suitable for even the slowest walker (ahem, my six year old), plus with so much to see it keeps even the most reluctant bushwalker (see above) engaged as they wait to see what’s just around the next corner.
At around the halfway point, we stopped at Leichhardt’s Lookout, to enjoy amazing uninterrupted views of Glenrock Lagoon out to the ocean and read up on the colonial history of the area.
The area was originally a coal mine, Burwood Colliery and the remains of the 1860s mine and the railway line can be seen in the area.
It was easy to forget that you were in the middle of the city – while there were other families and walkers enjoying the sunshine, there were definitely times all you could hear was the sound of rosellas and splashing of waterfalls.
Keep following the track and you’ll wind your way down to secluded Burwood Beach. This was the perfect place for us to stop and grab a drink and morning tea from our picnic.
With only a few other families there, we nearly had the whole beach to ourselves (a rare treat on a sunny morning) – our only regret was that we had not packed a ball for a game of beach soccer.
At just under 3.4 kilometres each way, this walk is perfect for kids and those with varying levels of fitness (as there are some steep parts). Definitely recommended for families with children aged 4 and up, the Yuelarbah Walk is a great way to spend a couple of hours, get out into nature and grab some Insta-worthy snaps.
Hot tip: If you’re keen to extend your walk, visit during low tide so you can cross the inlet and keep going around to Merewether Baths for a dip or a well-needed pitstop, before heading back up the track.
- Good to know: There’s loads of parking at the walk entrance – but make sure you make a toilet stop before you leave the house as there are no bathroom facilities. The first part of the walk is a wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly raised boardwalk.
- Distance: 6.8km return
- Bring: Water, sunscreen, insect repellent and some snacks.
- Getting There: The Yuelarbah walking track is located at the Eastern end of Glenrock State Conservation Area. To get there, exit the Pacific Highway at Dudley Road or Kahibah Road, then turn into Burwood Road.
More information: Yuelarbah Walk
You might also like:
70 Free & Low-Cost Things to Do With Kids in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter
The 20 Best Newcastle Walks & Bush Trails
A born and bred Novocastrian, Kim loves exploring the area and finding fun things to see and do with her family. When she’s not out having adventures with her two cheeky boys, she’ll usually be found working her day job as a public servant, or banging on about her kid’s school (she handles communications for the Parents & Citizens Association). Kim is a self-confessed word nerd, 90s music tragic and hopes to be a writer when she grows up (whenever that will be).