Head off the beaten track this weekend and experience Western Sydney’s new walking trail, The Great West Walk.
With the year racing to a close, sometimes we need a breath of fresh air. For some, that involves flocking to the ocean for a day lounging at the beach. And for others, heading outdoors and exploring the beauty of our lush surrounds by foot is the way to go. If you’re searching for a reason to escape the city, we’ve found the perfect walk to get you moving.
The Great West Walk is a brand new epic walking trail that has just opened to the public this month. Kicking off in Parramatta Park, the track opens up a part of Sydney’s lesser-known bushland corridors between the city’s West and the Lower Blue Mountains. The route has been mapped out by The Walking Volunteers in partnership with local landholders including Blacktown City Council, City of Parramatta Council, Penrith City Council, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Western Sydney Parklands Trust.
So, what can you expect on this walking trail? The Great West Walk takes hikers through the varied terrain of the protected Cumberland Plain, local river systems and leafy public parklands. The best bit? You’ll also be treated to some of Australia’s oldest architecture including Parramatta Park’s 19th-century Old Government House, 18th-century Old Dairy Cottage and Old Observatory. The majority of the track is relatively flat with shared paths to make walking a breeze, and the scenery proves the real star of the show. Expect dense thickets of greenery alongside flowing creeks, wisteria gardens and wide-open grasslands at every turn.
Walkers can tackle smaller tracks and parts of the route, or complete the entire 65km to get the blood pumping. Our tip? Try out the new 1.2km running track along Toongabbie Creek which has just opened as part of The Great West Walk project.
The Great West Walk between Parramatta and Penrith is now open. To find out more about the walk and to access a map of the trail, click here.