This scenic Grade 3 hike took us through Heathcote National Park, located in the southern Sydney suburb of Heathcote, about 36 km (22 miles) from Sydney’s CBD. While often overshadowed by its famous neighbor, The Royal National Park, the second-oldest national park in the world after Yosemite, Heathcote National Park has its own charm, offering rugged bushland trails and picturesque creek crossings.
Eddies Lookout Hike In Heathcote National Park Overview
- When: 26 February 2025
- Where: Heathcote National Park
- Weather: Cloudy and humid Sydney summer’s day. Low of 68°F (20°C) and a high of 82.4°F (28°C)
- Departure: From Heathcote train station, finishing at Heathcote train station.
- Length: 15.7 miles, 9.8 km
- Elevation gain: 1069 ft, 326 m
- Duration: 3 hours 50 minutes moving time
Starting the Hike – The Friendly Trail
Our group of ten met at Heathcote train station and set off at around 9:15 am. A short 500 m (0.3-mile) walk along the road led us to the trailhead of The Friendly Trail, located in Whitton Street Reserve. From here, we began a gentle descent towards our first creek crossing. Following the Pipeline Trail, we eventually connected to Eddies Lookout Trail, marking our entry into Heathcote National Park.
First Creek Crossing – Heathcote Creek
Before long, we arrived at Heathcote Creek, a scenic spot where the clear, slow-moving water added to the serenity of the bushland. Thanks to minimal rainfall the previous week, we were able to cross easily. We also welcomed the cooler air near the water, a refreshing break from the humidity of the surrounding forest.
Climbing to Eddies Lookout
Immediately after the creek, we began our first ascent towards Eddies Lookout. The climb was relatively easy, despite the rocky terrain and occasional overgrown sections. Surprisingly, there was still an abundance of native flora, which added to the beauty of the trail.
Morning Tea with a View
Not long after the creek crossing, we reached Eddies Lookout, a rocky outcrop offering sweeping views over the valley below. We took a well-earned break here, enjoying morning tea perched on the rock platform, looking down on the creek we had just crossed.
The Trail to Lunch – Ridge Walking and Scenic Views
From Eddies Lookout, the trail continued along a ridge, leading to another stunning viewpoint where we stopped for lunch. Below, we could see Lake Eckersley, a picturesque section of the Woronora River.
The Second Creek Crossing
After lunch, we backtracked briefly along Eddies Trail before taking a left fork that led us down towards our second creek crossing.
This descent felt noticeably steeper than the first, with the track covered in thick leaf litter, making it quite slippery in places. We took extra care as we made our way down to Heathcote Creek, this section is made up of a series of pools – Yabba, Goburra, and Banya. Our crossing point was at the southern end of Banya Pool, where we safely made it across.
The Final Ascent
Once over the creek, we tackled our last ascent, a 170 m (558 ft) climb. We started on the wide Pipeline Trail before turning onto Goburra Track for the final stretch. Before we knew it, we had reached the trailhead at Oliver Street, marking the end of our hike.
Trail Conditions
The trail offered a mix of well-defined tracks and more rugged bush paths, making it a true bushwalk experience. The terrain varied from wide, graded sections such as the Pipeline Trail to narrower, uneven paths with exposed tree roots and loose rocks, especially around the creek crossings. Some sections were a little overgrown, requiring more careful navigation, and the leaf litter on the steeper descent to the second creek crossing made footing tricky. Overall, it was a well-maintained but moderately challenging track, best suited for hikers comfortable with some rocky and uneven surfaces.
Flora & Fauna
Heathcote National Park is home to classic Sydney sandstone bushland, featuring sclerophyll forests with towering eucalyptus trees, banksias, and tea trees. Along the track, we spotted a few bush flowers the more spectacular being Bottle Brush and Banksias.
Wildlife that you may sight include:
- Swamp Wallaby
- Eastern WaterDragons
- Yellow-tailed black cockatoos
- Fairy-wrens
- Red-bellied black snakes
- Diamond pythons
The Red-bellied black snake is venomous and here is information on how to treat a snake bite.
My Final Thoughts
This short but enjoyable hike was well-suited for the warm and humid conditions of the day. While Heathcote National Park is often considered the poor cousin to the Royal National Park, it offers plenty of beautiful trails, serene creek crossings, and stunning lookouts. If you’re looking for a quiet bushwalk away from the crowds, this area is well worth exploring. Happy hiking!
Have you hiked in Heathcote National Park? I’d love to hear from you.