Sydney’s geographical location is aptly situated between three major national parks, the Royal National Park, Blue Mountains National Park and of course, the Ku-ring Gai National Park. This isn’t to name them all of course with many other smaller ones too, Heathcote National Park, Berowra Valley National Park and the Kanangra-Boyd National Park to name a few. All have their own unique things to see but have a common activity between them. Hiking. A perfect way to increase your fitness, and release your adventurous soul. With such an abundance of options to choose from, there’ll always be a new hike to do, view to see, or swimming hole to explore weeks on end.
Transport to Hiking Trails has Significantly Improved
Transport is probably one of the biggest barriers to hiking, with some trails starting on the side of roads with no parking in sight. Some trails may require you to start in one place and end in another, making it hard to plant for. For those that don’t own a car, options may be further limited as to where you can go. However, with such a large part of Sydney’s identity lying in the outdoors, transport is becoming far less of an issue. Many trails in the Blue Mountains for instance, are walking distance from train stations across the blue mountains line. Waterfall and Heathcote stations provide good accessibility to the national parks in the south, and Berowra and Cowan stations, to trails in the North. The Great North Walk now winds its way through numerous train stations, while a shuttle bus now connects the end of the Six-Foot Track at the Jenolan Caves back up to the Katoomba region.
Car parks are also well catered for, in particularly popular places, are where accessibility via public transport is low. Some places that cater well to cars include the Grand Canyon Walking Track, and Victoria Falls in the Blue Mountains, Crosslands Reserve in Ku-ring Gai National Park, and Audley in the Royal National Park.
Hiking is a Readily Accessible Activity
Hiking is an activity that caters to people of all skill levels. Some hikes are simply a short walk to a lookout, while others include multi-day routes laden with unmarked sections. There’s something for everyone. Furthermore, information on most trails are now easily found online on websites such as Wildwalks, clearly outlining what to expect, distance, elevation, and difficulty grade, that makes preparation a breeze. However, it is important to know your skill level and to go accordingly, bring enough water, food and a personal locater beacon (PLB) if possible.
Some locations offer free PLB hire, which can be found here.
Hiking Equipment
You don’t need much to start hiking. Unlike other sports such as cycling and sailing which require high initial costs to partake, all you need to go hiking, is a good pair of grippy sports shoes, normal active wear, and a backpack. Of course, there are many upgrades that you can buy along the way, including hiking boots to give yourself more supports, and proper hiking packs, to provide more comfort when carrying heavy loads for longer hikes, however at a bare minimum, most people can go hiking with everyday items found in their house.
FUN!
Finally, fun and enjoyment. Hiking is a great way to disconnect for a while, see some awesome views and increase your fitness while at it. It is something that you can build on your own and increase at your own pace, and doesn’t rely on the availability of other people to partake such as team sports like soccer. Furthermore, it helps you explore off the bean track, after all the best lookouts, swimming holes and views, won’t be right next to the road.