The Lake Parramatta Walk is an exciting circuit walking track in Sydney’s west, offering beautiful views of the lake and its surrounding bushland.
This 4 km loop navigates through 75 hectares of thriving bushland around a scenic lake with a decommissioned dam.
| Lake Parramatta Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 4.2 km (full circuit) |
| Duration: | 1.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate |
| Dogs: | On a lead |
Getting There
This bushwalk is located within Lake Parramatta Reserve, which has ample parking available close to the entrance to the reserve, with a capacity of more than 60 parking spots.
Driving there is easy. Turn into Lackey Street from Bourke Street in North Parramatta and access the reserve from there (see map location).
If you’re travelling by public transport, there are a couple of bus stops along Bourke Street with easy connection to Parramatta train station.
Track Notes
Lake Parramatta Reserve is a fantastic bushwalking destination with lots to see and explore.
The main walking track, the Lake Parramatta Walk (also referred to as Parramatta Lake Walk, Lake Circuit, or Lake Parramatta Circuit Walk), is a 4.2 km bushwalking trail that loops around the lake.
It consists of four walking tracks that, combined, form a circuit:
- Heritage Path (300 m)
- Reservoir Track (600 m)
- Upper Lake Track (2.1 km)
- Arrunga Bardo Walk (900 m)
For young children who can’t do the entire loop, the Heritage Path and the Arrunga Bardo Walk are suitable as shorter alternatives.
The Lake Parramatta Walk is an easy to moderately challenging bushwalking track with sections of uneven surfaces and some steps. The walk is well-signposted from start to finish, and the path is well-maintained.
We recommend starting west of the parking area (central visitor hub) and looping around the lake in a clockwise manner.
Below is a map of the Lake Parramatta Walk. You can download a copy of the map from the City of Parramatta website.
1. Heritage Path
The Heritage Path is a short (wheelchair-assisted accessible) walking trail from the visitor hub (main parking area) to the Dam Wall Lookout.
This is a lovely walking path along the lake’s southern shoreline, past the swimming and boat hire area, to the lookout, where visitors can enjoy views of the dam wall and the lake.
2. Reservoir Track
From the Dam Wall Lookout, the trail continues behind the Lake Parramatta Dam wall, crossing Hunts Creek via stepping stones.
From the other side of the creek, the views of the dam are pretty spectacular, with the lake and the visitor hub in the background.
The 600-metre Reserve Track starts from the dam and leads to the Reservoir Lookout, a great viewing point with perhaps the best views of the lake.
The Reservoir Track is a bit harder than the Heritage Path as it involves a bit of climbing, a creek crossing, and rough surfaces.
3. Upper Lake Track
From the Reservoir Lookout, the Lake Parramatta Walk continues as the 2.1 km long Upper Lake Track.
As the name suggests, this walking track explores the northern part of the reserve. This section is the most challenging part of the circuit walk but is still relatively easy to do.
At the northernmost part of the lake, the trail crosses Hunts Creek once again, to turn back south via the eastern side of Lake Parramatta.
As you hike through this scenic patch of bushland, keep an eye out for the various types of native birds and animals that reside there, such as rosellas, cockatoos, kookaburras, frogs, and lizards.
4. Arrunga Bardo Walk
From the Arrunga Bardo Lookout, the circuit walk continues as the Arrunga Bardo (“Calm Waters”) Walk, which is the last section before arriving back at the visitor hub.
This section includes the Arrunga Bardo Garden, a green area that was developed in 2005, with new signage installed in 2022.
Various plants in the Arrunga Bardo Garden were a food source for the Burramattagal People, a clan of the Dharug, who first settled along the upper reaches of the Parramatta River.
The Arrunga Bardo Garden can also easily be accessed from the car park (only 50 metres away), and the path is wheel-friendly.
Read our guide on things to do in Lake Parramatta Reserve for a complete list of activities in this beautiful part of Sydney.
