Narrabeen Lagoon Trail (Hiking and Cycling Around an Idyllic Lake)

Last updated: October 7, 2023

The Narrabeen Lagoon Trail, also referred to as the Narrabeen Lakes Walk, is a stunning 8.4 km circuit walk around an idyllic lake in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Completed in February 2015 as an uninterrupted loop, the trail is now a popular weekend escape for hikers, joggers, cyclists, and parents with prams, all enjoying the natural beauty and serenity of a lagoon surrounded by thriving bushland.

In this article, we will talk you through the highlights of this fantastic walk, including photos and tips on how to get there and where to start.

Narrabeen Lagoon Trail
Distance: 8.4 km (return)
Time: 2-3 hours
Grade: Easy / moderate
Dogs: On a lead
JOIN SYDNEY UNCOVERED
Subscribe to our newsletter and receive Sydney and NSW related tips and ideas straight to your mailbox!

How to Get There

There are quite a few paid parking areas available at several parks and reserves that exist around Narrabeen Lakes. However, be mindful that parking in these areas is quite expensive.

The following locations are recommended to park your car and start the walking track:

Alternatively, there is limited free parking available in the suburban streets nearby, or otherwise, you can try parking at the nearby shopping precinct.

Public transport is also a viable option, with regular buses traveling via Pittwater Road (Berry Reserve), located next to the lake. Check the timetables on the Transport NSW website.

Here is a map of the walk:

Map of the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail

About Narrabeen Lagoon

The Narrabeen Lagoon Trail is the perfect way to explore the Narrabeen Lakes area, as it navigates through various ecosystems with lots of wildlife, in addition to historical and cultural heritage sites.

The area is a paradise for birds (1/3 of Sydney’s bird species live here), rodents, bats, frogs, marsupials, lizards, and many different types of fish.

Beautiful Narrabeen Lakes
Beautiful Narrabeen Lakes

Narrabeen Lakes is also called Narrabeen Lagoon because the lake is essentially a coastal lagoon separated from the ocean next door.

The area around the lagoon has been a popular camping and leisure spot since the beginning of the 19th century, when the tram line was extended to Narrabeen, making transport much easier.

Wildlife at Narrabeen Lakes
Wildlife at Narrabeen Lakes

With the recent completion of the Narrabeen Lagoon trail, the area will continue to develop into a popular tourist and weekend recreation destination.

Watch this great video to get a good impression of what the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail is about:

Are you a cycling enthusiast? Check out our list of great bike rides in Sydney for new cycling tracks to discover.

Narrabeen Lagoon Track Notes

In February 2015, the final section of the walking trail around the lake was completed, making it a beautiful, uninterrupted loop. With an exciting boardwalk and a couple of steel bridges, you can now walk, run, or cycle all around the lake.

We find that the atmosphere along the trail is usually friendly and accommodating. Joggers, hikers, leisure cyclists, families with small kids on bikes; it can get a bit crowded there sometimes. But most visitors are respectful and considerate to one another, and there’s no need to feel intimidated by all the traffic.

Five sections of the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail:

  1. Middle Creek to Bilarong Reserve
  2. Bilarong Reserve to Berry reserve
  3. Berry Reserve to Jamieson Park
  4. Jamieson Park to South Creek
  5. South Creek to Middle Creek

Starting at Middle Creek, you can make your way around the lake in a clockwise manner.

1. Middle Creek to Bilarong Reserve (2.2 km)

Middle Creek is a good starting point for the walking trail, with a well-sized car park, toilet facilities, and a water fountain.

Make your way north and follow the Wakehurst Parkway to Bilarong Reserve. Keep an eye out for an interesting historical feature: the scattered remains of lime and cement works that were active in this area in the 1930s and 1940s.

Interestingly, the construction of the Wakehurst Parkway prevented the works from reaching their full potential.

Boardwalk at Bilarong Reserve
Boardwalk at Bilarong Reserve

An interesting part of this section is the newly built over-water boardwalk. It’s quite a spectacular boardwalk that moves the trail away from the busy Wakehurst Parkway over the lagoon.

Not only is this solution safer for all trail users, but it also helps to protect the fragile bio-diversity along the northern foreshore of the Narrabeen Lagoon.

2. Bilarong Reserve to Berry Reserve (1.2 km)

Bilarong Reserve has a large car park, making it another good spot to start this exciting walking trail.

The reserve is also a perfect stopover for families with kids, with a large playground and excellent BBQ facilities to make use of.

Narrabeen Lakes
Narrabeen Lakes

It’s also a popular spot for boating enthusiasts who can launch their boats here to start their sessions on the water.

From Bilarong, it’s only a short stroll around the corner to Berry Reserve.

3. Berry Reserve to Jamieson Park (1.5 km)

Berry Reserve has recently been upgraded and now includes public toilets, picnic tables, a playground, a basketball court, and barbecues.

Berry Reserve in Narrabeen
Berry Reserve area

If you’re hungry, Berry Reserve is an excellent place for a pit stop. Have a picnic in the park or go to one of the cafes nearby for a bite.

Entrance to Jamieson Park in Narrabeen
Entrance to Jamieson Park

Continue the trail by following the shoreline of the lake to Jamieson Park.

4. Jamieson Park to South Creek (2.3 km)

Jamieson Park is a 42.8ha reserve at the southern point of Narrabeen Lagoon. There is a large paid parking area, but this tends to fill up rather quickly during weekends.

Water sports at Narrabeen Lakes
Water sports at Narrabeen Lakes

With its sheltered waters and scenic surroundings, Narrabeen Lagoon is the perfect place to try out a bit of water sports action.

At Jamieson Park, you can go ahead and hire equipment for a kayaking or a stand-up paddling session on the lake.

Bushwalking in Narrabeen
Bushwalking in Narrabeen

The trail from Jamieson Park to South Creek is perhaps the best part of the Narrabeen Lagoon circuit trail.

This is where you will be hiking through beautiful native bushland with scenic views over the entire lake.

5. South Creek to Middle Creek (1.2 km)

The section between South Creek and Middle Creek was the last part of the circuit to be completed in 2015.

A beautiful wooden boardwalk and steel bridges make it now possible to complete an uninterrupted loop around Narrabeen Lake.

Steel bridge on the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail
Steel bridge on the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail

This section of the trail runs past the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, which organises sports programs for schools, community, and sporting groups, and for anyone looking to participate in some outdoor fun.

After crossing Middle Creek, it’s only a short stroll back to the starting point of the walk at Middle Creek Reserve.

Keen to discover more walks in Sydney? Check out our list of great hikes in and around Sydney for a wide range of options.
 

Narrabeen Lagoon Trail

 
12 Comments
  1. The track is marketed as suitable for cycling/a cycling track, this is how I came across. Can I safely cycle there with my 6 and 10 year old?
    Mind you, we just did the Bay Run, where the track is divided, and still there are a lot of walkers on a bike path and vise versa.
    Any comments please?

    Reply
    • Hi Alex,

      Yes the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail is safe for both cyclists and walkers. Lots of small children cycling there. As always, be careful and be mindful of other cyclists, walkers and joggers using the path, especially during the weekends when it can get a bit crowded.

      Have fun!

      Reply
  2. I’ve cycled around the Narrabeen Lake circuit. Be aware that there seems to be a lot of antipathy towards cyclists. Ride carefully, and ring your bell.

    Reply
  3. I walked on the track on Anzac Day with friends. It is a beautiful walk but the cyclists are terrifying. Most of them travel at such speed and don’t ring a bell. It would be good if there was a divided track for walkers and cyclists or alternatively have the track just going in one direction. Such a beautiful track needs to be shared considerately by all.

    Reply
Leave a comment