Narrabeen Lagoon Trail (Hiking Around a Beautiful Lake)

The Narrabeen Lagoon Trail 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, and cyclists, all enjoying the natural beauty and serenity of a lagoon surrounded by thriving bushland.

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

We recommend parking at one of the following locations:

• Middle Creek Reserve (map location)
• Bilarong Reserve (map location)
• Jamieson Park (map location)

Alternatively, you can try parking in the suburban streets nearby, or at the local shopping precinct.

Public transport is also a good option, with regular buses travelling via Pittwater Road (Berry Reserve) east of the lake.

The Narrabeen Lagoon Trail offers an ideal way to explore the Narrabeen Lakes area, guiding you through diverse ecosystems teeming with wildlife, along with sites rich in historical and cultural significance.

This area is a haven for wildlife, home to a third of Sydney’s bird species, as well as rodents, bats, frogs, marsupials, lizards, and various types of fish.

In February 2015, the last segment of the walking trail around the lake was completed, creating a picturesque, uninterrupted loop. The trail now features an exciting boardwalk and a few steel bridges, allowing you to walk, run, or cycle the entire way around the lake.

The atmosphere along the trail is generally welcoming and pleasant. You’ll encounter joggers, hikers, leisure cyclists, and families with kids on bikes; it can get a bit busy at times. However, most people are considerate and respectful, so there’s no need to feel overwhelmed by the activity.

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 from Middle Creek, we recommend walking 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.

Start walking northbound and follow the Wakehurst Parkway to Bilarong Reserve. Keep an eye out for an interesting historical feature: the scattered remnants of lime and cement works that were active in this area in the 1930s and 1940s.

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.

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.

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.

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 42.8-ha reserve at the southern point of Narrabeen Lagoon. There is a large paid car park, but it tends to fill up quickly on the weekends.

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 kayaking or a stand-up paddling session on the lake.

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 the entire lagoon.

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!

The Narrabeen Lagoon Trail is featured in the following guides: