Alma Road to Padstow along Salt Pan Creek

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1 Hr

2.8 km One way

52 m

Moderate track

This short walk starts from the corner of Alma Road and Wainright Avenue and follows the footpath down to Salt Pan Creek walk. The walk then follows the creek upstream along the boardwalks and bushtracks, passing a few great picnic areas and parks to the end of Bridge Street. From here the walk follows the roads across the railway bridge and along to the Padstow train station, where there are a few shops.

the salt pan creek boardwalk crossing under the railway bridge

heading through the trees to the end of bridge street

(0km) Corner of Alma Road and Wainwright Avenue → Bottom of Alma Road track

60 m

1 mins

-4m Very easy

From the intersection of Alma Rd and Wainwright Ave, the walk follows the footpath between the wooden posts and into the bush. The footpath heads down the short hill until coming to the boardwalk on Salt Pan creek walking track.

(0km) Bottom of Alma Road track → Salt Pan Creek picnic area

260 m

5 mins

-4m Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the footpath north (keeping the river on the right) onto a bush track and then up some wooden steps. The track continues along for a while until it drops down some more steps to the Salt Pan creek picnic area.

Salt Pan Creek picnic area

This small picnic area on the Salt Pan Creek walking track can be accessed directly from the stairs at the end of Werona Ave. This clearing provides a couple of picnic benches and tables, natural shade and a small, grassy clearing. The space if big enough for a bit of running around or to spread out a picnic blanket. The picnic area is on the edge of Salt Pan Creek, with dense mangroves along to river bank. There are a number of houses overlooking the area from the cliffs above.

(0km) Salt Pan Creek picnic area → Picnic area at base of Pipe Bridge

390 m

7 mins

-6m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the picnic area, this walk follows the bush track up the steps (keeping the river on the right) and winds along the side of Salt Pan Creek until it drops back down some steps onto a boardwalk. The track continues along the boardwalk, alongside the creek, until it comes to the bottom of Weenamana Place steps on the left.
Continue straight: From the bottom of the steps, this walk follows the boardwalk as it winds alongside the river (keeping the river on the right), through mangroves for a short while. Soon the boardwalk becomes a bush track and continues to the picnic area under the large pipe bridge.

Pipe bridge picnic area

This small picnic area has a collection of low picnic tables in a grassy clearing by the edge of the Salt Pan Creek. The large pipe bridge crossing the creek provides some shade during the heat of the day. There are no water or toilet facilities. The unfenced edge of the picnic area provides clear access to the creek. This is one of the few spots along Salt Pan Creek walk where there is a clear view of the creek.

(1km) Picnic area at base of Pipe Bridge → Davies Reserve

280 m

6 mins

10m

-6m Very easy

Continue straight: From the picnic area, the walk follows the hardened management trail (keeping the creek on the right) as it winds along the side of the river. The walk passes a fenced-off area on the left before it turns left heads up the hill, coming near to the play equipment at Davies Reserve.

Davies Reserve

This park can be accessed from the end of Tallawarra Ave or directly from Davies Road in Padstow. The Reserve is one of the spots along the Salt Pan Creek walking track. The facilities provided at this reserve include play equipment, a toilet block and picnic tables and seats. There is plenty of open space, and shade from a few large trees. There is parking for about 20 cars.

(1km) Davies Reserve → End of Bridge Street

700 m

13 mins

14m

-12m Very easy

Turn right: From Davies Reserve, this walk follows the fenced boardwalk running parallel to the power lines, keeping Salt Pan Creek on the right. The track passes through the wetlands for a short distance, coming to an intersection with the Truro Parade boardwalk on the left.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk continues along the short board walk (keeping the power lines above to the right). Soon the boardwalk joins onto a hardened footpath, which continues along through the grass clearing, running parallel to Salt Pan Creek. The track passes behind a number of houses, and then passes a couple of transmission towers as the footpath tends left to the end of Meager Avenue.
Veer right: ###This section of the track is closed for End of 2010 to sometime in 2011. Please walk along Meager Ave to Davies Rd as an alternate route### From the end of Meager Ave, the walk follows the footpath lined with wooden posts (with the white house at no.2 initially on the left) into the bush and down the gentle hill. After a short distance, the footpath joins a board walk and continues through some mangroves and out to the creek edge. The boardwalk then turns left, crossing under the railway bridge to the intersection with the Salt Pan Creek footbridge on the right.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the boardwalk around the creek's edge (keeping the train line on the left) and through some mangroves for a short distance, until coming to a concrete footpath. This path continues past a transmission tower to the end of Bridge Street.

(2km) End of Bridge Street → Padstow Railway Station

1.1 km

19 mins

16m

-4m Very easy

Turn left: From the car park at the end of the street, this walk follows the foot path along Bridge Street to the 'T' intersection of Davies Road, where the walk turns left. Following the footpath, this walk soon crosses the railway bridge and comes to the intersection with Meager Avenue.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads south (away from the trail line) along Davies Road, along the footpath. After a short while, the walk turns right into Ryan Rd, crossing at the traffic lights. This walk follows the footpath through the suburbs to cross, straight ahead at the roundabout, onto Howard Road. The road then passes a few shops and comes to the Padstow railway station on the right.

Howard Road shops

This row of shops on Howard Road, near Padstow Railway Station, consists of quite a number of stores including grocery, newsagents, pharmacies, small restaurants and cafés, among many others. More shops can be found on the same block, on Padstow Pde or Faraday Rd, as required.

Maps for the Alma Road to Padstow along Salt Pan Creek walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Botany Bay	1:25 000 Map Series	91303S BOTANY BAY	NSW-91303S
Sydney	1:100 000 Map Series	9130 SYDNEY	9130

Cross sectional view of the Alma Road to Padstow along Salt Pan Creek bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Alma Road to Padstow along Salt Pan Creek

Altitude analysis for Alma Road to Padstow along Salt Pan Creek

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

		Length	2.8 km
		Time	1 Hr
		.
Grade 3/6 Moderate track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
		Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
		Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

Around 2.2km of this walk is flat with no steps, whilst the remaining 650m has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

2.2km of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path and another 390m follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (260m) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 2.4km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 480m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 2.6km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 260m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 2.8km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

This whole walk, 2.8km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Alma Road to Padstow along Salt Pan Creek walk.

Davies Reserve to the Pipe Bridge Picnic Area

566 m Return, 15 mins

This short, leisurely, wheelchair accessible walk starts from the Davies Reserve and follows the concrete service track through the trees, keeping to the right of Salt Pan Creek until coming to the neat little picnic area at the base of the large pipe bridge.

Total climbing: 16m

Very easy

Davies Reserve to the Salt Pan Creek Footbridge

1 km Return, 20 mins

A list of walks that start near the Alma Road to Padstow along Salt Pan Creek walk.

The Ridge Track Loop

2.9 km Circuit, 1 hr 15 mins

This circuit walk follows the well signposted Ridge Track as it winds up through the bush between Henry Lawson Drive and the Georges River. The walk starts at Morgans Creek picnic area and heads back down to the river at Cattle Duffers Flats, then loops back to the start along the driveway. This wa

Total climbing: 123m

This walk starts at the historical and beautiful Audley picnic area and dance hall. Have a picnic or enjoy a coffee from the cafe, before wandering along the quiet public road alongside Hacking River. After heading around the locked gate, you walk along the old Lady Carrington Drive trail for about

Total climbing: 55m

Easy track

Robertson's Roundabout

2.3 km Circuit, 1 hr 15 mins

From the Royal National Park Centre, this walk crosses the Hacking River before rising steeply up onto the ridge to fantastic views of the Hacking River. If you look into the distance you can see Cronulla on the horizon at the highest points. Towards the end of the circuit, with good views of the su

Total climbing: 146m

Hard track