Padstow to the Salt Pan Creek Picnic Area

Download & Print Map and Notes

1 Hr

2.6 km One way

40 m

Moderate track

This walk starts from Pastow train station and follows the streets to the end of Bridge street before it heads down stream along the boardwalks, service trails and bushtracks that follow the creek. As the walk winds along the creek, it passes the Davies Reserve and the small picnic area under the large pipe bridge. The walk then comes to the smaller Salt Pan creek picnic area, on the creeks edge, with a metal staircase providing access to Werona Avenue.

The concrete service trail becomes a hardened path

(0km) Padstow Railway Station → Int of Davies Road and Meager Avenue

810 m

13 mins

-10m Very easy

From the railway station, this walk heads along Howard Road (initially keeping the train line on the left). The walk passes the shops and continues straight ahead at the roundabout onto Ryan Road. At the end of Ryan Road, the walk turns left and cross Davies Rd at the traffic lights. This walk follows the footpath towards the train track, soon coming to the intersection with Meager Avenue.

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.

(1km) Int of Davies Road and Meager Avenue → End of Bridge Street

330 m

6 mins

-6m Very easy

Continue straight: From Meager Avenue, this walk follows the footpath on Davies Road, which soon heads over the railway bridge. A bit further along Davies Road, the walk turns right into Bridge Street, following the footpath to the car park at the end of the the street.

(1km) End of Bridge Street → End of Meager Ave

340 m

6 mins

-8m Very easy

Turn right: From the end of Bridge Street, this walk follows the footpath, initially towards the train line, keeping the transmissions tower on the right. The footpath soon turns into a boardwalk, which this walk follows through some mangroves and out the other side to the creek. The boardwalk soon comes to a wooden footbridge crossing Salt Pan creek.
Turn right: ###This section of the track is closed for End of 2010 to sometime in 2011. Please walk along Meager Ave from Davies Rd as an alternate route### From the intersection, the walk passes under the railway bridge and along the boardwalk, as it winds around the edge of the creek and through some mangroves to a hardened footpath. The footpath leads up a gentle hill for a short distance to the end of Meager Avenue.

(1km) End of Meager Ave → Davies Reserve

360 m

7 mins

-6m Very easy

Veer left: From the end of Meager Avenue, the walk heads past the blue information sign on the left, towards the large transmission towers. The footpath continues parallel to Salt Pan Creek, passing the back of some houses through the grass clearing. The footpath joins the end of a boardwalk that soon comes to an intersection with the Truro Parade boardwalk, on the right.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the fenced boardwalk parallel to the power lines (with the open wetlands to the right) for a short distance until coming to the 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.

(2km) Davies Reserve → Picnic area at base of Pipe Bridge

280 m

6 mins

-10m Very easy

Turn left: From under the power lines at Davies Reserve, the walk follows the sealed management trail towards the creek, down the hill (initially with the play equipment on the right). The trail soon turns right and heads parallel to Salt Pan Creek. The walk continues, until the trail opens out from the trees at the picnic area under a 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.

(2km) Picnic area at base of Pipe Bridge → Bottom of Weenamana Place steps

170 m

3 mins

-2m Easy track

Continue straight: From the picnic area, this walk follows the bush track, keeping the river to the left for a short while. Soon the track becomes a wooden boardwalk and continues to the bottom of Weenamana Place steps, which head up to the right.

(2km) Bottom of Weenamana Place steps → Salt Pan Creek picnic area

220 m

4 mins

-3m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the bottom of the steps, this walk follows the boardwalk, keeping Salt Pan Creek on the left. The walk soon climbs up some steps onto a bush track, and continues along the side of the creek until it drops back 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.

(3km) Salt Pan Creek picnic area → Int of Werona Avenue and Salt Pan creek path

70 m

2 mins

12m

0m Moderate track

Turn right: From the picnic area, the walk up the metal staircase and onto a concrete path, which heads up another set of stairs, between some houses to the end of Werona Avenue.

Maps for the Padstow to the Salt Pan Creek Picnic Area 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 Padstow to the Salt Pan Creek Picnic Area bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Padstow to the Salt Pan Creek Picnic Area

Altitude analysis for Padstow to the Salt Pan Creek Picnic Area

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	2.6 km
		Time	1 Hr
		.
Grade 3/6 Moderate track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
		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

2.1km of this walk is flat with no steps and another 390m has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (70m) has short steep hills.

Quality of track

Around 2.1km of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path, whilst the remaining 460m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 2.3km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 290m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 2.6km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 2.6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

This whole walk, 2.6km 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 Padstow to the Salt Pan Creek Picnic Area 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

This leisurely creek side walk follows the footpaths and boardwalks from Davies Reserve to the footbridge crossing Salt Pan Creek, just upstream from the railway bridge. The only facilities along this walk include seats and a toilet block at Davies Reserve. This is a nice way to explore the mangrove

Total climbing: 18m

Very easy

Davies Reserve to Henry Lawson Drive

1.2 km One way, 30 mins

This great walk starts from Davies Reserve and follows the service trails, footpaths, boardwalks and bushtracks winding downstream along the edge of Salt Pan Creek. This walk passes a few picnic areas along the way, before crossing under the Henry Lawson Drive bridge and climbing up the wooden stai

Total climbing: 19m

Moderate track

Alma Road to Padstow along Salt Pan Creek

2.8 km One way, 1 Hr

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 fol

Total climbing: 52m

Moderate track

Padstow to the Pipe Bridge Picnic Area

4.3 km Return, 1 hr 30 mins

This relaxing, return walk starts from the Padstow train station. The walk follows the streets to the end of Bridge street, then the boardwalks, footpaths and service trails along the right hand side of the creek, passing through Davies Reserve. The walk finishes at the pleasant little picnic area a

Total climbing: 62m

Very easy

Morgans Creek to Padstow

8 km One way, 2 hrs 45 mins

This pleasant walk starts from the Morgans Creek park, at Henry Lawsons Drive, and follows the Georges River past the Boomerang Reserve, winding through the bush around Mickeys Point and under the Alfords Point bridge. The walk then continues up through Padstow Heights to the Henry Lawson Drive Brid

Total climbing: 144m

Moderate track

East Hills to Padstow along the Georges River

15.8 km One way, 5 hrs 30 mins

This pleasant day walk starts from the East Hills train station and follows Henry Lawson Drive to Lambeth Reserve, at the Georges River's edge. Following the boardwalks, footpaths and bushtracks, the walk explores the edge of the river, including Yeramba Lagoon (popular amongst birdwatchers) and Sal

Total climbing: 347m

Moderate track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Padstow to the Salt Pan Creek Picnic Area 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