Lillypilly Loop Trail

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Time 1 hr 15 mins
Circuit 3.6 km Circuit
Climb 62 m
Grade 3 Moderate track
Car
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This beautiful loop walk passes through a great variety of forest scenery, including some lovely rainforest, dominated by cabbage palms and other trees. There are some beautiful views across Tuggerah Lake, and parts of the track feature twisted Sydney Redgums leaning over the track, and the shorter palm-like Burrawang (a species of cycad). Much of the walk is on sandy tracks, with sections of timber boarding to control erosion.

(0km) South car park → Int of Lilly Pilly loop and Sth Lilly Pilly access trail

distance 80 m time 2 mins climb 6m descent 0m Moderate track
From the car park on the Central Coast Hwy, aka Wilfred Barret Dr (about 5.5 km north of The Entrance bridge, and about 4.6km south of the intersection with Main Rd, Noraville. Signposted 'Wyrrabalong National Park'), the walk goes around a gate, passes an information board and 'Lilly Pilly Loop Trail' sign, and follows the management trail up the hill. The trail soon bends to the left and arrives at an intersection, marked with a 'Lilly Pilly Loop Link Trail' sign.

(0km) Int of Lilly Pilly loop and Sth Lilly Pilly access trail → Tuggerah lake vista

distance 820 m time 14 mins climb 3m descent -19m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the sandy bush track, going up the hill, away from the nearby road. The track runs along a ridge line, through relatively dry forest for a while, before dropping a little, into moist littoral rainforest. The walk meanders through this beautiful area of rainforest, passing a 'Rainforests' information board, to the left, and then emerges to a nice vista at the edge of Tuggerah lake.

Lilly Pilly loop rainforest

Lilly Pilly loop rainforest
This area of littoral rainforest is on the Lilly Pilly loop walk, in Wyrrabalong National Park, north of The Entrance. This small remnant of rainforest is dominated by cabbage palms, corkwoods and tuckeroos. There are nice views across Tuggerah lake from the edge of the forest as well.

Tuggerah Lake vista

Tuggerah Lake vista
This informal, unnamed spot at the edge of Tuggerah Lake, north of The Entrance, has beautiful views across the lake. These views, combined with the nearby area of rainforest, provide beautiful scenery on walks in the area.

(1km) Tuggerah lake vista → Int of Lilly Pilly loop and Redgum track

distance 1.2 km time 21 mins climb 43m descent -13m Moderate track
Veer right: From the lakeside vista, the walk follows the bush track north, keeping Tuggerah lake to the left. The track follows the lake edge for a short distance before climbing away to the right. This section of the track undulates through quite moist forest, with some great views back across the lake, then passes some timber retaining walls. From here, the walk undulates through drier forest for some distance, with sections of erosion control board walkway, to reach the intersection with the 'Red Gum Trail'.

(2km) Int of Lilly Pilly loop and Redgum track → Int of Lilly Pilly loop and Nth Lilly Pilly access trail

distance 650 m time 12 mins climb 3m descent -14m Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the left arrow on the 'Lilly Pilly Loop Trail' sign, along the sandy bush track. The track immediately drops through a gully, then winds through some nice forest for a short distance before arriving at the intersection with the 'Burrawang Walking Track'.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the sandy bush track up the hill, leaving the 'Lilly Pilly Loop Trail' sign on the right. After a while the track descends, with sections of erosion control board walkway, through nice forest, before reaching the intersection signposted with 'Lilly Pilly Loop Link Trail'.

(3km) Int of Lilly Pilly loop and Nth Lilly Pilly access trail → South car park

distance 860 m time 15 mins climb 7m descent -15m Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Lilly Pilly Loop Link Trail' arrow, along the narrow bush track, going up the hill. This section of track meanders through an interesting mixture of patches of littoral rainforest and some drier forest. One very sandy section of the track is held in place by low, timber retaining walls. The walk continues, eventually climbing a little through thick, vine covered vegetation, to reach an intersection marked with a 'Lilly Pilly Loop Link Trail' sign.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the level, sandy management trail towards the nearby road (opposite direction to the signpost arrow). After a short distance, the trail bends to the right and goes down hill a little. The walk passes an information board and 'Lilly Pilly Loop Trail' sign before going around a gate and arriving at the car park on the Central Coast Hwy, aka Wilfred Barret Dr (about 5.5 km north of The Entrance bridge, and about 4.6km south of the intersection with Main Rd, Noraville. Signposted 'Wyrrabalong National Park').

Maps for the Lillypilly Loop Trail 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.

Toukley1:25 000 Map Series92313N TOUKLEYNSW-92313N
Lake Macquarie1:100 000 Map Series9231 LAKE MACQUARIE9231

Cross sectional view of the Lillypilly Loop Trail bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Lillypilly Loop Trail

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Lillypilly Loop Trail

Altitude analysis for Lillypilly Loop Trail

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.

Length3.6 km
Time1 hr 15 mins
.




Grade 3/6



Moderate track
AS 2156.1GradientShort steep hills (3/6)
Quality of trackFormed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
SignsDirectional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience RequiredSome bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
WeatherWeather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
InfrastructureLimited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

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

Gradient

Around 2.6km of this walk has short steep hills, whilst the remaining 990m has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

Around 2.4km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 1.2km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 3.4km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 160m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

Around 2.4km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.2km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 3.6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

This whole walk, 3.6km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Lillypilly Loop Trail walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Lillypilly Loop Trail walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Lillypilly Loop Trail walk starts and ends at the South car park (gps: -33.300644, 151.53294)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Wyrrabalong National Park

Wyrrabalong National park on the NSW Central Coast is divided into two main sections. The northern section sits between the South Pacific Ocean and Tuggerah Lake (with the Central Coast Hwy cutting up the middle) south of Norah Head. The south section covers a coastal strip from Forresters Beach to Bateau Bay. The park is rich with great views, sandy beaches and the last significant coastal rainforest in the area. A great place for walking, swimming, fishing and relaxing.

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