Located on the New South Wales Central Coast in Brisbane Water National Park, Elephant Rock is less than five-minutes drive from Patonga, 25 minutes from Gosford or 1 Hour 20 minutes from Sydney by car.
There are several ways to reach Elephant Rock, depending on how far you want to walk, or what other tracks you want to take. Having walked the Pearl Beach to Patonga Track before, we chose a short path off Patonga Drive.
Apparently, the rock looks like an elephant from some directions, but a drone view seems to be the best way to see it. It also gives great views over Brisbane Water and the surrounding forest.
After parking in a small siding only big enough for two cars we followed a narrow track into the bush. Although only a short walk, the track was very narrow, often requiring climbing over boulders. If you are not stable on your feet, this is not a track for you.
The narrow bush trackLichen cover rock on the track
Arriving at elephant rock not long after sunrise, we found the views over Brisbane Water covered in fog. Although disappointed not to see the view, the atmosphere was great with the fog rolled in, slowly covering the forest and then the rock.
Mist rolling over the forestMist rolling over Elephant RockElephant Rock
Wild Flowers
Many native species were in flower when we walked here in June 2023. This was a great bonus and very colourful, with the trail surrounded by colour the whole way.
Grass tree on Elephant RockBanksia in flowerBanksia in flowerRed Five-Corners (Styphelia tubiflora)
After returning to our car, we continued on to Patonga where we bought coffee and relaxed on the beach before returning home.
Patonga BeachFishing boat moored off Patonga
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located in the Royal National Park, near Sydney the Palona Cave Walk is a short and easy bush walk. It takes you through beautiful temperate rainforest to a large limestone cave and a cascading waterfall.
Getting There
We drove to Royal National Park, arriving just after sunrise, so that we could catch the sunrise. Parking at the intersection of Lady Carrington Drive and Sir Bertram Stevens Drive was easy as only two other cars were there. On our return though, it was full, and many cars were parked along the road. Access to the National Park is charged per vehicle and you can pay at the entrance gate or main office. If you plan to visit several parks during the year, an annual pass is available from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Entrance near the carpark
The Track
Starting at the car park the historic Lady Carrington Drive trail leads into the forest. This is a wide and well-maintained dirt trail that follows the course of the Hacking River. Originally a road, it was closed and is now a dedicated bike and hiking trail. The trail takes you through temperate rain forest and our early morning start meant that it was quiet and peaceful.
After about 750 m, we reached the junction with the Forest Path, which is another scenic walk in the park. From here we continued along Lady Carrington Drive to Palona Cave track.
Sunrise at the start of the trackToadstools and moss growing in an old tree stumpLady Carrington Drive Trail
Palona Cave
After another 1 km, a sign for Limestone Cave on the left side of the track points off to the right. Unfortunately, a tree now obscures it, so keep a look out as the path to the cave is easy to miss, being very narrow. If you reach the Palona Brook crossing, you have gone too far. From here you leave the main trail and follow a narrow bush track that leads uphill to Palona Cave. The track is rough and rocky in places, so watch your step. When we visited it was also very overgrown and disappeared in several spots.
Palona Cave is a large overhang with stalactites and stalagmites formed by water dripping through the limestone rock. You can explore the cave and see the different shapes and colours of the formations. There is also a small stream that flows next to the cave and forms a waterfall. We were lucky it had rained recently because this creek is often dry.
This was a great walk with the reward of a waterfall and cave at the end. Remember to wear good boots as the second part of the track is rough. At around 5.3km return, it took us around two and a half hours, with plenty of stops for photos and cave exploring.
Sign to the cave track. Hidden behind the tree.A fallen tree on the walkGymea LilyRock overhang on the trackEntrance to the caveCave EntranceThe back wall of Palona CaveWaterfall near the cave
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located in the Sydney council of Willoughby, Flat Rock Gully Walking Track is a 4km return trip through bushland bordering a small creek. Utilised for the disposal of domestic and industrial waste until 1985, the area became overgrown with weeds. Following the closing of the tip and associated incinerator, the area has been landscaped and bush land regenerated. The result is a beautiful walk, through trees and ferns in the centre of Sydney.
Parking
Parking is available near the start of the track at Small Street where a gated entrance leads to parking spots. Additional parking at the netball courts, near the old incinerator is a five-minute walk away.
Flat Rock Gully Walking Track
Starting off with bitumen and a section of boardwalk, the track appears an easy hike. However, this soon gives way to rougher sections of rock and dirt track. Sections have steppingstones added to aid walking in wet conditions and in going up and down the slopes. In wet and rainy weather, these areas become very slippery, so good hiking boots are needed, as well as being careful.
Council Bush Regenerators, contractors and volunteers have done an amazing job reducing the weeds present along the track. As a result, you can now walk through remnant Australian bush while in the centre of Sydney.
Easy start to the Walking TrackSmall section of boardwalkWater stained boulders on the side of the trackTrack descending to the gully floorStone Steps of the trackStone Steps of the trackFlat Rock Gully Walking Track
Flat Rock Creek
The creek crossing is a series of steppingstones, which will be slippery when wet and during high rainfall may be submerged. At the crossing, a stone embankment prevents erosion of the creek banks and has become overgrown in moss. This makes the area look old and overgrown, but also extremely slippery.
Stepping stones over Flat Rock CreekFlat Rock Creek with moss covered retaining wall
Long Gully Bridge
Crossing the gully at the end of the walk is Long Gully Bridge. Built to access a housing development at Northbridge in the 1890s, the false crenellated turreted towers make it look very medieval. Under the bridge, a large, landscaped area was once the council tip. The 30 metres of fill has been rehabilitated into playing fields, where we saw a game of cricket being played.
From The Cricket Fields Looking up at the BridgeThe Bridge from belowLong Gully Bridge from below
Flat Rock Drive Pedestrian Underpass Indigenous Art Work
Pedestrian access from the track to the baseball diamond and netball courts is via an underpass under Flat Rock Drive. If you park at the netball courts, this is the best way to get to the track.
Decorated with large indigenous murals unlike many underpasses left in dull concrete. Not far from here is the Henry Lawson Cave, where the poet would sleep off a drinking session at the local tavern.
Indigenous art work on the Flat Rock Drive underpassIndigenous art work on the Flat Rock Drive underpass
What Did We Think?
This was a really fun track to walk. Moderately difficult and a little slippery in the wet, the walk through remnant forest and along a creek was fun. Looking at the underside of the bridge and the decorated underpass were added bonuses.
