The Birdwood Gully Round Walk in the suburb of Springwood is a family-friendly bushwalking trail passing through beautiful scenery.
From tall trees and imposing cliff overhangs to creek crossings and glow worm caves, this 2.6 km loop is a hidden gem in the Lower Blue Mountains.
| Birdwood Gully Round Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 2.6 km (loop) |
| Duration: | 1.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy (steps and uneven path) |
| Wheel-friendly: | No |
| Dog-friendly: | Yes (on a lead) |
Getting There
Since this is a loop walk, there are several entry points, but the best spot to park your car and start this walk is at the end of Bednal Road (see map location).
If you’re travelling by public transport, Springwood Station is a 25-minute walk to Lucinda Avenue and a 15-minute walk to the other end of the walk on Bednal Rd.
The trailhead can be found between the two properties at 36 and 38 Lucinda Ave where the trail goes straight into the bush.
Below is a map of the walk with the black dotted line representing the short stretch along Bednal Rd.
Track Notes
The Birdwood Gully Walk is a relatively easy trail, though it does have its share of steps. It’s an excellent bushwalk for beginner hikers and kids looking to experience real bushwalking.
For better grip and stability on the trail, we recommend wearing a good pair of comfortable hiking shoes.
The Start
Assuming you’re starting this walk from Lucinda Avenue, look for the Birdwood Gully Round Walk signpost and follow the trail heading into the bush.
From there, the trail descends steeply down a long stretch of carved stone steps. It’s wise to keep your focus on the uneven, sometimes slippery steps as you go.
Caves and Ferns
As you venture deeper into the gully, you’ll notice the landscape gradually transforming into a lush, rainforest-like environment, surrounded by beautiful ferns.
One of the many highlights of the Birdwood Gully Round Walk is the large cave the trail navigates through, home to colonies of glow worms.
While you won’t easily spot them during the day, return at night (with a torch), and you’re likely to witness their magical glow. Just remember to turn off your light sources when you reach the cave to see them shine.
Further along the trail, you’ll find more overhangs and cave structures where you might encounter even more of these glowing creatures.
Cliff Overhangs
After passing through the first cave, the trail winds through a lush rainforest landscape with several creek crossings via footbridges and stepping stones.
Once you cross the small footbridge where Springwood Creek and Elkington Creek converge, the track gradually ascends to higher ground.
This is a particularly beautiful stretch, where you’ll encounter impressive cliff overhangs that run parallel to Boland Avenue above.
The Return
From those steep and imposing cliff walls, the walking track continues alongside the creek with one more footbridge to cross before climbing back up to Bednal Road.
Once you see the sign like in the photo above, it’s another 450 metres alongside the road to return to the starting point of the walk.
Just be careful with traffic coming up and down this winding section of Bednal Road as cars may travel a bit fast.
Keen to do another great hike in the Lower Blue Mountains?
We recommend the Blue Gum Swamp Walk in the suburb of Winmalee, an exciting 9 km bushwalk through a beautiful forest of Blue Gum trees.
