Partial Illawarra Range Grand Escarpment Walk. Be active, healthy and happy!😎

Partial Illawarra Grand Escarpment Walk
Start: Scarborough Station
Finish: Stanwell Park Station
Distance: 17km
🪃I acknowledge the traditional custodians of this country on which I walk, the Wodi Wodi people and respect their culture and elders past, present and emerging.

🪃About: Due to landslides after a heavy rain event in Jan 2022 the southern end of this walk is closed at Sublime Point & still under repair. We can however walk to the halfway point & double back, enjoying beautiful bushland and stunning ocean vistas from high elevation.

🪃Route: From Scarborough we walk north along Lawrence Hargrave Drive crossing the Seacliff Bridge to the village of Coalcliff.
There's a talking public toilet at Coalcliff. ☺️
From Coalcliff we keep heading north, cross under the rail line and start up the Wodi Wodi Walking Track.
Turning right at the Forest Walk Track we have a moderately steep ascent to the first lookout. It doesn't take long but it is steep.
The view from the lookouts on the shoulder of Mt Mitchell make it all worthwhile!
From there it's a gentle undulating track & a couple more panoramic lookouts with 90% shady tree canopy to Lunch Rock with beautiful views of the coast and Wollongong in the distance.
Then we double back & turn right at Wodi Wodi track through verdant rainforest heading to Stanwell Park.
There's a challenging creek crossing at Stanwell Creek with steep banks on either side. You need shoes with a good grip. Trainers won't hack it.
Finish at Stanwell Park Station for the train home.

🪃Meeting place: Scarborough Station. Map: https://tinyurl.com/xrzv4emw

🪃Type of walk: Bushwalking. Rugged climb at the start, easy on top of the range & challenging at the finish.

🪃Difficulty: Hard because of the steep start and finish sections. The distance is 17km.
𝙉𝙊 𝙀𝙓𝙄𝙏 𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙉𝙏𝙎! If you start this walk you have to go the full distance.
𝙉𝙊 𝙒𝘼𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙍𝙀𝙁𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙎 𝘼𝙇𝙊𝙉𝙂 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙒𝘼𝙔! Bring your own.

🪃Walking pace: At start & end sections we will take our time to be safe.
At top of the Range we should average 4 to 4.5 km per hour.

🪃What to bring: Trailwalker shoes with good grip; 2.5 litres of water, hydralytes; carbohydrate snacks and lunch; light rain jacket depending on conditions; sunscreen and a cap or hat with a wide brim.

🪃Public transport:
Start:
Depart- 7:29am Platform 25 Central Station.
Change- 8:46 Platform 2, Thirroul Station to
8:52 Platform 1, Thirroul Station- travel in the last 4 carraiges.
Arrive- 9:02am Platform 2 Scarborough Station.

Finish: Depart- 3:11pm Stanwell Park Station.
Arrive 4.17pm Central Station

🪃 Driving: Park at either Sutherland, Waterfall or Helensburg stations & hop on the train to Scarborough. Sutherland 8.01am; Waterfall 8.13am or Helensburg 8.22am.
The train back to Sydney stops at these 3 stations.

🪃 Gratuity: There will be a $5 cash gratuity for this walk. Pay ID alternatively.

Safety Warning: Please stay away from cliff edges and be very careful when walking on wet and slippery rocks and surfaces. Please stay within sight of the group at all times and do not walk in front of the leader.
By RSVP this meetup you agree to and are bound by the terms and conditions of Aussie Explorers which can be found here: https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers/
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or message me. I look forward to seeing you on this walk. I will post my mobile number closer to the day.

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐅.😎