Woodford – Oaks trail
Glenbrook area in Blue Mountains National Park
Overview
Cycling the Woodford – Oaks trail offers dazzling scenic views, heath and delightful picnicking near Glenbrook, in Blue Mountains National Park.
- Distance
- 27km one-way
- Time suggested
- 3hrs 30min
- Grade
- Medium
- Opening times
If you're driving into the Glenbrook area, the gates are open:
- First Sunday in October to first Sunday in April 8.30am to 7pm
- Rest of year 8.30am to 6pm
- Cyclists and walkers have 24hr access
- What to
bring - Hat, sunscreen, drinking water
- Please note
- Check the weather before you set out as this cycling trail can become boggy when it rains.
- Drinking water is available just inside the gate to this trail, at a tap installed by NPWS. Please use this tap to fill your water bottles rather than the neighbours’ garden taps.
- There is limited mobile reception in this park
- The weather in this area can be extreme and unpredictable, please ensure you are well prepared for your visit.
For an invigorating ride or walk that will work your muscles and clear your head, try Woodford - Oaks trail in Blue Mountains National Park. The track leads from Woodford to Glenbrook and makes a great day out in the mountains for friends or family looking for heart pumping adventure and fresh mountain air.
Take in the expansive scenic views as the medium trail winds through heath, gradually giving way to open forest. Arriving at The Oaks picnic area, named for the nearby casuarinas, enjoy a well-earned lunch. From here, the track continues as a dedicated cycle track with a steep ride up Glenbrook Gorge to the station.
In the warmer months, the aroma of wildflowers and eucalypts mingle to create a heady perfume. It’s also a very popular track for cyclists and runners, and attracts over 850 participants for the annual Woodford to Glenbrook Classic.
Take a virtual tour of Woodford – Oaks trail captured with Google Street View Trekker.
Also see
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Blue Pool walking track
The family will love a day-trip to Blue Pool walking track. The tranquil bush setting is ideal for swimming and picnicking in Blue Mountains National Park, Glenbrook.
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Jellybean track
A perfect Blue Mountains day trip with the kids, Jellybean track is a short walk taking you to pretty Jellybean Pool. Swim or lilo the calm waters, bring a picnic or try bird watching.
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Glenbrook Gorge track
Challenging Glenbrook Gorge track offers rock-hopping along a creek bed in beautiful bushland, past an historic railway tunnel, in Blue Mountains National Park.
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Red Hands Cave walking track - Blue Mountains National Park
Red Hands Cave walking track, in Blue Mountains National Park, offers impressive Aboriginal stencil art with picnicking and birdwatching, near Glenbrook.
Map
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/cycling-trails/woodford-oaks-trail/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in the Glenbrook area of Blue Mountains National Park in the Sydney and surrounds region
- From the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April: park gates are open 8.30am to 7pm.
- Rest of the year: park gates are open 8.30am to 6pm.
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$8 per vehicle per day applies at the Bruce Road entrance to the Glenbrook area. You can also pay for your visit via the Park’nPay app.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Woodford – Oaks trail.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Woodford – Oaks trail is in the Glenbrook area of Blue Mountains National Park. To get there from Woodford Railway Station:
- The station ramp leads to Railway Parade which you follow (towards Sydney) for 300m.
- At the junction, turn right into Appian Way for 100m, then left into Parker Street for 80m, then left into Taylor Road.
- After 50m you’ll see a dirt road on the right with a locked gate.
- There are signs to identify the park and the trail starts here. You'll need to lift your bike over the low fence.
Parking
Parking is available. It's a good idea to park at Glenbrook Railway Station, where the trail ends, and catch the train to Woodford with your bike.
Maps and downloads
Prohibited
Gathering firewood
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Woodford – Oaks trail is in Glenbrook area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal rock art
Red Hands Cave is one of the best Aboriginal stencil galleries in Sydney and its surrounds. Accessed via the 8km Red Hands Cave loop walk, it’s the most accessible Aboriginal culture in Blue Mountains National Park. The layers of earthy reds, yellows and whites of the hand prints are still vibrant. Among several applied techniques, the artists would chew a mix of ochre and water and blow it over a hand resting on the wall, forming a stencil.
- Red Hands Cave Red Hands Cave in Blue Mountains National Park is one of the best showcases of Aboriginal rock art in the area. It's reached via Red Hands Cave loop walking track.
- Red Hands Cave walking track - Blue Mountains National Park Red Hands Cave walking track, in Blue Mountains National Park, offers impressive Aboriginal stencil art with picnicking and birdwatching, near Glenbrook.
Ancient landscapes
Lookouts like Portal are a great place to see the layers of geology in the Blue Mountains. Around 60 to 80 million years ago, Hawkesbury sandstone from the Sydney Basin was uplifted to form a plateau 50 to 200m above the coastal plain. Past volcanic activity can also be seen at Euroka and Murphys Glen campgrounds. These sit on old volcanic pipes, called diatremes, that blasted molten lava to the surface over 200 million years ago. Erosion of the diatreme at Euroka has left saucer shaped depressions and rich soil, where tall trees thrive.
- Glenbrook Gorge track Challenging Glenbrook Gorge track offers rock-hopping along a creek bed in beautiful bushland, past an historic railway tunnel, in Blue Mountains National Park.
- Jack Evans walking track The challenging Jack Evans walking track offers swimming, rock-hopping, wildflowers in the Blue Labyrinth region of Blue Mountains National Park, near Glenbrook.
- Portal lookout Wheelchair-accessible Portal lookout offers gorge and river views with abseiling and climbing options, near Western Sydney, in Blue Mountains National Park.
- Women's Blue Mountains trail running sessions Develop your trail running skills on a women’s training session with Serotonin Running. Boost your fitness and learn good technique in the World Heritage surrounds of Blue Mountains National Park.
Activities at your fingertips
You don’t have to go far from the carpark to find a walk, riding trail, scenic lookout or picnic spot. Most of the roads are suitable for 2WD vehicles, so enjoy the drive as you make your way to Nepean lookout or the wheelchair-accessible Portal lookout. Glenbrook's well-maintained trails are favourites with mountain bikers and trail runners, who make a beeline for the Woodford-Oaks trail, Bennetts Ridge, and Murphys trail. If you prefer to relax, Euroka and Murphys Glen campgrounds provide low-key camping facilities without having to wander too far from Sydney.
- Portal lookout Wheelchair-accessible Portal lookout offers gorge and river views with abseiling and climbing options, near Western Sydney, in Blue Mountains National Park.
- Woodford – Oaks trail Cycling the Woodford – Oaks trail offers dazzling scenic views, heath and delightful picnicking near Glenbrook, in Blue Mountains National Park.
Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage
Blue Mountains National Park is 1 of 8 national parks and reserves that make up the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property. In 2000, UNESCO recognised the area's outstanding geology, biodiversity, and Aboriginal significance. The are lies within the Country of the Darug, Gundungurra, Wiradjuri, Darkinjung, Wanaruah and Dharawal People. With 1 million hectares of rugged plateaux, sheer cliffs and deep gorges, it protects unique ecosystems teeming with rare plants and animals. Over 95 species of eucalypt trees have evolved here over millions of years, making it the most diverse eucalypt forest in the world. Greater Blue Mountains driving route is a great way to see this ancient wilderness right on Sydney doorstep. Glenbrook is the eastern gateway to this ancient wilderness right on Sydney doorstep.
- Jack Evans walking track The challenging Jack Evans walking track offers swimming, rock-hopping, wildflowers in the Blue Labyrinth region of Blue Mountains National Park, near Glenbrook.
- Nepean lookout With great river views of Fairlight Gorge, Nepean lookout boasts birdwatching and scenic wildflowers on a sightseeing car tour in Glenbrook, Blue Mountains National Park.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.
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Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
One of the most widespread of Australian tree-dwelling marsupials, the common brushtail possum is found across most of NSW in woodlands, rainforests and urban areas. With strong claws, a prehensile tail and opposable digits, these native Australian animals are well-adapted for life amongst the trees.
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Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)
The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.
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Eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii)
The eastern water dragon is a subaquatic lizard found in healthy waterways along eastern NSW, from Nowra to halfway up the Cape York Pensinsula. It’s believed to be one of the oldest of Australian reptiles, remaining virtually unchanged for over 20 million years.
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Lace monitor (Varanus varius)
One of Australia’s largest lizards, the carnivorous tree-dwelling lace monitor, or tree goanna, can grow to 2m in length and is found in forests and coastal tablelands across eastern Australia. These Australian animals are typically dark blue in colour with whitish spots or blotches.
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Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
Of the 2 species of kookaburra found in Australia, the laughing kookaburra is the best-known and the largest of the native kingfishers. With its distinctive riotous call, the laughing kookaburra is commonly heard in open woodlands and forests throughout NSW national parks, making these ideal spots for bird watching.
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Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)
The sugar glider is a tree-dwelling Australian native marsupial, found in tall eucalypt forests and woodlands along eastern NSW. The nocturnal sugar glider feeds on insects and birds, and satisfies its sweet tooth with nectar and pollens.
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Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)
With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.
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Superb fairy wren (Malurus cyaneus)
The striking blue and black plumage of the adult male superb fairy wren makes for colourful bird watching across south-eastern Australia. The sociable superb fairy wrens, or blue wrens, are Australian birds living in groups consisting of a dominant male, mouse-brown female ‘jenny wrens’ and several tawny-brown juveniles.
Plants
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Wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)
The wonga wonga vine is a widespread vigorous climber usually found along eastern Australia. A variation of the plant occurs in the central desert, where it resembles a sprawling shrub. One of the more common Australian native plants, the wonga wonga vine produces bell-shaped white or yellow flowers in the spring, followed by a large oblong-shaped seed pod.
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Smooth-barked apple (Angophora costata)
Smooth-barked apple gums, also known as Sydney red gum or rusty gum trees, are Australian native plants found along the NSW coast, and in the Sydney basin and parts of Queensland. Growing to heights of 15-30m, the russet-coloured angophoras shed their bark in spring to reveal spectacular new salmon-coloured bark.
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Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)
Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.
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Flannel flower (Actinotus helianthi)
The delicate flannel flower is so named because of the soft woolly feel of the plant. Growing in the NSW south coast region, extending to Narrabri in the Central West and up to south-east Queensland, its white or pink flowers bloom all year long, with an extra burst of colour in the spring.
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Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)
Coachwood trees are Australian native plants that grow in warm temperate rainforests along coastal NSW. Also known as scented satinwood, the mottled grey bark of the coachwood has horizontal markings and a delicate fragrance.
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Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)
The blueberry ash is a rainforest shrub which produces blue olive-shaped berries and spectacular bell-shaped flowers, which often appear on the plant together. It is a tall slender shrub or small tree found in rainforest, tall eucalypt forest and coastal bushland in eastern NSW, south-east Queensland and Victoria.
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Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)
An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.
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Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)
The beautiful waratah is not only the NSW floral emblem, it's also one of the best-known Australian native plants. This iconic Australian bush flower can be found on sandstone ridges around Sydney, in nearby mountain ranges and on the NSW South Coast. The waratah has a vibrant crimson flowerhead, measuring up to 15cm across, and blossoms in spring.