Nothing like a 1.8-kilometre ascent straight up a mountain to get the blood pumping, right? The blood, the heart rate, the huffing and puffing – the Mt Keira Summit Walk from Byarong Park to the Summit Park got it all going!
So worth it for the view at the top though!!
Good to know…
Family Friendly :: Suited to older primary school aged kids and high schoolers who don’t mind challenging and rocky walks. There are some cliffs and drops quite close to the track as you get higher, so probably not ideal for younger kids.
Easily accessible :: The starting point is at Byarong Park which is at 321 Mt Keira Road. There is plenty of parking and it’s the starting point for other walks around Mt Keira, including the Mt Keira Ring Track, the trail to Robertsons Lookout and another walk to Mt Pleasant.
Dog Friendly :: No dogs allowed as it’s part of the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area.
Stairs :: Yes, quite a few and several steep inclines. National Parks & Wildlife have rated the walk a Grade 3.
Length :: 1.8 kilometres to the top and 1.8k back down again.
Time :: It took us about an hour to get to the top with a couple of short breaks to catch our breath.
Good to go…
We hit the track the day after some night time rain so the trail at the base of the mountain was a bit muddy and slippery to start with. We loved the rainforest vibes as we followed the Mt Keira Ring Track (the blue loop on the map) around to the left.
The first half of the track is a mix of stairs, fairly easy ascents and some flatter bits for evening out the huffing and puffing. The path has quite a lot of tree roots cris-crossing across the trail, so keep your eyes peeled and your feet nimble!
We also loved some of the beautiful old trees we came across, like this one.
About 20 minutes into the walk, moving along at a medium pace, you’ll hit Mt Keira Road. Cross the road to access the Dave Walsh Track (the pink one on the trail map) which will take you to the summit. The head of that trail is about ten metres to your right once you’ve crossed.
Now, this is when it starts to get quite steep and rocky. Thankfully, there are plenty of trees to hang onto as you work your way up the path, which is mostly easy to see but a little tricky to navigate. Take your time and wear hiking boots to minimise the risk of rolling an ankle.
About two thirds of the way up the Dave Walsh Track, we did look across to our right and saw this fabulous view towards Robertson’s Knoll. See? Makes the burning glutes worth it! And gave us (actually, me) an excuse to stop for a few minutes and regulate the breathing, under the cunning guise of taking some pics!
It took us another ten minutes or so of climbing, before we reached a wonderful flat clearing. We were so happy to see that! And then were entranced by the beautiful sculptures and Indigenous Dreamtime story of The Six Daughters of the West Wind, the story behind how Mt Keira got its name and how the five islands to the east of Wollongong were formed. Take the time to read the story – it’s on a sign in the clearing next to the six sculptures (representing the six sisters). Our kids read it out loud and it gave us plenty to talk about as we headed up towards the Summit Park which is just a short few hundred metres away.
We reached the Mt Keira Summit Park about an hour after we left Byarong Park. The lookout at the park is spacious (social distancing all good here!) and has plenty of good spots to take advantage of the views up and down the coast. We were there on a clear winter’s day so could see super far! The park also has clean public bathrooms, and a takeaway café where you can grab a post-walk coffee, cold drink or snack before you head back down the hill again.
Just take care on the descent! While it’s faster – thanks gravity!! – it can also be a little slippery underfoot and can put some pressure on the knees. Take your time and enjoy the fact that you’re descending rather than ascending!
