Hacking River – Lady Carrington Drive loop from Jannali

Australia

New South Wales

Hacking River – Lady Carrington Drive loop from Jannali

Moderate

riders

Hacking River – Lady Carrington Drive loop from Jannali

02:37

40.8km

430m

Gravel riding

Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: November 7, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 8.13 km for 196 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

7.86 km

Lakeside View in Royal National Park

Highlight • Lake

8.20 km

Audley Visitor Centre and picnic area

Highlight • Rest Area

Audley Visitor Centre and the surrounding picnic area sit right along the Hacking River in the central valley of Royal National Park. The historic precinct includes open lawns, picnic areas, and access to walking and cycling routes through the park. Set along the river near the Audley weir, it is a popular starting point for exploring the park’s bushland and waterways.

Tip by

9.36 km

Hacking River

Highlight • River

The Hacking River flows 26 kilometres, starting at Kellys Creek and Gills Creek, plunging off the towering cliffs of the Illawarra Escarpment, then travelling though ancient valleys and Royal National Park before emptying into the Tasman Sea. The river flows north-east, starting as a narrow jungle river and transforming into a wide, tidal delta bounded by dense mangroves near its end.

Tip by

11.8 km

Lady Carrington Drive

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Lady Carrington Drive stretches 10 kilometres across the Royal National Park, and though "drive" is in the name, it has long been closed to motor vehicles. Originally opened to the public in 1886, it was used by horse and carriage. Today it's a wide, flat, family-friendly dirt track popular for bushwalking, running, and mountain biking. There are some pretty unique rock overhands along the track, some with picnic benches underneath them. Lady Carrington Drive hugs the eastern bank of the Hacking River and winds though through forests of tall blue gums and turpentines. The track can be accessed at its northern end at Fig Tree Flat in the Audley precinct, or from the southern gate off Sir Bertram Stevens Drive.

Tip by

17.7 km

Bola Creek Picnic Area

Highlight • Natural Monument

Bola Creek Picnic Area is a scenic rest spot with picnic tables tucked deep inside the shaded forest canopy. There are nearby maps and informational signs to read up on as well.

Tip by

19.0 km