Jersey Spring
Download & Print Map and Notes1 hr 45 mins
5 km Return
118 m
Easy track
Willow Tree
Willow Tree is a picnic area[1] in the Royal National Park. It is found on the south side of Audley, between the old Lady Carrington Drive and the Hacking River. The picnic area has a large shelter[2] with 4 picnic tables, an open grassy area[3], parking[4], BBQ’s, tap water, garbage bins[5], recycling and toilets. The picnic area stretches along the river bank and provides a lovely spot to stop and enjoy the park[6] .
Lady Carrington Drive
Opened in 1886 by Lady Carrington, this road was formally named ‘Lady Carrington Road’ (later changed to ‘drive’), and started on the southern side of the then newly constructed Audley weir. The road became popular among people exploring the region. The road follows the Hacking River’s east bank and then Bola Creek to Sir Bertram Stevens Drive. Much history has been preserved, with several drinking troughs still filling with water and many sandstone retaining walls still standing. The brooks that the old road crosses have been named using the traditional names of birds, the following is a list with the English name in brackets. Mullion (Eagle), Wurrul (Bee Eater), Burowa (Bustard), Karonga (White Crane), Gorra Worra (Laughing Jackass), Buralga (Native Companion), Kobardo (Parrot), Birumba (Plover), Dirijiri (Wagtail), Murrindum (Quail), Dumbal (Crow), Tamur (Bronze winged Pigeon), Burunda (Swan), Karani (Duck), Palona (Hawk) Brooks.
(0km) Lady Carrington Drive gate (Willow Tree) → Gibraltar Rock
430 m
8 mins
6m
-11m
Easy track
From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Lady Carrington Drive’ sign[7] around the locked gate[8] and along the management trail[9] (keeping the picnic area and river to the right). This walk winds along the trail gently uphill for about 400m to step onto the cobblestone section below the overhanging Gibraltar Rocks[10] beside the picnic table.
Gibraltar Rock
Gibraltar Rock[11], Royal National Park, is a sandstone overhang found near the northern end of Lady Carrington Drive. The old road passes under the rocks and is home to a small section of sandstone cobblestone[12]. At this point, the old road offers great views of the Hacking River[13] and across to Wattle Forest picnic area. These and many other sandstone formations, together with the history, make this old road quite interesting to explore. There is a picnic table under the overhang.
(0.43km) Gibraltar Rock → Jersey Spring
2.1 km
39 mins
54m
-47m
Easy track
Continue straight: From Gibraltar Rock[14], this walk follows the old dirt road, keeping the Hacking River to the right. After 100m, the trail passes over Mullion Brook on an old sandstone culvert[15] and past a series of palm groves[16]. The walk continues along the trail as it gently undulates and winds along the side of the Hacking River for just shy of 2km to come to the two[17] sandstone ‘Jersey Spring’[18] troughs.
Jersey Spring
The Jersey Spring is beside the old Lady Carrington Drive in the Royal National Park. The permanent spring feeds into two sandstone troughs, built in 1892 to provide water for horses and people traveling along the road. The troughs are still fed by the same spring (although it has moved overtime and the water is no longer suitable for drinking). The springs are named after Rt. Hon. Victor George (Earl of Jersey), the 17th governor of NSW. More info.
(2.48km) Jersey Spring → Jersey Spring clearing
130 m
3 mins
5m
-5m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the ‘Jersey Spring’ troughs[19], this walk follows the old Lady Carrington Drive management trail past the ‘Jersey Spring’ information sign[20] keeping the river to the right. The trail winds gently downhill for about 100m to come to the large unsignposted Jersey Spring clearing[21][22] and picnic table[23]. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.
Jersey Spring Clearing
The Jersey Spring Clearing is an open grassy area between the old Lady Carrington Drive and the Hacking River. The clearing is not formally named but is just south of the Jersey Spring. This is a great area to stop, rest and enjoy the journey along the old road
Maps for the Jersey Spring walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Port Hacking | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91294N PORT HACKING | NSW-91294N |
Port Hacking | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9129 PORT HACKING | 9129 |
Cross sectional view of the Jersey Spring bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Jersey Spring
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length | 5 km | ||
Time | 1 hr 45 mins | ||
. | |||
Grade 2/6 Easy track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6) |
Quality of track | Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6) | ||
Signs | Clearly signposted (1/6) | ||
Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
Around 2.1km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 430m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
This whole walk, 2.5km follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
This whole walk, 2.5km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 2.5km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 2.5km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 2.5km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Jersey Spring walk starts and ends at the Lady Carrington Drive gate (Willow Tree) (gps: -34.079304, 151.05522)Your main transport option to Lady Carrington Drive gate (Willow Tree) is by;
Car. A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.
(get details)
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Metropolitan weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/16
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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