Get driving directions

Lake Eckersley picnic area sits on the shore of Lake Eckersley in the middle of Heathcote National Park. It can only be accessed by foot from Heathcote or Waterfall.

To get there via Heathcote train station:

• Walk from the end of Oliver Street, following Pipeline fire trail (1.5 hour walk on a bush track)
• Follow the signs to the picnic area

To get there via Waterfall train station:

• Walk from the end of Warrabin Street (2.5 hour steep walk on a bush track)
• Follow the signs to Lake Eckersley, off Pipeline fire trail

It's quite a long walk from the park’s entrance to the picnic area, so be sure to bring a Heathcote National Park topographic map.

Vehicle access

• No vehicle access

Parking

There is no vehicle access to the picnic area. Parking is available at:

• Heathcote, at the western end of Oliver Street (1.5 hour walk on a bush track to get to the picnic area)
• Waterfall, at the northern end of Warrabin Street (2.5 hour steep walk on a bush track to get to the picnic area)

Lake Eckersley is a remote picnic area. There are no facilities:

• Water, toilets and picnic tables are not available here so please pack accordingly.
• There are no rubbish bins – please take all rubbish with you when you leave.

• Lake Eckersley picnic area factsheet
• Lake Eckersley picnic area map (2MB pdf)

Disability access level - no wheelchair access

It is a long walk along a bush track from the park entrance to the picnic area. The walk is not suitable for wheelchairs.

• Bullawarring walking track For great Sydney bushwalking, visit Heathcote National Park, near Waterfall in the Sutherland shire; combine your hike with birdwatching and freshwater swimming.

• Kingfisher Pool picnic area A visit to this Sutherland picnic spot, located at Kingfisher Pool campground in Heathcote National Park, near Waterfall, offers birdwatching, bushwalking and swimming.
• Mooray walking track Enjoy a day of Sydney bushwalking and birdwatching. One of the best walks in Heathcote National Park, Mooray walking track is easily accessed from Waterfall train station.

Animals

• 

  Eastern blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scinciodes)

  The eastern blue-tongue lizard, one of the largest skinks in Australia, is found throughout most of NSW. When threatened, the eastern blue-tongue lizard displays its blue tongue in a wide-mouthed intimidating show. Not an agile animal, they feed on slow-moving beetles and snails.

• 

  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.

• 

  Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

  One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.

Plants

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  Scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)

  Easily identifiable Australian native plants, scribbly gum trees are found throughout NSW coastal plains and hills in the Sydney region. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark.