This ride is through Water Board land and Heathcote National Park, on fire trails next to or near the pipeline supplying Sydney from Woranora Dam. The ride is best done on a coolish day as it can get hot in the protected valleys of the Park. Bring plenty of water.
The ride could be done either way or in sections. Allow about five hours for the whole route. We started at Jannali Station and rode south via Jannali Av, right at Leonay St, crossed Linden St, and right at Oakwood St to pick up the cycleway next to River Rd down to the Woranora Bridge. Have a look at the new cycleway across the bridge, slung underneath the deck. Ride half way across for quite a view.
Back to the Jannali side of the bridge, and continue down to water level on the old Woranora Bridge road and proceed south along the river on Prince Edward Park Road. About a kilometre or so along, just past the Woranora RSL, look for Thorpe Rd on the left. This leads to an uphill track to the start of the pipeline. There is a locked gate but you can walk around the sides or if not lift bikes over or through. This advice applies to the many more gates you will come to along the way to the Dam.
The first section of pipeline track goes gradually uphill with some sandy sections or washaways but is rideable. At the end is a locked gate, and a short section of residential access road leads to Bundanoon Rd. Cross this road and look for Kelton Place a little bit to the south. This leads steeply down to a hard right onto a dirt track which goes further down until the pipeline is reached. There are about four gates in a row here to be tackled and then the fire trail continues with the river on the right. There is a sidetrack to The Needles, a rock pool on the river.
The trail continues on a slow climb on fairly good surfaces until it comes out at a fork on top of a rise overlooking Heathcote Rd. Tracks off to the left go to Engadine if you wanted to finish at this point (better than using Heathcote Rd, see below). Otherwise go down-hill to another locked gate on Heathcote Rd. This road is very busy and narrow and there are poor sight lines. Cross with great care. Wait for gaps in the traffic, dont rush it. Not a good place to cross at all.The pipeline track continues on the other side, up a little bit.
On the other side, the track continues generally south to southwestward. There are some steep sections and some rocky bits as well. this part is the hardest going, particularly if hot. It is about 9 km from Heathcote Rd to the end of the fire trail, at Woranora Dam Rd. The waterway visible below is now Heathcote Creek, and there are a number of rock pools you could cool off in, but they may involve a bit of a climb down and back off the track. Battery Causeway is about halfway, where you can have a break next to a large pool if it has not been too dry. Dont know about the quality of the water. The last section is quite steep.At the end of the fire trail after the last gate is the Woranora dam Road. Go right if wanting to see the dam, or left to get to Waterfall. There is a picnic area and water and toilets at the Dam. No shop. After a well earned rest it is about 10 km back to Waterfall from the Dam, along good quality roads. Turn left at the old Princes Highway to get to Waterfall. Trains go back to Sydney.
Kai'mia Way See details of the proposed walking and cycling trails in the Woranora valley. Has maps of the pipeline route and some good pics once you figure out the site. Part of a grand scheme including a walking /cycling track on Georges River and around Botany Bay.
