The Burgh Ridge Track is a well-trodden path which leads visitors to the Figure Eight Pools by connecting the Garawarra Farm carpark to the Royal Coast Track. Between August and December 2020, the track was closed each Monday to Thursday to allow essential upgrades to take place and to improve safety for park visitors. More than 300 steps and a thousand edging stones have been installed along a section of track that was steep, highly eroded and a real challenge for the many visitors looking to access Figure 8 Pools and cabin communities of Burning Palms and South Era.
Completion of this component of the track is a significant achievement, with the narrow, steep and rocky track providing a challenge for the NPWS contractors undertaking the work. Now, visitors who use the track from Garawarra Farm carpark can expect a much safer and more comfortable walking experience. The final sections of the upper track will be upgraded to include an elevated boardwalk later this year. Work on this section of the track has been on hold to enable further input from the local Aboriginal community on how the track should be completed.
The track at the northern entrance to the Burning Palms cabin community has also been upgraded with the installation of more than 150 stone steps. This section of track was also highly eroded and now provides a much easier and safer path for track walkers and people wanting to visit Figure 8 Pools.
At the southern end of the track, 200 stone steps have also been installed, upgrading a further 300 metres of track just north of Otford Lookout.
During the next 18 months, the remaining uncompleted sections between Burning Palms and Otford Lookout will be upgraded. This section of track is narrow and steep in places, and for the safety of visitors and work crews, restrictions on access will be necessary at various times. Please check the current alerts when planning your visit.
