Kahibah – Adamstown (3.6km) Kahibah train station,theFernleigh journeyiscomplete. Lake MacquarietoNewcastle.UponarrivingatAdamstown under thePacific markingthetransitionfrom Highway, formerrailtunnelof181A curved metresguidesthepath bandicoots, echidnas, rosellas,honeyeatersandmore. appleforest.The areaishometopossums, smooth-barked and passesthroughmahogany,Sydneypeppermint features. The track crossesFlaggyandLittleCreeks Area,thissectionisfullofinteresting Conservation State ContinuingthroughtheGlenrock slopes downhill. From Kahibah thetrack toAdamstown, consistently service andmaintenanceofthelinedecreased. service the city. When coaltransportationbegantodecline,the frequentlyusedforweekend excursionsfrom hour andwas BelmontandNewcastle.Thebetween triptookaroundone existed In additiontocoalhaulage,apassengerservice Newcastle steelworks. mines inLake MacquarietotheportofNewcastleand early inthe1890’s. usedto transportcoalfromthe Itwas openedfortraffic linewas toBelmontrailway Adamstown Rail constructionbeganinthelate1880’s, andthe hilly forests. resources oftheopenandrocky landand coastline,swamp amongst therich naturalenvironmentandutilisedthe hometotheindigenousAwabakal people.Theywas lived For anestimated6,000years,theFernleigh Track area behindthe History Fernleigh Loop,Adamstown-Belmontrailwayline,early1970s

Lake Macquarie Visitor Information Centre End:  Start: 228 Pacific Highway, Swansea 1800 802 044 www.visitlakemac.com.au 600metres cafe within –drinkingfountain,parking, Adamstown TrainAdamstown Station,Park Avenue, 600metresofthetrackwithin Road,Kahibah –parking,localshops Burwood

Newcastle Visitor Information Centre Newcastle Regional Maritime Museum, Adamstown to Belmont Rail Trail Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle 90 minutes from 1800 654 558 www.visitnewcastle.com.au Fernleigh Track Looking for WALKING TRAILS GUIDE 2012 some more walking trails to explore? Pick up your FREE copy of our Walking Trails Guide at the Lake Macquarie Visitor lots to explore Centre, download it online at www.visitlakemac.com.au or call 1800 802 044. Former locationoftheFernleigh Loop,Fernleigh Track, presentday completely. operationsin1991,shut down useofthelineceased mines alongthelineincreased.AfterLambtonColliery terminated in1971. Throughout the1980s, closuresofcoal finally was made, beforethescheduled passengerservice In 1967, aswitchfromsteamtodieselrailmotorswas spanning 2003–2011. completedinstages, Differentsectionswere preservation. asignificantfocusseton restorationand commence with State andFederal constructionto governmentsallowed proposed.FundingfrombothCouncilsandtheNSW was Councils. In1999, thedevelopmentofasharedpathway of thelandbyLake MacquarieandNewcastleCity community assetbeganin1994 afterthejointpurchase transformation fromformerrailcorridortotreasured bytheFernleighGuided Track Committeethe The Transformation State Emergency Service: 132State EmergencyService: 500 000or112 Emergency: The Fernleigh     atalltimes. Ensureyoungchildren aresupervised Keep dogsundercontrolonashortlead.  Keep leftatalltimesanddonotblock thetrack. retain alllitteranddisposeofinthebinsprovided. Help protectthisbeautifulnaturalresource.Please if travellinginhightemperaturesorforlongdistances. supply one’sown track, itisadvisabletocarry however suppliesarelocatedalongthe A numberoffreshwater winds, reconsideruse. bushfires andhigh conditions including In theeventofextremeweather The track runsthroughacorridorofnaturalbushland. disabilities. users andpeoplewith Whilst sharingthepath,considerchildren, elderly and travelatasafespeed. When cycling,ringbellonapproach ofotherusers

This brochure has been sponsored and produced by Lake Macquarie Tourism: fromamobile Code ofConduct

www.visitlakemac.com.au Process

This iconic regional facility was funded by: Redhead – Whitebridge(4km) Redhead are within sighthere,a handyspottostockare within uponsupplies. occurs justsouthofWhitebridge station.The localshops TheReserve. highest elevationofthetrack’s entirety scribblygum bushlandoftheAwabakal Nature the twisted Notice thechange innaturalenvironmenttravellingpast Redhead asthetrack steadilyclimbsupandaway. There lookingback areampleoceanviews towards Belmont –Jewells (3.3km) journey throughvariouscoastalenvironments. and intourbanNewcastle,thetrack takes aspectacular an ancientsanddunesystem,throughcool,quietforests Travelling environmentofBelmontpast fromthewetland restareas. create interpretationalfeaturesandwelcoming sleepers, signageandformerstationshavebeenadaptedto alongitslength.Old relicspreserved numerous railway oftheFernleighUsers canabsorbthehistory Track through prohibited. motorisedtravelis by walkers andcyclists,however Macquarie andNewcastle.The track canbeused thecitiesofLake linebetween along aformerrailway The Fernleigh Track built isapopularsharedpathway, What isthe 10,000-year-old sanddunesystemof9MileBeach. heath vegetationasthetrack continuesalongbehindthe Park. The slowlychanges tocoastal fromwetland scenery environmentoftheBelmont Wetlandfragile swamp State travelsoverthe elevatedtimberboardwalk metre-long adelicacyforlocalbirdlife.Furtheralong,200 flowers, eucalypttreesproducecream-coloured rough-barked This the when areaisparticularlyattractiveinwinter forestofpaperbarks mahogany.a wetland andswamp Belmont, theFernleigh Track beginsitsjourneythrough Leading fromthelandscapedformerrailplatformat End: Start:  End:  Start: the track 600metresof parking, localshopswithin Station Street,Whitebridge –drinkingfountain, 600 metresofthetrack drinking fountain,parking,localshopswithin Cowlishaw Street,Redhead–publictoilets, Jewells –drinkingfountain,parking Jewells Wommara Avenue/Kalaroo Road, drinking fountain,parking 600metresofthetrack,local shopswithin Parade,Railway Belmont–publictoiletsand Fernleigh Track? platform. north andsouthboundtrafficseparatedbytheformer transformed intoapredominantfeatureofthetrack, with and yellowflowers. The Redheadtrainstationhasbeen ‘bacon andeggspea’bush,namedforitsdistinctivered for includesbanksia andthe trees,teawattles by constantexposuretoseabreezes.Floralookout This typeofvegetationiscompactinnature,caused continues throughthecoastalheathenvironment. Predominantly flat,thissectionofthe Fernleigh Track Features ofthe Whitebridge –Kahibah Jewells –Redhead treetops. frogmouthowlcamouflagedamongstthe for theshytawny of thenativebellminerbird, and keep awatchfuleyeout chimes slope. Listencarefullytohear themusical,bell-like gums providedappledshade alongthegentledownhill Area.Blue StateConservation the leafyforestsofGlenrock The stretch fromWhitebridge toKahibah traversesthrough

End: Start:     End:  Start: with cafés,takeaways andlocalshopscloseby with points, publictoilets,drinkingfountainsandparking, Facilities includenumerousaccess alongthepathway levels Paved andgentlygradedforpeopleofallfitness thatcallthisstunningareahome birds andwildlife may evenbelucky enoughtospotsomeofthenative coastalandbushlandenvironments.Youwetland, The track isbuiltalongagreencorridor,takingin Macquarie andNewcastle thecitiesofLakethe connectingpointbetween 181 railtunnelthatmarks metrelong,curved The Fernleigh Tunnelisahighlight,restored former stations,signageandoldrailsleepers relicsalongthetrack,See heritagerailway including within 600metresofthetrackwithin drinking fountain,parking,localshops Cowlishaw Street,Redhead–publictoilets, – drinkingfountain,parking Wommara Avenue/Kalaroo Road,Jewells within 600metresofthetrackwithin Road,Kahibah –parking,localshops Burwood 600 metresofthetrack fountain, parking,localshopswithin Station Street,Whitebridge –drinking Fernleigh Track (2.4km) (2km) Welcome to Fernleigh Track Adamstown to Belmont Rail Trail

Distances (km)

Legend

Fernleigh Track (Shared Path) Major Entry Point Minor Entry Point Main Road Existing railway line Train Station Car park at Fernleigh Track Public Toilets at Fernleigh Track Public Toilets (within 600m of Fernleigh Track, on main map)

Drinking Fountain Local shops (within 600m of Fernleigh Track, on main map)

Major Shopping Centre Distances shown are in kilometres and are approximate. Café Allow for 4 to 5 km/hr when walking. (within 100m of Fernleigh Track) Fernleigh Track is a shared path and is part of the ‘R1 Swansea Restaurant to Newcastle’ bike route linking with R4 to the University (within 100m of Fernleigh Track)

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