Fernleigh Track

The Fernleigh Track runs 15.4 kilometres from Adamstown to Belmont on the sealed bed of a former coal railway, through paperbark swamp and coastal heath, with a curved 181 metre tunnel near the middle. It is one of the most heavily used shared paths in the Hunter, and that is the deciding fact for dog walkers: on lead at all times, with bikes constant.

The walk

The full track is about three and a half hours one way, graded easy. The grade is genuinely gentle, because trains built it. The surface is sealed end to end, which makes it one of the better long walks around for an older dog or a puppy who tires on rough ground. Most people walk a leg rather than the lot, and Belmont to Redhead and back is a reasonable half day.

Leash status

Dogs must be on a short, controlled lead for the full length. The track is managed jointly by Lake Macquarie City Council and the City of Newcastle, and off-lead running is not permitted anywhere on the path. Under council rules the handler needs effective control, and dogs stay out of the bushland either side, which holds bandicoots and echidnas. Carry your own bags rather than counting on the dispensers.

Max: Cyclists come through fast and quiet, often from behind. Walk your dog on the side away from the centre line and keep the lead short enough that a bike passing at speed cannot clip it.

Water and facilities

Toilets sit at the Belmont and Redhead access points, and several rest areas have bubblers with dog bowls built in. Between those points there is nothing, so fill up before a long leg. Shade is patchy through the heath sections, so a summer midday walk is a poor idea even if the surface itself is easy.

Getting there and parking

The southern trailhead is on Railway Parade, Belmont, with dedicated parking off the Pacific Highway. At the northern end, Adamstown station puts you on the track without a car, which is the neat way to walk it one way. From Belmont the track connects onward toward Blacksmiths Beach for anyone extending the day.

When to go

Weekday mornings outside the eight to eleven window, when commuters and weekend riders both thin out. If your dog is reactive to bikes, this is a weekday walk or no walk at all. It is good for seniors on a surface that asks nothing of old joints.

While you're out there

The Fernleigh Cafe on Fletcher Street and The Bondwood Cafe on Glebe Road both sit near the Adamstown end with outdoor seating for the coffee after. The Belmont Dog Park covers the off-lead fix this path cannot, and the Redhead Dog Beach adds sand to the same trip. The NSW trails guide and the Belmont destination page round out the options.