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For me the most underrated trail in the park, Bairne Track begins along a sandy fire trail, weaving through open forest and a smattering of flowers toward the Towlers Bay Lookout which is, without a doubt, one of the best viewpoints in the entire national park. You can access them just after the turnoff to West Head Road where there’s a small car park and the Duckholes picnic area where a short trail feeds through the trees to various vantage points of the falls. When it comes to parking, there are dedicated bays for every hiking trail in West Head, however, the larger parking areas are found at West Head Lookout, Resolute Beach Picnic Area, Elvina Track and the Flint and Steel Track. Elsewhere, you’ll find a wide shoulder or a small pull in bay that is able to accommodate just a few cars at a time so if you’re visiting on a summer weekend, it’s a good idea to arrive early to ensure you can easily find a spot.

Yet, alongside all the unexpected moments that unfolded, one of the best things to come from 2020 was more time spent at home in Sydney and surrounding NSW. Wrapped in pristine beaches and wild bushland, home to cosy cafes and world-class eats, with rugged mountains and sprawling vineyards right on its doorstep, With Christmas just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to dust off those bucket lists, reignite that thirst for adventure and satiate those cravings to get out and do something a wee bit special. This post includes affiliate links and any purchases made through these links will earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Located just an hour from the city centre, the hike runs from Cowan to Brooklyn and makes up one stage of the famous Great North Walk, an epic 250km trail which meanders through the urban environments and vast countryside that lie between Sydney and Newcastle. The Jerusalem Bay Track begins at Cowan Train Station which can be reached by train directly from Central Station or Newcastle on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line. In my recent hiking adventures around Sydney, something I have come to really cherish about the Australian bush is that wildflowers aren’t just reserved for the incoming warmth of spring and alongside this stretch of road you’ll find native flowers blanketing the roadside in pops of delicate lilac and buttercup yellow. Arriving back to civilisation, you can either make your way directly to the train station, or the better option is to take the road right towards the marina and follow the trail alongside the water around McKell Park Reserve.

Between choosing which islands to visit and finding the best transport options, to navigating the rainy season and wrestling with the wifi, these Philippines travel tips cover all the essential things to know before you visit. Islands like Palawan and Cebu are perfect for this as there’s plenty to see and do and they’re also well connected by ferry to other nearby islands. This means no plastic bags, bottles, cups, utensils, straws, take away containers and cigarettes are allowed and that all local operators need to be able to provide visitors with reusable products or an eco-friendly alternative (i.e. paper bags or straws).Coron has similar guidelines in place, though in my experience, they generally weren’t as strongly adhered to as they are in El Nido. What’s more, why would you want to?In a place that’s slow to travel and delightfully easy to enjoy, where long languid days spent sprawled out on sun-drenched shores and puttering between tiny castaway islands and brightly coloured reefs are among its most popular activities, the Philippines are absolutely a place to savour slowly.13