248 Track
Darkinjung & Guringai Country

2 h 45 min to 3 h 15 min

8.3 km
return

↑ 237 m
↓ -237 m

Moderate track
A nice walk through Popran National Park with good views along the way. The optional side trip to Mt Olive adds some great views and scenery. If you have a car with good ground clearance, you could drive to Ironbark picnic area and start the walk from there. Let us begin by acknowledging the Darkinjung & Guringai people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 
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Gate at the Popran Pipeline Track. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Along Ironbark Rd. | Photo by admin, 2009.
The Ironbark picnic area. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Facilities at Ironbark picnic area. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Horse access to Popran National Park. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Grasstree. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Walking in Popran National Park. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Atop Mt Olive. | Photo by admin, 2009.
A curve in the trail. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Donovans Forest. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Lookout at the end of the 248 trail. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Nice rock textures. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Boronia adds spring colour. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Textures and views at the end of the 248 trail. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Near the end of the 248 trail. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Downloads GPX PDF

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Safer Bushwalks
Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
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Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start At the intersection of Ironbark Road & Pipeline Trail (-33.3715915,151.1953003)
Mode Car (There is free parking available.)
DirectionsFrom Pacific Motorway, M1
  • Turn on to Peats Ridge Road Offramp then drive for 8.6 km
  • Keep left onto Wisemans Ferry Road Exit and drive for another 235 m
  • Keep right onto Wisemans Ferry Road Exit and drive for another 35 m
  • Turn right onto Wisemans Ferry Road and drive for another 3 km
  • Turn right onto George Downes Drive, 33 and drive for another 40 m
  • Turn left onto Wisemans Ferry Road and drive for another 8.2 km
  • Turn left onto Ironbark Road and drive for another 6.9 km
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
Starting from the car park at the end of the 'Pipeline Trail', the walk follows the gravel Ironbark Rd south, initially keeping the 'Pipeline Trail' gate to your left (not following the 'Pipeline Trail'). The gravel road passes between some houses with prominent 'private property' signs so stick to the road along here. The walk eventually comes to the car park and picnic area at the end of the road. Vehicles with reasonable ground clearance could be driven along this section, to the car park at the end of the road.....
Turn map Directions & comments
At the intersection of Ironbark Road & Pipeline Trail Start heading along Ironbark Road (a vehicle track).
After 970 m pass the car park (7 m on your left).
After another 720 m continue straight, to head along Ironbark Road.
Then pass the toilet (10 m on your left).
After another 7 m pass a seat (5 m on your left).
Then head through/around the gate.
Then find the "Ironbark Rd Picnic area" (6 m on your left).
Ironbark Rd Picnic area
Ironbark Rd Picnic area

This picnic area is located at the end of Ironbark Rd, on the edge of Popran National Park. While this is not a special spot for a picnic, there are good facilities if you are doing a walk in the area. There is a picnic table, pit toilet (with a small rainwater tank for handwashing), information signs and track arrows at this point. Some of the tracks starting from this point are also horse trails. A section of Ironbark Rd may not be suitable for 2WD vehicles so you may have to walk the last section of road.
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This picnic area is located at the end of Ironbark Rd, on the edge of Popran National Park. While this is not a special spot for a picnic, there are good facilities if you are doing a walk in the area. There is a picnic table, pit toilet (with a small rainwater tank for handwashing), information signs and track arrows at this point. Some of the tracks starting from this point are also horse trails. A section of Ironbark Rd may not be suitable for 2WD vehicles so you may have to walk the last section of road.

Then pass the sign (10 m on your left).
After another 3 m continue straight, to head along Mount Olive Trail.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Top of Mt Olive. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip veer left when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 305 m (at the intersection of 248 Trail & Mount Olive Trail) turn right, to head along 248 Trail.
After another 350 m (at the intersection of Mailman Walking Track (western) & 248 Trail) continue straight, to head along 248 Trail.
After another 1.2 km (at the intersection of 248 Trail & Hominy Creek Trail) veer right, to head along 248 Trail (a walking track).
Continue another 610 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 4.1 km to get back to the start.
"End of 248 Trail lookout".
End of 248 Trail lookout
End of 248 Trail lookout

This informal lookout is located at the end of the 248 trail in Popran National Park. The lookout offers some nice views into the surrounding valleys. The rocky outcrops in the area have some nice shapes and textures. Be careful to avoid damaging some faint Aboriginal carvings on these rocks.
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This informal lookout is located at the end of the 248 trail in Popran National Park. The lookout offers some nice views into the surrounding valleys. The rocky outcrops in the area have some nice shapes and textures. Be careful to avoid damaging some faint Aboriginal carvings on these rocks.


An optional side trip to Top of Mt Olive.
Turn map Directions & comments
At the intersection of 248 Trail & Mount Olive Trail Start heading along Mount Olive Trail (a vehicle track).
After another 25 m veer left.
After another 120 m turn left.
After another 60 m turn around.
Then pass the "Mount Olive" (15 m on your left).
"Mt Olive".
Mt Olive
Mt Olive

Mt Olive is a low-rising hill in Popran National Park. The views from the top, across the surrounding national park, in all directions, are very nice. The nice cliffs around the base of Mt Olive also add to the scenery. There are remnants of a couple of old trig points at the top.
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Mt Olive is a low-rising hill in Popran National Park. The views from the top, across the surrounding national park, in all directions, are very nice. The nice cliffs around the base of Mt Olive also add to the scenery. There are remnants of a couple of old trig points at the top.

The end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 205 m to the main route.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

248 Track


Grading
Class 3/6
Moderate track
Length 8.3 km
Time 2 h 45 min to 3 h 15 min
Quality of track Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required No experience required (1/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route
Toilet: There is one 1.7 km from the start.

Seat: There is one 1.7 km from the start.


Order of key facilities on route
ItemFrom StartName & link to notes
Toilet
1.7 km[toilet]
Seat
1.7 km[seat]
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