Convict Trail
Convict Trail
4.5
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4.5
52 reviews
Excellent
39
Very good
10
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Brien J
Gladstone, Australia113 contributions
Dec. 2022
Interesting history in the area. Roads are very rough. I had to concentrate on the road more than the scenery.
Written 11 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RoversByte
Sydney, Australia210 contributions
Sep. 2022 • Family
Good walk after lunch. Wide walking track with multiple icons on the track telling about how the convict were kept, the rules they had to follow etc. Kids were excited reading and discussing hence kept busy, we (the parents) could walk in peace too :)
Written 4 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter B
Summer Hill, Australia483 contributions
Feb. 2022 • Couples
Midday, midweek, mid February we only saw one family of three on our walk from the Devine's Hill gate on the convict trail up to the start of the Shepherds Gully Circuit and back down to the gate.
We, active 60+ couple, took 50 minutes on the way up including stopping at 13 information points, admiring the view and taking a few photos. The trail is unsealed and relatively easy on a dry day but not wheelchair or pram friendly.
At the top is a good NPWS map with details of walks in the area.
The downhill walk to the carpark was 25 minutes for us. The carpark probably wouldn't hold more than 3 or 4 cars.
We, active 60+ couple, took 50 minutes on the way up including stopping at 13 information points, admiring the view and taking a few photos. The trail is unsealed and relatively easy on a dry day but not wheelchair or pram friendly.
At the top is a good NPWS map with details of walks in the area.
The downhill walk to the carpark was 25 minutes for us. The carpark probably wouldn't hold more than 3 or 4 cars.
Written 19 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter B
1 contribution
Jun. 2021 • Couples
Start from roadside at Finch’s Line of Road marker and follow well marked track up. Very few people and plenty of rock scrambles either side of track for more adventurous. The main question is “what was Finch thinking!” (we went 1 hr then came back and did not do loop to Devines hill)
Written 12 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emanpee
Sydney, Australia2,805 contributions
Feb. 2021
The Convict Trail is a great piece of Sydney region history. A part of the Great North Road built by convicts, is 3km long with numerous informative boards. A moderate uphill slope all the way, but stopping to read the history allows plenty of time to restore energy. While can return the same way, the fitter among you may like to continue on Finchs Line (for spectacular views and more history), to complete an 11km loop back to your starting point. Unfortunatley the last 2km is along Wisemans Ferry Rd. There is limited parking at entry to the walk, but we didin't have any problems at 9.30am in summer, out of holiday season , on a Sunday.
Written 7 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LongReefHacker
Sydney, Australia242 contributions
Oct. 2020
The 'Convict Trail" is part of the Old North Road, the first road to be built to link Sydney with Newcastle. It was built by convict labour, using hand tools and gunpowder. Men in leg-irons (mostly) carved a road out of the most inhospitable rugged country and the results remain, even today, absolutely amazing.
The trail starts about 750m west of the ferry that crosses almost due north from Wisemans Ferry. There is limited parking but it is rarely full. The Convict Trail is a 2 to 3km walk up a gentle but costant gradient. YES - you must walk.
There are numerous information points to explain the history of the trail, so you can walk gradually and atop every few hubdred metres to read, learn and appreciate. National Parks have done a great job in documenting the walk.
The engineering feat in building this road becomes more and more apparent as you ascend. It is a marvel, given that it was done in the 1830s, enirely by hand, in the most rugged, unforgiving country.
This has to be one of the best walks within the Greater Sydney region.
The trail starts about 750m west of the ferry that crosses almost due north from Wisemans Ferry. There is limited parking but it is rarely full. The Convict Trail is a 2 to 3km walk up a gentle but costant gradient. YES - you must walk.
There are numerous information points to explain the history of the trail, so you can walk gradually and atop every few hubdred metres to read, learn and appreciate. National Parks have done a great job in documenting the walk.
The engineering feat in building this road becomes more and more apparent as you ascend. It is a marvel, given that it was done in the 1830s, enirely by hand, in the most rugged, unforgiving country.
This has to be one of the best walks within the Greater Sydney region.
Written 29 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn B
Sydney, Australia67 contributions
Sep. 2020
The Convict Trail is well laid out with sculptures and interesting historical information along the way - even appealing to students and young children along the way.
Written 15 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kerry c
Sydney, Australia296 contributions
Nov. 2019
Do this once for the historical information you get from the numerous signs. The actual road isnt too long or steep but is covered over in white pebble and very wide, so it doesnt feel too historical.You could do it in thongs. It probably only goes for 1 km,uphill but gently.If you want to learn how roads were made in the 1800's,this helps a bit.
But the views over the river as you go down the rest of the circuit are well worth it,plus the little bit of rainforest at the end,but not the 2 k walk on the road back to the start.It took me 3.5 hrs including reading everything and the walk back.
But the views over the river as you go down the rest of the circuit are well worth it,plus the little bit of rainforest at the end,but not the 2 k walk on the road back to the start.It took me 3.5 hrs including reading everything and the walk back.
Written 12 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nick M
Frenchs Forest, Australia875 contributions
Sep. 2019 • Couples
We parked at at the bottom of Devines Hill, then walked up to the top; checking out the various information placed on the way.
At the top we made a loop around Shepherds Gully, and then descended through Finch’s Line.
Finch’s line is hard going at times given the surface and steep decline.
It’s a good walk, and very well laid out. Well worth walking part or all of it.
At the top we made a loop around Shepherds Gully, and then descended through Finch’s Line.
Finch’s line is hard going at times given the surface and steep decline.
It’s a good walk, and very well laid out. Well worth walking part or all of it.
Written 7 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rocky4
Sydney, Australia89 contributions
Aug. 2019 • Friends
As a group of 6 we did this walk in 2.5 hours. It’s well signposted and you go through a few different variety of forests during the walk. Catching the ferry across to the other side of the river just adds a different aspect to other walks and afterwards you can have lunch in the village and look back at the mountain you just walked through
Written 25 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingConvict Trail: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Convict Trail
- Hotels near Convict Trail:
- (0.75 km) DC Hawkesbury Get-A-Way
- (1.72 km) Retreat at Wisemans
- (2.28 km) Del Rio Riverside Resort
- (1.87 km) Wisemans Inn Hotel
- (2.03 km) DC HAWKESBURY GET-A-WAY
- Restaurants near Convict Trail:
- (1.82 km) Wisemans Ferry Grocer Cafe
- (1.23 km) Convict Road Kiosk
- (1.77 km) Riverbend Restaurant
- (1.77 km) Ferry's Best Bistro
- (1.81 km) Bush Bites Takeaway Cafe