The Fernleigh Track is a 15.9 kilometre shared path running between Adamstown in Newcastle to Belmont in Lake Macquarie, built along the old Belmont coal and passenger rail line. It’s flat, well shaded in most sections and has enough entry points that you can turn it into a quick 20 minute stroll or a half-day family adventure.
We’ve walked and ridden this track with kids of all ages, so this guide covers what actually matters for families: where to park, where the toilets are, which section has the tunnel, and what’s changed recently that you should know about before you go.
Quick Facts
The full track runs 15.9 km one way, so most families only tackle a section rather than the whole thing. It’s a shared path for walkers, joggers, cyclists, scooters and dogs on lead, with a mostly flat grade and a hard paved surface the whole way.
It connects Adamstown, Kahibah, Whitebridge, Redhead, Jewells and Belmont, and toilets are available at Redhead and Belmont.
Since 2024, it also links through to Blacksmiths Beach via the Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track (FAST), taking the total continuous path to 27 km.
Where to Start: Best Entry Points for Families
You don’t need to do the whole track in one go, and most locals don’t. Picking the right entry point makes a big difference to how the day goes with kids.
Adamstown (Westwood Avenue) is the pick if you want to see the Fernleigh Tunnel. This is also the busiest access point on weekends, so get there early if you want easy parking.
Whitebridge (Station Street) sits roughly in the middle of the track and is a good option if you want a shorter, quieter stretch without the tunnel crowds.
Redhead (Cowlishaw Street) has toilets on site and is close to the beach, so it works well if you want to combine the track with a swim or a playground stop.
Belmont (Railway Parade) is the southern end and the other spot with toilet facilities, handy if you’re planning a longer ride.
If you’re bringing a pram or a child on a balance bike, any of these entry points works, since the track has very little slope in either direction.
The Fernleigh Tunnel
The standout feature for most families is the Fernleigh Tunnel, a curved brick tunnel near the Adamstown end that dates back to when the line was active from 1880.
It’s cool, a little eerie for younger kids in a fun way, and one of the more photographed spots in Newcastle.
Bring a bike light or your phone torch if you’re heading through with little ones, since the middle section gets genuinely dark.
Rail History Along the Way
The rail line closed in 1991, and the trail keeps a lot of its industrial heritage intact. Look out for old sleepers, signal boxes, bridges and station remnants, most of which have signage with historical photos so kids can picture what the line looked like when it was still moving coal and passengers between the suburbs.
Wildlife to Spot
The bushland either side of the track is home to possums, bandicoots, echidnas and plenty of native birds, plus waterbirds around the old Burwood Colliery dam site near Adamstown.
Pack binoculars if your kids are into spotting wildlife, and keep dogs on lead through this section.
Safety Update: What to Know Before You Go (2026)
The Fernleigh Track is generally a safe, well used family path, but there have been a few things worth knowing.
Lake Macquarie City Council installed new signage at all access points in March 2026 following an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour and dangerous e-bike and e-scooter riding, particularly around school hours. If you see unsafe riding or an incident, report it to council or police rather than intervening yourself, since community reporting is what triggers extra patrols.
Sections of the track have also had temporary closures over the past year, including a stretch between Redhead and Whitebridge closed for several weeks after bushfire-damaged trees were assessed as a safety risk, and a timber bridge near Whitebridge that was closed after fire damage from vandalism. A pedestrian bridge at Cold Tea Creek near Belmont South also had a short scheduled closure for repair works.
None of this means the track isn’t worth visiting. It’s still one of the best family cycling paths in the Hunter, but it’s a good idea to check the Lake Macquarie City Council Fernleigh Track website or City of Newcastle Fernleigh Track website for current closures before you head out, especially if you’re planning to use the Whitebridge to Belmont South stretch.
A few general safety habits are worth building in regardless of what’s happening on any given day. Keep young kids to the left and teach them to check over their shoulder before overtaking, since the track gets a genuine mix of fast cyclists and slow-moving families.
Helmets are a must for anyone on a bike or scooter, and it’s worth having a rule about staying together at intersections with side streets, since a few entry points cross quiet roads.
Facilities and Practical Tips
Public toilets are located at Redhead and Belmont only, so plan your stops if you or your kids need to go. Outside that, you’ll need to head off-track, but the trail’s suburban location means that you aren’t usually too far from facilities.
Water fountains are available at several points along the track for refills, but it’s still worth carrying your own water and snacks, especially in summer when shade coverage varies section to section.
Parking is free at all the main access points listed above. Adamstown gets busiest first, particularly on weekend mornings, so Whitebridge or Redhead are good backups if you arrive later in the day.
Early morning is the best time to visit, especially over summer when the middle of the day gets hot and shade coverage varies from section to section. It’s also quieter, and you’ll hear a lot more birdlife before the track fills up with cyclists and joggers.
Weekdays are noticeably quieter than weekends, so if you’ve got flexibility with school pickups or a day off, that’s the easiest way to avoid the crowds around Adamstown and the tunnel.
The sealed surface handles light rain fine, but the boardwalk sections near Belmont and FAST can get slippery when wet, so take it slower there after rain, particularly with kids on scooters or bikes.
Getting Back to Your Car
If you’re only doing a there-and-back section, this isn’t an issue, but if you’re tackling a longer one-way stretch it’s worth sorting your return trip before you set off.
The simplest option is to ride or walk back the way you came, which works well if you’ve kept the outing short enough that tired legs aren’t a problem on the return leg. For longer rides, some families take two cars and leave one at each end, or have one adult ride back alone to collect the car while the rest of the family waits at a café in Belmont.
Adamstown is also on the Sydney to Newcastle train line, which is worth knowing if you’re travelling from further afield rather than driving locally. You can catch a train into Adamstown Station to start your day, or finish there and train home, without needing a car at all.
Food and Coffee Stops Along the Track
None of the cafés sit directly on the Fernleigh Track itself, but most entry points have something close enough for a coffee, a toastie or a post-ride treat, which makes planning your food stop part of picking your entry point.
At the Adamstown end, Fernleigh Cafe on Fletcher Street is the local favourite, a short walk from Westwood Avenue and popular enough with cyclists that it hires out bikes. It’s kid-friendly with outdoor seating, though it’s worth noting it tends to close early on weekend afternoons, so aim for a late morning stop rather than a late lunch.
At Whitebridge, a short detour off the track to the shops on Dudley Road turns up a small cluster of options, including PEGS and Morning Market Coffee, both good for a sit-down breakfast or a proper coffee if you’re taking a longer break mid-ride.
At Redhead, there’s a takeaway café right off the track on Kalaroo Road, known locally for burgers and a friendly atmosphere. If you’re extending the stop into a beach visit, Redhead Surf Life Saving Club has its own café open daily from 7am, and there’s also a café at Webb Park playground if you’ve got little ones who want a play as well as a feed.
At the Belmont end, look out for the shipping container café right at the Alick Street entry point, at the start of the boardwalk section into FAST. It’s a handy last stop for a drink before you either finish up or continue on toward Blacksmiths Beach. There’s also a few fast food options close to the end of the Fernleigh Track.
Since cafés come and go, it’s worth checking current opening hours before you head out, especially if a coffee stop is the whole point of the trip.
FAST: The Extension to Blacksmiths Beach
If you reach the Belmont end and aren’t ready to stop, the track keeps going. The Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track (FAST) is a 3.5 km extension that Lake Macquarie City Council completed in August 2024, closing the last gap between Belmont and Blacksmiths Beach.
Together with the original Fernleigh Track, it forms one continuous 27 km shared path all the way from Adamstown to Murrays Beach.
FAST is worth the detour in its own right.
The centrepiece is a 400 metre elevated boardwalk over the wetlands beside Belmont Lagoon, with a separate birdwatching loop and lookout for families who want to slow down and spot some of the 120-odd bird species known to visit the area.
There’s a bridge over Cold Tea Creek connecting into the northern section, plus a life-size Aboriginal art installation near the start of the boardwalk depicting a traditional gunya shelter and bark canoe, telling the story of the Awabakal people’s connection to Belmont Lagoon.
For families, FAST is flatter and quieter than the busier Adamstown end of the Fernleigh Track, and it’s a good option if you want a boardwalk stroll with a pram rather than a longer ride. It connects through to Blacksmiths Beach, so it also works well as a bike-then-swim combo on a warm day.
The Fernleigh 15
Every October, the Fernleigh 15 running event takes over the full length of the track, closed to cyclists and traffic for the day. Runners can do the full 15 km or take part in a five person relay. It’s a good one to watch for if your family is into local events, and worth checking dates ahead of time if you’re planning a regular track visit in October, since access will be different on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
The full track is 15.9 kilometres one way, running between Adamstown and Belmont. Most families only walk or ride a section rather than the full distance.
Yes. The track is flat, fully paved and has multiple entry points, so you can pick a short, manageable stretch that suits prams, scooters and balance bikes.
Yes, dogs are welcome on the Fernleigh Track but must be kept on a lead, particularly through the bushland sections where native wildlife is active.
Public toilets are located at Redhead and Belmont. Outside of these, you’re not usually far from suburban facilities given the track’s location.
The track has had a few temporary closures over the past year for bushfire damage, bridge repairs and vandalism, mostly in the Whitebridge to Belmont South stretch. Check the Lake Macquarie City Council or City of Newcastle website before you head out if you’re planning that section.
Yes. The Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track (FAST) extends 3.5 km from Belmont to Blacksmiths Beach, completed in August 2024. Combined with the original Fernleigh Track, it creates a continuous 27 km shared path from Adamstown to Murrays Beach.
The Fernleigh Tunnel is near the Adamstown entry point at Westwood Avenue, a 181 metre curved brick tunnel that’s one of the most photographed spots on the track.
If you’ve got little ones or those that will need a pit stop along the way, it is best to plan your journey – the Lake Macquarie City Council and City of Newcastle websites have a great Fernleigh Track map which highlights all of the facilities including toilets and cafes located within 600 metres of the track.
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