Best trails in Dharug National Park

Follow us @hazeev_hikes . We travelled a little further from home today to complete one of two hikes we have planned for this Australia Day long-weekend. Our journey started in a small historic town named St. Albans which sits alongside the McDonald River. I am overly fond of St. Albans as it was settled by my direct ancestors several generations ago. We started the day off with a tasty steak and beer with live music at the @settlersarmsinn and then let the tots have a run through the playground and riverbank across the road. We then made our way to the Convict Trail situated in the Dharug National Park at Wisemans Ferry. This 3.54km in-and-out track consists of relatively flat terrain but does feature a decent incline on the way in (and decline on the way out) which will get the quad muscles working a little harder than usual. You'll be met with several spots to stop and take in views of the surrounding valleys and mountain ranges. Along the track, you'll also come across numerous steel plates providing information and stories behind the creation of the convict trail with some featuring replicas of the tools used during its construction. There is also Hangman's Rock a quarter of the way in, which is a large stone cutout said to be the place where a lot of convicts met their demise - giving the location its name. The cutout is perfect to stop by and sit in while you take a break and some refreshments. Whilst a family with tots can thoroughly enjoy this track, it is probably more suited for those who have a bit of hiking experience as it can be a bit demanding on both little and big legs alike. The ideal time is early to mid-morning before the sun sits overhead as there are very little shaded areas and even fewer places to rest. There are also very limited parking spots at the start so getting there sooner in the day is advised.