The Great West Walk is a 65km walking route, stretching from Parramatta to the foot of the Blue Mountains.

Mapped by The Walking Volunteers, the Walk crosses a kaleidoscope of varying landscapes, traditionally owned by Dharug people, uncovering some of the secret stories and surprising vistas hidden in Western Sydney.

Across three local councils, the Walk explores protected Cumberland Plain woodland, local river systems, public parklands, Australia’s oldest architecture and some of Western Sydney’s most iconic urban landscapes, alongside the region's thriving wildlife and birdlife.

The Great West Walk is anticipated to be an enormously beneficial addition to Western Sydney's recreational activities, with opportunities to advance health, tourism, community, economic and environmental outcomes.

The Walk has been recognised as a project opportunity under the Sydney Green Grid - linking parks, open spaces, bushland and walking and cycling paths.

The Great West Walk officially opens in October 2019 and is delivered by local landholders, including Blacktown City Council, City of Parramatta Council, Penrith City Council, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Parramatta Park Trust and Western Sydney Parklands Trust.

In 2020, the Great West Walk won the Community Based Initiative of the Year Award at Parks & Leisure Australia NSW/ACT Awards of Excellence.

For further information on the Great West Walk, and other walking loops in your area visit:

Blacktown City Council

City of Parramatta Council

Penrith City Council

Parramatta Park Trust

National Parks and Wildlife Service

The Walking Volunteers

Western Sydney Parklands Trust

Other organisations that have contributed to the walk's development include:

• Department of Planning Industry and Environment

• Government Architect New South Wales

• NSW Office of Sport

• Western Sydney Diabetes

• Western Sydney Local Health District

• Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC)

Local landmarks along the route include:

• Bicentennial Square, Parramatta

• Eat Street (Church Street), Parramatta

• Brislington House, Parramatta

• George Street Gatehouse, Parramatta Park

• Old Government House, Parramatta Park

• Old Observatory, Parramatta Park

• Governor’s Bathhouse, Parramatta Park

• The Old Dairy, Parramatta Park 

• Wisteria Garden & Glengariff House, Parramatta Park

• Governor Phillip’s Camp, Parramatta Park

• Toongabbie Creek, Winston Hills to Toongabbie

• Westmead Children’s Hospital, Westmead

• The Lost Rogans Hill Railway Line, Northmead

• Backhousia Reserve, Northmead

• Third Settlement Reserve, Winston Hills

• McCoy Park Retarding Basin, Seven Hills

• Blacktown Sale Yards, Blacktown

• Francis Park & Showground Precinct, Blacktown

• Blacktown Native Institution, Oakhurst

• Nurragingy Reserve, Western Sydney Parklands

• Chang Lai Yuan Gardens, Western Sydney Parklands

• Blacktown International Sports Park, Western Sydney Parklands

• Rooty Hill Historic Site, Rooty Hill

• Government Stock Farm, Rooty Hill

• Rooty Hill School of Arts, Rooty Hill

• Dr Charles Mackay Reserve, Rooty Hill

• Neoblie historic cottage, Rooty Hill

• Colyton Schoolmaster’s Cottage, Rooty Hill

• Mt Druitt Waterholes, Mount Druitt

• Federation Forest, Mount Druitt

• Tregear Reserve, Tregear

• St Marys Munition Factory, St Marys

• Ropes Crossing Station Reserve, Ropes Crossing

• South Creek, Wianamatta Regional Park

• Cumberland Woodland, Wianamatta Regional Park

• Central Pond, Jordan Springs

• Penrith Lakes, Castlereagh

• Craithes House, Penrith

• Great River Walk, Penrith

• Emu Ford, Penrith

• Penrith Weir & Cox’s Cutting, Penrith

• Yandhai Bridge, Penrith

• Nepean River, Penrith