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Loop RNP through Heathcote NP
Last time I tried to do a long loop in the RNP I discovered the track that used to run by the train line (from Waterfall to Heathcote) was fenced off and there were security guards around to stop you riding down there. Had to resort to riding up the highway which was slightly annoying.
Well, interestingly I found a map at home during a clean out just now which has Heathcote NP marked and see that a better route would be to go through there. Looks like from Waterfall you can dive a short way down the Princes Highway before turning right (North) and riding firetrail up to Mirang Road. From there seems you have to ride West down Mirang Road and turn North again and end up at Heathcote Road which you just trundle down for a while to get to Heathcote and back into RNP.
This would definitely add lots of kays and vertical but looks a nice loop. Well, doesn't anything beat riding by a highway where hoons yell at you? 
It also looks like you could go all the way down Waronora Dam Road before turning North for even more kays and vertical.
Can anyone comment? Think I'd like to try this out sometime 
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Hi Rob,
I've ridden from my house, which is close to the Royal National Park, through the Royal and Heathcote parks down to the Waronora Dam.
I enter the RNP at the management trail that starts on the highway near loftus, I then continued along the normal sniggle and fire that takes you to Heathcote. I then crossed the Princes Highway at the Heathcote Road Junction, continued along Heathcote road for approx 500m and then turned left onto Forum drive. Once you get to the end of Forum Drive you enter Heathcote National Park, there is a tricky technical trail down to the Pipeline road and then it is all fire trail following the pipeline to the access road to the dam. There’s some loose terrain along the pipeline but most is fairly hard pack and there is one particular climb that goes on forever. Once you meet the access road it’s a tarmac road a couple of ks down to the dam. I then turned around and came back the same way. Unfortunately I had forgot my computer so I don't know how far it was, but with a couple of quick stops it did take over four hours.
I did have a look by the dam to see if there was anything else to explore but most roads / trails were blocked with Sydney Water Authority fences. However there were plenty of other fire trails branching off from the pipeline that looked like they could offer some alternative ridding.
I would like to get back out there soon and have an explore, but preferably with someone and a map. Your loop via Waterfall sounds good and I wouldn't mind giving it a go, I believe there is a trail, Lady Carrington Drive, which takes you down to Waterfall through the RNP!
Yeah - from Audley you go down Lady Carrington Drive which is a pretty smooth and fast firetrail then up the road to Waterfall (not as bad as it sounds) from where you would head into Heathcote.
Sounds like a plan to go have an explore there. There are other firetrails on this map of Heathcote NP but they appear to all be out and back.