Catalina Park Raceway, also known as The Gully, is a fantastic hound-friendly walk in the Blue Mountains, NSW. A motorsport racetrack during the 60s and 70s, the beautiful bushland site is also a declared Aboriginal Place. While your hound enjoys a peaceful sniffari, you can revel in the serenity and through the interpretive signage, learn about the cultural significance and history of the area.
Where: Katoomba, NSW. Access via the Gates Avenue carpark. The site can be tricky to find as there is no signage. Once you have parked, walk up the stairs or ramp to the The Gully Lake, and follow the tree-lined path around the lake for 2 minutes until you reach the old racetrack.
There is also a small entrance to the track from the Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Centre carpark.
Length/duration: 2.1km sealed loop track, plus a short board and bush walk in the centre of the loop. The track is quite hilly in parts and terrain can be rough/wet.
Opening hours: 24/7, 365 days per year!
On lead/off-leash? Dogs must be on lead at all times.
For the hounds: No poo-bag dispensers, bins or drinking fountains along the track so come prepared. No stairs.
For the humans: There are a number of seating areas at different points around the track. It is a 3-minute drive/10-minute walk to the main street of Katoomba where there are a number of public toilets, cafes, restaurants and pubs.