Begin your walk from the Bradbury Wharf car park, following the Lakeside Walk along the scenic shores of Chipping Norton Lake towards Eora Beach, a popular fishing spot (though swimming isn't recommended due to poor water quality).
Chipping Norton Lake, a 49-hectare artificial lake within the Georges River system, was created in the late 1970s by deliberately flooding an area previously devastated by 1950s sand mining. Decades of environmental damage left the landscape barren until restoration efforts transformed it into a thriving wildlife reserve.
Today, the lake and its surrounding forests boast a rich ecosystem supporting over fifty bird species. The area features diverse habitats, including sedgelands, reed beds, mangroves, and endangered alluvial woodland vegetation. Managed by local councils, including Fairfield City Council, Chipping Norton Lake serves as both a wildlife refuge and a recreational area. Four islands within the lake are protected sanctuaries for native birdlife, with restricted public access. Be aware that bull sharks have occasionally been sighted in the lake's waters.