Garigal National Park is the main reason to look twice at this one: bushland around St Ives, with the Bare Creek Trail Run built around getting runners onto park trails rather than closing off a strip of road. It has the feel of a practical trail day, with options stretching from short family-friendly outings to longer runs for people who already spend time on dirt.
Expect well-marked and supported routes through natural surroundings, with enough structure around the course to make it a safe and enjoyable experience without sanding off the trail feel. Beginners, families, kids, walkers, and experienced trail runners all show up, so the start area should feel mixed rather than intimidating, but the draw is still simple: a run in the trees, on marked trails, with the park doing most of the talking.