Berowra to Mt Ku-ring-gai is a very pretty bushwalk, 9.5km with a total 580m climbing. It can be walked in either direction, but it does need a small car shuffle or train ride between Mt Ku-ring-gai and Berowra stations. The walk descends steeply to Waratah Bay on Cowan Creek, then follows the waterway for 4km before climbing back up past some interesting rocks, a lookout point and through dry woodlands to the railway line at Mt Ku-ring-gai. … [Continue reading]
Warrimoo to Wildflower Gardens
My co-walkers named this the Pylons Walk, as it makes good use of service trails that pass by the base of at least five electricity pylons. The walk offers more than just electricity infrastructure however, although the overhead wires do make a handy navigational aid for the map-challenged amongst us. … [Continue reading]
Blue Gum Track and GNW to Tunks Ridge
Starting with a descent of the stone stairs from Quarry Rd, this great out and back 11km walk joins the Blue Gum Track at Rosemead Rd trail head. It then follows the hilly Benowie section of the Great North Walk through the Berowra Valley National Park, with morning tea at a shady clearing at Tunks Ridge rest area. Update: a section of the GNW that this walk traverses now has restricted access.
Cascades Loop
The Cascades is a pretty place in Garigal National Park where French’s Creek meets Middle Harbour Creek. It has little waterfalls, rock pools and sunny rock platforms to sit on and enjoy your morning tea. It also has some interesting local history…. [Continue reading]
Grosvenor to Gwydir circuit
This 10.5km endurance loop walk takes in all the Gs : the trails from Grosvenor Rd past Golden Jubilee Oval to Gwydir Ave and the Gibberagong Track, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. … [Continue reading]
Davidson loop
This loops through Garigal National Park around the suburb of Davidson. Park in Ferguson Rd and then head down the trail alongside Carroll Creek. Join Governor Philip Track walking up Middle Harbour past Bungaroo and on to Cascades, which makes a good rest break at the 7km mark. Follow the Cascades Track up to Stone Parade in Davidson, then use suburban roads to cross to John Oxley Drive on the other side of the Davidson ridge. Following the John Oxley Trail through the bush brings you to a lovely rock platform at the end of Farrer Pl, from where it is possible to head down the hill to cross Carroll Creek and return to your car parked in Ferguson Rd. A consistent fast pace is needed to complete in a 3 hour training session…. [Continue reading]
Apple Tree Bay and Mt Ku-ring-gai
This 10km loop heads up the stone stairs behind the kiosk at Bobbin Head, Ku-ring-gai National Park, on the Birrawanna Track. After about 1km, take the right turn to drop down to Apple Tree Bay. The path continues, along the waters edge of Cowan Creek, until you reach a side track which climbs up Mt Ku-ring-gai. Turn around at the gate at the end of the Mt Ku-ring-gai track and retrace your route to Apple Tree Bay, then take the shorter low route back to Bobbin Head. The climbs are a good calorie burner! … [Continue reading]
Duffy’s Forest
There are two separate hill tracks down to Cowan Creek from Duffy’s Forest, with a bit of bush or road bashing in between to join them up, and a nice view to the Bobbin Head Marina from Slade’s Lookout. The Bibbenluke track starts at the end of Bibbenluke Rd and reaches the river within cooee distance of the end of the Sphinx track on the other side. Duffy’s Track starts at the end of Booralie Rd…. [Continue reading]
Lane Cove riverside loop
The 10.5km Lane Cove riverside loop provides a nice fast 3 hours trek training walk, with opportunity for a bridge-to-bridge time trial (under 55 minutes) on the fast riverside trail on the west bank. The east bank has more technical rocky walking and some short climbs (total ascent 385m, add more with some interval work). … [Continue reading]
Rocky Hill Loop
Starting at Acron Oval in St Ives, the 11km Rocky Hill loop goes down towards the Cascades, then follows Bare Creek and Heath Tracks climbing up to the Belrose Tower. From the intersection near the Tower, turn right on the service trail before picking up the path to the lovely lookout on Rocky Hill over Garigal Park towards St Ives – a great tea spot. From there, the rocky path heads back down into the valley, to rejoin the service trail and follow the Lower Cambourne Track back up the hill to Acron Oval. … [Continue reading]
