Central Coast
Hunter Range Region
Discovery Program
The Great North Walk
Sydney to Newcastle
2004
General InquiriesNPWS(02) 4320 4200
(Monday - Friday)
Detailed InformationAnne Whyte,Discovery Coordinator
NPWS (02) 4320 4205
CONTENTS
Contact Numbers Page 1
Itinerary...... Page 2
Assembly & Transport Information...... Page 3-4
Walk Details...... Page 5-9
ITINERARY
DAY 1, Sat 10th July:Macquarie Place, Sydneyapprox15 km.
to De Burghs Bridge (Lane Cove rd)
DAY 2, Sat 17th July:De Burghs Bridgeapprox.18 km.
to Hornsby.
DAY 3, Sat 24th July:Rosemead Road, Hornsbyapprox.20 km.
to Berowra Waters.
DAY 4, Sat 31st July:Berowra Watersapprox.19 km.
to Brooklyn.
DAY 5, Sat 7th August:Brooklynapprox.14 km.
to Staples Lookout.
DAY 6, Sat 14th August:Staples Lookoutapprox.24 km.
to Reservoir Road.
DAY 7, Sat 21st August:Reservoir Roadapprox.24 km.
to Greta Road.
DAY 8, Sat 4th September:Greta Roadapprox.21 km.
to Walkers Ridge Road.
DAY 9, Sat 11th September:Walkers Ridge Roadapprox.16 km.
to Watagan Creek Road.
DAY 10, Sat 18th September:Watagan Creek Roadapprox.24 km.
to Georges Road.
DAY 11, Sat 25th September:Georges Roadapprox.20 km.
to Heaton Lookout.
DAY 12, Sat 9th October: Heaton Lookoutapprox.20 km.
to Teralba.
DAY 13, Sat 16th October:Teralbaapprox.25 km.
to Queens Wharf, Newcastle.
Total Distance:approx.260 km.
Notes:Any days cancelled due to severe weather will be done after the remainder of the walk is completed. Example - If day 6 (Sat 14th August) is cancelled it will be rescheduled to Sat 23rd October. Days 7 - 13 will be done as per the program above.
ASSEMBLY AND TRANSPORT INFORMATION
DAY 1, (Public Transport).
7:45am, Macquarie Place Obelisk, Bridge St Sydney. Ferry departs Circular Quay Wharf 5, for Valentia St. Wharf, Woolwich at 8:25am. (Fare $4.50?)
It is suggested that participants travelling by car leave their vehicles at Gordon Railway Station and proceed to Wynyard by train. Trains depart Gordon at 6:55am and 7:10am, arriving at Wynyard at 7:20am and 7:35am.
Return Journey: Group will take taxis from De Burghs Bridge to Gordon Railway Station (Cost $3-4.00 each? @ 4 per cab)
Note:Train, Ferry and Bus fares are not included in activity fee.
DAY 2, (Public Transport).
7:50am, Gordon Railway Station, western side. Group to take taxis to De Burghs Bridge (Cost $3-4.00 each? @ 4 per cab.)
Participants travelling bycar are advised to leave their vehicles at Hornsby (western side) and travel to Gordon bytrain. Trains depart Hornsby at 7:13 am and 7:28 am, arriving at Gordon at 7:25am and 7:40am.
Note:Train and Taxi fares not included in Activity fee.
DAY 3.
7:30am, Berowra Waters, eastern approach ramp to the ferry near the Great North Walk Sign. Car shuffle to Rosemead Rd, Hornsby.
Limited car parking at Berowra Waters, ample at Rosemead Rd.
DAY 4.
7:30am, Hawkesbury River Railway Station, eastern side. Car shuffle to Berowra Waters.
Limited car parking in McKell Park, opposite Railway Station, unlimited space in carpark 150m further east on waterfront.
DAY 5, (Public Transport).
7:45am, Staples Lookout. Car shuffle to Woy Woy Railway Station.
Train departs Woy Woy at 8:26 am. arriving at Hawkesbury River at 8:40 am.
Ferry departs Brooklyn for Patonga at 8:45 am. Cost of ferry $12.00/person
Note:Train and Ferry fares not included in Activity fee.
DAY 6.
7:30am,Reservoir Road, Somersby (called Reserve Rd on some maps), at the water tanks on the left towards the end of Reservoir rd. Car shuffle to Staples Lookout.
Unlimited car parking at reservoir site adjacent to reservoirs.
ASSEMBLY AND TRANSPORT INFORMATION
DAY 7.
7:30am, Greta Road, Bumble Hill, opposite brick fence, about 100meast of the power transmission line crossing Greta Rd. (about 500 m. east of Cherry Lane intersection). Car shuffle to Reservoir Road.
Limited car parking on roadside in the vicinity of the brick fence.
DAY 8.
7:30 am, Walkers Ridge Road, at the Great North Walk sign (difficult to see) about 300m west of Kingtree Road junction.Car shuffle to Greta Rd, Bumble Hill.
Limited parking in a small clearing on the north side of Walkers Ridge Road.
DAY 9.
7:30 am, junction of Walkers Ridge Road and Watagan Creek Road. Car shuffles to destination in Watagan Creek Road and start point in Walkers Ridge Road.
Car parking on roadside opposite stone steps at G.N.W. crossing in Watagan Creek Road.
DAY 10.
7:00am, Old Forest H.Q. Campsite (See note below) in Watagan Forest Rd. Car shuffles to destination in Georges Road and start point in Watagan Creek Road.
Car parking in Georges Rd at the roadside in a saddle about 100 m. east of the State Forest boundary gate.
Note: This is the old Forest Headquarters, not the new one near the Pines Camping Area. Refer to map.
DAY 11.
7:30am, Heaton Lookout. Car shuffle to Georges Road.
Ample car parking at Heaton Lookout.
DAY 12.
7:30am, Teralba Railway Station. Car shuffle to Heaton Lookout.
Car parking in carpark at eastern side of railway station, opposite hotel.
DAY 13, (Public Transport).
7:30am, Teralba Railway Station, eastern side.
Train departs Central 4:55am, Hornsby 5:30am, Woy Woy 6:06am, Gosford 6:20am, Wyong 6:40am arriving at Teralba at 7:21am.
Train departs Newcastle for Teralba at 3:28pm and 5:28pm.
Note: Train fares not included in Activity fee.
WALK DETAILS.
DAY 1. (Medium-Hard)Macquarie Place to De Burghs Bridge
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 1, Lane Cove Valley Walk.
Commencing at Macquarie Place, view the Obelisk, Sirius Anchor & Historic Buildings. Proceed to Wharf 5, Circular Quay. Board ferry to Valentia Street, Woolwich. Continue via Morts Dock to Kelly’s Bush (site of the original 'green ban' in 1971), Hunters Hill and Boronia Park, noting historic houses and points of interest. Follow the Lane Cove River upstream to Magdala Park, Lane Cove Nat. Park, Fiddens Wharf and Blue Hole, finishing the day at De Burghs Bridge.
Features are remains of Aboriginal and early European occupation, surviving estuarine, freshwater and bushland ecosystems, invasion of introduced weeds and modification of the environment by man.
DAY 2. (Medium-Hard)De Burghs Bridge to Hornsby
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 1, Lane Cove Valley Walk.
Map 2, Benowie Walking Track.
Continue following the upper Lane Cove River, along a narrow bushland corridor between residential areas, to Browns Waterhole and Pennant Hills Park, through tall stands of native hardwoods, with an understorey comprising mainly introduced weeds. The river is left behind at the climb up Conscript Pass (built by a depression work gang) to Thornleigh. This is where Pennant Hills Road and the Main Northern Railway Line both follow the ridge dividing the catchments of Lane Cove River and Berowra Creek which are both crossed during a short walk through residential streets.
After leaving Thornleigh, Berowra Creek is followed downstream through tall timber and heathland to Jungo Picnic Area and on to Fishponds at the junction of Waitara and Berowra Creeks. The first Aboriginal engravings on the G.N.W. will be seen along the way. From Fishponds the G.N.W. access track to Rosemead Road is followed and, after a steep climb up some old sandstone steps, the day's walk concludes at Hornsby.
DAY 3. (Hard)Rosemead Road to Berowra Waters
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 2, Benowie Walking Track.
Re-trace the previous day's path from Rosemead Road to Fishponds, then continue following Berowra Creek downstream until a fire trail which crosses the Creek by Bailey Bridge is reached. The fire trail is followed along Tunks Ridge through dry sclerophyll forest to a steep descent to Galston Gorge road bridge. Continue northwards, following the Creek through Galston Gully, then along the high rock ledges of the eastern side until descending to the rather grandly named Rockyfall Rapids, which mark the transition from fresh water creek to salt water estuary. Proceed along a low level track following the wider, mangrove-fringed inlet to Crosslands Picnic Area, Calna and Sams Creeks, passing signs of past Aboriginal and European occupation. From Sams Creek, the track climbs 160 metres in less than a kilometre, and then follows the heights until its descent to Berowra Waters, the day's destination.
WALK DETAILS.
DAY 4. (Hard)Berowra Waters to Brooklyn
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 3, The Hawkesbury Track.
This is one of the hardest days of the entire walk, with the first stage to Cowan featuring a 220 m. climb, a 180 m. descent followed by a 160 m. ascent in approx. 8 km. It doesn't get any easier in the second stage from Cowan to Brooklyn where a 200 m. downhill to the head of Jerusalem Bay is followed by a 190 m. climb a 130 m. descent to Campbells Creek, then another 150 m. uphill to Vize Spur, followed by a more gradual 190 m. downhill via an old railway dam, to finish at Brooklyn, on the southern shore of the Hawkesbury River - a total of nearly 1.5 km. of vertical travel over rugged sandstone surfaces in one day.
However, there are compensations, with panoramic views over Berowra and Cowan Creeks, Muogamarra Nature Reserve, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Hawkesbury River. There are also some interesting Aboriginal engravings and the first experience of the extensive, broken surface of the Hornsby Plateau.
DAY 5. (Hard)Brooklyn to Staples Lookout
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 3, The Hawkesbury Track.
The day commences with a scenic ferry trip from Brooklyn to Patonga. From Patonga the track climbs to Warrah Lookout and Trig (174 m.), then a relatively easy walk through the extensive heathlands and open forests of Brisbane Water National Park to Mt. Wondabyne (at 251 m. the highest point in B.W.N.P.). We then pass over the long Woy Woy rail tunnel before leaving the G.N.W. on a 2 km. side-track to Staples Lookout.
Features are the rock formations, honeycombing; unique patterns caused by weathering of the Hawkesbury Sandstone, spectacular views, particularly from Warrah Lookout and Mount Wondabyne and some interesting Aboriginal relics.
DAY 6. (Hard)Staples Lookout to Reservoir Road
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 3, The Hawkesbury Track.
Re-trace the previous route from Staples Lookout to the G.N.W., then travel via the secluded Kariong and Myron Brooks, and over Scopas and the slopes of Leochares Peaks then downhill to Piles and Mooney Mooney Creeks, over the old Pacific Highway (1932) and under the new Freeway (1987) road bridges. Mooney Mooney Creek is then followed upstream, beyond its tidal limit, to the old Gosford Water Supply Dam now disused. The track then leaves the creek and follows an old logging and a newer water supply service track to finish the day at the water reservoirs on Reservoir Road (incorrectly named Reserve Road on the G.N.W. Discovery Kit, Map 3 and some other maps).
WALK DETAILS.
DAY 7. (Hard)Reservoir Road to Greta Road, Bumble Hill
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 3, The Hawkesbury Track.
Map 4, The Cedar Brush Walk.
After visiting an attractive little rainforest creek, the end of Sylvesters Road heralds the start of the settled farmlands, which are a feature of the Somersby Plateau. The plateau is crossed by the shortest possible route following Sylvesters, Wisemans Ferry, Dog Trap and Kilkenny Roads. The Somersby Plateau is part of the Hunter Range, which defines the northern limit of the Hawkesbury River catchment.
After crossing the plateau, a steep descent is made to the Ourimbah Creek Valley and a dramatic change from the impoverished soils of the Hawkesbury sandstone to the more fertile soils of the Narrabeen formation. The trees are taller and straighter, and rainforest pockets contain species not yet encountered on this trip.
Ourimbah Creek is followed upstream, at first through cleared farmland, then Ourimbah State Forest to Stringybark Point, where a 200 m. climb leads to Milligan Ridge, which is traced northwards for a couple of kilometres, followed by a descent to the inappropriately named Dead Horse Creek, then a climb up the western spur to cleared farmland, Cherry Lane and the day's destination in Greta Road, Bumble Hill which is on the ridge dividing catchments of Ourimbah Creek and Wyong River.
DAY 8. (Hard)Bumble Hill to Walkers Ridge Road
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 4, The Cedar Brush Walk.
An old timber wagon track leads to the village of Yarramalong. Then a large part of the days walk (about 13 km.) is on rural roads, following the Wyong River and then Cedar Brush Creek upstream through picturesque former dairy farming country that is rapidly being swallowed by horse studs and hobby farms.
At the Cedar Brush trackhead, the G.N.W. leaves the road and heads north, up Kingtree Ridge, a long climb of 300 m. into Watagan State Forest. This is the first experience of the Watagan Mountains, where the hills are twice as high as those of the Hawkesbury Sandstone further south. The valleys are also twice as deep!
The Kingtree Ridge fire trail is followed north to its junction with Walkers Ridge Road, the objective for the day.
DAY 9. (Hard)Walkers Ridge Road to Watagan Creek Road
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 4, The Cedar Brush Walk.
The day involves a descent of 200 m., a climb of 200 m., a downhill of 120 m. an uphill of 200 m. then another ascent of 140 m. to the summit of Mt. Warrawalong and finally, a steep downhill of 500 m., in all 1360 m. of vertical travel in the day. Walkers Ridge Road follows the ridge, which defines the southern limit of the catchment of the Hunter River.
The track heads downhill and north to Wollombi Brook, which is a tributary of the Hunter, then uphill to Pig and Sow Ridge, down to Wollombi Brook once again, then up towards The Bar, on the main range, along the ridge and up a steep scrambling climb to the summit of Mt. Warrawalong, which is the highest point in the Watagans and on the G.N.W. at 641 m. and provides sweeping views of the surrounding countryside after the scrub has been cleared by the occasional bushfire. From the summit there is a very steep 500 m. drop to Watagan Creek, another Hunter tributary.
WALK DETAILS.
DAY 10. (Hard)Watagan Creek Road to Georges Road
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 4, The Cedar Brush Walk.
Map 5, The Watagan Track.
A long and tiring day with two testing, steep climbs. After crossing Watagan Creek and leaving the cleared valley behind, a steep climb to the spectacular Flat Rock Lookout is followed by a few kilometres of forest road on the ridgetop to an aviation tower before a very steep descent to Congewai Creek (another Hunter tributary). The creek is followed upstream through open farmland for about 5 km. before turning north for the long, hard climb to Barabba Trig (519 m.) and the day's destination in Georges Road.
DAY 11. (Hard)Georges Road to Heaton Lookout
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 5, The Watagan Track.
Georges Road is followed, with easier gradients along the top of the Myall Range, featuring many interesting rock formations, impressive views, extremely steep drop-offs on both sides and more 3 m. tall grasstrees to the old Forestry H.Q. where the track turns northward along Bakers Road to Hunter and Macleans Lookouts, which are the main northern lookouts in the Watagan Mountains, both complete with picnic and toilet facilities - they provide sweeping panoramas of the Hunter Valley and Barrington Tops beyond, but arguably no better than from vantage points along the Myall Range.
The 8 km from Macleans Lookout to the day's destination at Heaton Lookout is one of the steepest and most scenic sections of the whole walk. It consists Of cliffside tracks and wet, mossy rainforest, complete with leeches and stinging trees, particularly in the vicinity of Wallis Creek. In this section, there is a total of 930 m. of climbing and 900 m. of downhill. Heaton Lookout faces east, providing extensive views over Newcastle,Lake Macquarie and the Pacific Ocean beyond, and a wide-angle view of the remainder of the Great North Walk.
DAY 12. (Medium)Heaton Lookout to Teralba Railway Station
Reference MapG.N.W. Discovery Kit,
Map 5, The Watagan Track.
It is a short walk from Heaton Lookout along the top of the ridge to Heaton Trig (482 m.), the highest point in the eastern Watagans. From here a very steep track leads to Heaton Gap, a low saddle which divides Heaton and Awaba State Forrest and carries a busy main road.
Once across the road, the Watagans are left behind for the much lower, rolling hills of the Sugarloaf Range. The dry sclerophyll forest and cleared areas of the Awaba Forest and Lake Macquarie hinterland lie ahead. After passing beneath the busy Northern Freeway, Wakefield, the first of the townships on the outskirts of the City of Newcastle is reached. These settlements have developed around old coal mining pitheads, and much of the surrounding area is adversely affected by mine subsidence abandoned colliery access roads, stockpiles and railways. Building on much of the area is restricted and the contrast with the Watagans is dramatic.
After passing a huge quarry, the village of Teralba, on the Main Northern Railway Line (complete with its quaint old hotel), is the end of a comparatively easy day.