Blackwattle Trail

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-33.7207226,151.0460303)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Pennant Hills Road, A28 Turn on to M2 Hills Motorway, M2 then drive for 35 m Turn left onto Pennant Hills Road Exit and drive for another 1.1 km Keep left and drive for another 660 m Turn right onto New Line Road and drive for another 400 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto New Line Road and drive for another 1.4 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Boundary Road and drive for another 250 m Keep left and drive for another 450 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Macquarie Drive and drive for another 670 m Turn right onto Francis Greenway Drive and drive for another 235 m Turn left onto Gavin Place and drive for another 125 m Turn right onto McKinley Place and drive for another 175 m Keep left onto McKinley Firetrail and drive for another 100 m Turn sharp left onto Benowie Walking Track and drive for another 590 m
Finish	(-33.7098101,151.0562096)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Bus Car (There is free parking available.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From in front of the 'Cherrybrook Rural Fire Brigade' building (in Shepherds Dr, just up the hill from the roundabout intersection with Macquarie Dr), the walk goes behind the fire brigade building, then passes around a locked gate onto the 'Blackwattle Trail'. The walk soon arrives at an intersection with a bush track on the right, marked with a short timber signpost.
From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail down the hill, keeping the houses to the left, arriving at the signposted intersection at the top of the stairs (with a track on the right).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Cherrybrook Girl Guides (about 20 m back from the start). Cherrybrook Girl Guides The Cherrybrook Girl Guides building is at the corner of Shepherds Dr and Macquarie Dr, Cherrybrook. After another 380 m (at the intersection of Benowie Walking Track & Blackwattle Trail) continue straight (a walking track).
	After another 45 m (from the Blackwattle Trail) continue straight, to head along Blackwattle Trail (a vehicle track). After another 220 m (from the Blackwattle Trail) continue straight, to head along Blackwattle Trail.
	After another 580 m (at the intersection of Blackwattle Trail & Daphne Trail) continue straight, to head along Daphne Trail. After another 45 m (from the Daphne Trail) continue straight, to head along Daphne Trail.
	After another 800 m (from the Patricia Trail) continue straight, to head along Patricia Trail.
	After another 185 m come to the end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Blackwattle Trail

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	2.2 km
Time	50 min to 1 h

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Cherrybrook Rural Fire Brigade
The Cherrybrook Rural Fire Brigade building is in Shepherds Dr (near the intersection with Macquarie Dr), Cherrybrook. This is the home of the Cherrybrook Rural Fire Service, a wholly volunteer brigade. There is an entry onto the 'Blackwattle Trail' and some of the local bushwalks behind the building, and a water tap at the front of the building.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Hornsby Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
  
  Thursday 3 July
  
  17°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, becoming less likely in the late morning. Winds southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h decreasing to 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: No Rating
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection not recommended, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]
  
  Friday 4 July
  
  8°C → 17°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light before dawn.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Saturday 5 July
  
  6°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog in the outer west. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds.
  
  Sunday 6 July
  
  10°C → 20°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds.
  
  Monday 7 July
  
  8°C → 17°C
  Mostly sunny.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending west to southwesterly during the day.
  
  Tuesday 8 July
  
  5°C → 16°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. The chance of morning frost in the outer west. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning.
  
  Wednesday 9 July
  
  8°C → 16°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning westerly during the day.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Berowra Valley National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Tracks and trails closed due to extreme weather
  All tracks and trails are closed due to ongoing extreme weather.
  Roads remain open. Check Live Traffic NSW for up-to-date information about road closures. For assistance during severe weather visit the NSW SES website. In life-threatening situations call emergency services on Triple Zero (000).
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office on 02 8448 0400.
  
  Safety alerts: Hazardous conditions due to weather
  Conditions on walking tracks and fire trails may be hazardous. This is due to forecasted weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and potential flooding of waterways.
  If visiting these areas, please:
  
  Proceed with caution on rough and slippery surfaces
  
  Beware of falling trees
  
  Look out for erosion, washouts, and flooded creek crossings.
  
  Note that roads, tracks and trails can be closed with minimal notice.
  
  Remember, it’s never safe to drive, ride or walkthrough flood waters, so you’ll need to reschedule your visit and avoid travel through areas in this park. Check Live Traffic NSW for up-to-date information about road closures. Visit the Bureau of Meteorology for the latest weather warnings. For assistance during severe weather visit the NSW SES website. In life-threatening situations call emergency services on Triple Zero (000).
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 8448 0400.
  
  Other planned events: Quarry Trail maintenance
  Surface and vegetation works will be carried out on the Quarry Trail from Wednesday 25 June until Wednesday 16 July 2025, weather permitting.
  Walkers permitted but there may be delays. Please follow all signage and instructions from NPWS staff and contractors.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the North Western Sydney area office on 02 8448 0400.
  
  Other planned events: Fire Trail vegetation works
  Vegetation works will be carried out from Wednesday 25 June to Wednesday 9 July 2025 on the following fire trails in Berowra Valley National & Regional Park:
  
  Lyrebird Gully Fire Trail
  
  Daphne Fire Trail
  
  Patricia Fire Trail
  
  Refuge Rock Fire Trail
  
  Carmen Fire Trail
  
  Kentia Fire Trail
  
  Barkala Fire Trail
  
  Walkers permitted but there may be delays. Please follow all signage and instructions from NPWS staff and contractors.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the North Western Sydney area office on 02 8448 0400.
  
  Safety alerts: Swimming safety in Berowra Valley National Park
  Swimming is not advisable in Berowra Creek at certain times as the water may be subject to variable pollution levels and algal blooms. Please refer to the Hornsby Shire Council website before swimming in Berowra Creek. Alternatively you can call the Hornsby Council 24 hour information line on 9847 6666 or the Algal information line on 1800 999 457.
  Swimming at Fishponds is not advised at any time due to heavy water pollution.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance.For more information, contact the NPWS Chatswood area office on 02 8448 0400 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service
- Berowra Valley Regional Park alerts
  Closed areas: Tracks and trails closed due to extreme weather
  All tracks and trails are closed due to ongoing extreme weather.
  Roads remain open. Check Live Traffic NSW for up-to-date information about road closures. For assistance during severe weather visit the NSW SES website. In life-threatening situations call emergency services on Triple Zero (000).
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office on 02 8448 0400.
  
  Safety alerts: Hazardous conditions due to weather
  Conditions on walking tracks and fire trails may be hazardous. This is due to forecasted weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and potential flooding of waterways.
  If visiting these areas, please:
  
  Proceed with caution on rough and slippery surfaces
  
  Beware of falling trees
  
  Look out for erosion, washouts, and flooded creek crossings.
  
  Note that roads, tracks and trails can be closed with minimal notice.
  
  Remember, it’s never safe to drive, ride or walkthrough flood waters, so you’ll need to reschedule your visit and avoid travel through areas in this park. Check Live Traffic NSW for up-to-date information about road closures. Visit the Bureau of Meteorology for the latest weather warnings. For assistance during severe weather visit the NSW SES website. In life-threatening situations call emergency services on Triple Zero (000).
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 8448 0400.
  
  Other planned events: Fire Trail vegetation works
  Vegetation works will be carried out from Wednesday 25 June to Wednesday 9 July 2025 on the following fire trails in Berowra Valley National & Regional Park:
  
  Lyrebird Gully Fire Trail
  
  Daphne Fire Trail
  
  Patricia Fire Trail
  
  Refuge Rock Fire Trail
  
  Carmen Fire Trail
  
  Kentia Fire Trail
  
  Barkala Fire Trail
  
  Walkers permitted but there may be delays. Please follow all signage and instructions from NPWS staff and contractors.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the North Western Sydney area office on 02 8448 0400.
  
  Safety alerts: Swimming safety in Berowra Valley National Park
  Swimming is not advisable in Berowra Creek at certain times as the water may be subject to variable pollution levels and algal blooms. Please refer to the Hornsby Shire Council website before swimming in Berowra Creek. Alternatively you can call the Hornsby Council 24 hour information line on 9847 6666 or the Algal information line on 1800 999 457.
  Swimming at Fishponds is not advised at any time due to heavy water pollution.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance.For more information, contact the NPWS Chatswood area office on 02 8448 0400 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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