Macquarie Park to Thornleigh

4 h to 4 h 30 min

11.2 km
oneway

↑ 0 m
↓ 0 m

Hard track
Starting from the Macquarie Park train station, you wander down Lane Cove Rd and over De Burghs Bridge to join the main spine of the Great North Walk in the Lane Cove Valley. Here the walk heads under De Burghs bridge then explores the dry grass tree and eucalypt forest along the side of the ridge. The track soon leads you down into the ferny and moist valley beside Lane Cove River. Near the top of the valley, you walk up some stone steps built during the depression to find some rock engravings with 1930's style political satire, Conscript Pass. The side trip provides access to the scout campsite, where the main walk continues leads up through the streets to find Thornleigh train station. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
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Macquarie Park railway station. | Photo by admin, 2011.
A few options for something to eat. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Crossing the M2. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Eden Gardens. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Photo by admin, 2011.
Approaching De Burghs Bridge. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Crossing De Burghs Bridge. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Lane Cove River and Blue Pool from De Burghs Bridge. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Track near north eastern corner for De Burghs Bridge. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Looking down the to the Great North Walk. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Walking under De Burghs Bridge. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Fenced section of track near De Burghs Bridge. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Grass Trees abound. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Pine leaf Geebung (Persoonia pinafolia)In bloom. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Dry forests on ridge in the Lane Cove Valley. | Photo by admin, 2011.
A weedy section of track west of Lane Cove Road. | Photo by admin, 2011.
GNW arrow post pointing along the trail. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Crossing Rudder Creek. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Well signposted section in Lane Cove NP. | Photo by admin, 2011.
A fairly open section of dry forest. | Photo by admin, 2011.
The rocky track on Lane Cove Valley. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Crossing Quarry Creek. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Walking through the dense forest in the Lane Cove Valley. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Crossing Congham Creek. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Walking through the tall heath. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Sandy beach on Lane Cove River near Avondale Creek. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Walking down to Lane Cove River near Avondale Creek. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Weir and bridge over Avondale Creek. | Photo by admin, 2011.
The Lane Cove River near Avondale Creek. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Boardwalk north of Avondale Creek. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Rocky track through the dry forest. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Walking along the wide trails near Koombalah Ave. | Photo by admin, 2011.
A few high tension power line towers near the trail. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Great North Walk near Kissing point Rd. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Lane Cove River at Browns Water Hole. | Photo by admin, 2007.
Browns Water Hole. | Photo by admin, 2007.
Just north of Browns Water Hole. | Photo by admin, 2011.
The tall wooded forest near the STEP track. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Intersection at the bottom of the Canoon Road trail. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Intersection of of the GNW and Whale Rock trail. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Crossing the upper Lane Cove River. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Fern trees and moist forest in the upper Lane Cove Valley. | Photo by admin, 2011.
The rocky trail beside the upper Lane Cove River. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Crossing the Lane Cove River. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Fern tree in the upper Lane Cove Valley. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Stepping stones over the upper Lane Cove River. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Well signposted track near Conscript Pass. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Steps below Conscript Pass. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Conscript Pass. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Conscript Pass engraving. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Bertram Stevens. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Sir Bertram Stevens. | Photo by admin
Steps near Lorna Pass. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Lorna Pass. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Baden Powell Scout Camp - campsite. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Baden Powell Scout Camp - Hall. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Baden Powell Scout Camp - accomodation. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Thornleigh Oval. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Walking along Handley Ave. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Bridge near Pennant Hills Rd. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Walking over Pennant Hills Rd. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Thornleigh Station. | Photo by admin, 2011.
Thornleigh trackhead sign on west side of train station. | Photo by admin, 2010.
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