Berowra to Mt Kuring-gai

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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	(-33.623172,151.1533134)
Mode	Car (The train station is on the Pacific Hwy about 10 km north of Hornsby. There is parking in the area (although this can fill up mid week with commuters). Parking is permitted in many of the back streets.) Special (Most trains stop at Berowra and services run regularly about every 30mins during peak and hourly off peak. The station is on the Newcastle line between Hornsby and Wyong so access from the North or South is easy. More info) Train
Finish	(-33.653774,151.1368008)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car (From Mt Ku-ring-gai Station it is possible to get away to either Hornsby to the South or Brooklyn and the Central Coast in the North using the Pacific Hwy.) Special (To get away from Mt Ku-ring-gai Train Station trains run approximately every hour along the Newcastle Line. This line goes both ways between Hornsby and Wyong. More info) Train

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the front of Berowra Station, this walk follows the footpath between the Pacific Highway and railway line, whilst keeping the highway to your left. After about 50m this walk comes to 'Berowra Parade' marked with a large 'Harbour to Hawkesbury' information sign and map. Here the walk turns right and follows the little used road down over railway bridge then around the green metal gate to cross over the F3 on a large concrete bridge. On the other side of the freeway this walk comes to a small clearing marked with a large 'Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park - Berowra Track' sign.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 10 m pass the car park (20 m on your left).
	After another 45 m turn right. After another 20 m cross the bridge (about 20 m long) After another 15 m cross the bridge (about 70 m long) Then head through/around the gate.
	After another 140 m turn left. After another 305 m turn left. After another 1.6 km find the "Waratah Bay" (8 m on your right). Waratah Bay Waratah Bay sits on the eastern extent of Cowan Waters east of Berowra. The bay is home to a rusting metal boat hull, this boat marks the spot where the Edward Windybank and his family once worked and lived. Edward Windybank worked on the construction nearby railway line from 1886 to 87. Windybank also named the bay and acquired a life-long lease to use it. It seems that he built a small home, boat shed and a narrow road up the hill. Windybank operate a boat building a hire business on site After another 4.1 km cross the bridge (about 20 m long) Then find the "Cowan Creek View" (on your right). Cowan Creek View Cowan Creek View, is a timber platform lookout on Cowan Creek. The lookout is on the northern side of a headland and provide great views down along Cowan Creek. This is a great place to rest and enjoy the water views.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Apple Tree Bay. To start this optional side trip veer left here. On returning from this side trip veer left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 320 m continue straight. After another 360 m come to the viewpoint. After another 1.4 km come to the viewpoint (20 m on your right).
	Continue straight. Then come to the "Firefighters Rest" (35 m on your right). After another 250 m continue straight. After another 670 m head through/around the gate. Then pass the "Mount Ku-ring-gai Track" (5 m on your right).
	After another 30 m continue straight. After another 105 m continue straight. After another 100 m continue straight.
	After another 45 m continue straight. Then cross the bridge (about 90 m long) Then head through the tunnel After another 25 m head through the tunnel
	After another 4 m come to the end. About 90 m past the end is a toilet.

An optional side trip to Apple Tree Bay.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 840 m pass the sign. Then cross the bridge (about 35 m long)
	After another 25 m turn right. Then to find the car park.
	After another 35 m turn left. After another 7 m pass the park (7 m on your right).
	After another 25 m turn left. After another 20 m pass the toilet (40 m on your right). After another 25 m pass the cafe (20 m on your right). Sa-Su PH About 20 m past the end is "Apple Tree Bay". Apple Tree Bay Apple Tree Bay, in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase national park, has a popular boat ramp for accessing Cowan creek and plenty of parking. The area has kiosk, electric BBQ's, picnic benches, toilets, drinking water, garbage facilities, and shade provided by trees. If you are after a quiet spot, head to the western end (away from the boat ramp, past the BBQ's), just beyond the car park, to a lovely clearing by the water. The area is closed between sunset and sunrise. The kiosk/cafe is open on weekend and services hot and cold drinks, ice creams and some hot food.
	The end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 970 m to the main route.

An optional side trip to Apple Tree Bay Viewpoint.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start.
	After another 105 m come to the end. "Mt Ku-Ring-Gai Track Lookout". Mt Ku-Ring-Gai Track Lookout This informal, unfenced lookout is perched on some rocks, not far from the Mt Ku-Ring-Gai Track. It provides views across the valley to Cowan Creek and over much of Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 105 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Berowra to Mt Kuring-gai

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	9.5 km
Time	3 h 45 min to 4 h 30 min

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 3.8 km apart with the largest gap of 7.5 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	6.5 km + 950 m	[toilet]
Toilet	9.6 km	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Waratah Bay
Waratah Bay sits on the eastern extent of Cowan Waters east of Berowra. The bay is home to a rusting metal boat hull, this boat marks the spot where the Edward Windybank and his family once worked and lived. Edward Windybank worked on the construction nearby railway line from 1886 to 87. Windybank also named the bay and acquired a life-long lease to use it. It seems that he built a small home, boat shed and a narrow road up the hill. Windybank operate a boat building a hire business on site

Cowan Creek View
Cowan Creek View, is a timber platform lookout on Cowan Creek. The lookout is on the northern side of a headland and provide great views down along Cowan Creek. This is a great place to rest and enjoy the water views.

Apple Tree Bay
Apple Tree Bay, in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase national park, has a popular boat ramp for accessing Cowan creek and plenty of parking. The area has kiosk, electric BBQ's, picnic benches, toilets, drinking water, garbage facilities, and shade provided by trees. If you are after a quiet spot, head to the western end (away from the boat ramp, past the BBQ's), just beyond the car park, to a lovely clearing by the water. The area is closed between sunset and sunrise. The kiosk/cafe is open on weekend and services hot and cold drinks, ice creams and some hot food.

Get more information
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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Terrey Hills Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
  
  Monday 23 December
  
  29°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Cloud clearing during the early morning to a mostly sunny day. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe, most likely in the early afternoon. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the morning, shifting southerly 30 to 40 km/h in the early afternoon before tending south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon. Winds reaching up to 50 km/h along the coastal fringe with the southerly change during the afternoon.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Extreme
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:40am to 5:00pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 [Very High]
  
  Tuesday 24 December
  
  15°C → 23°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h early in the morning then tending southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning.
  
  Wednesday 25 December
  
  15°C → 26°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Thursday 26 December
  
  16°C → 28°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds becoming northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.
  
  Friday 27 December
  
  19°C → 37°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely later in the day. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds northerly 15 to 25 km/h increasing to 30 km/h before shifting southerly 15 to 25 km/h later.
  
  Saturday 28 December
  
  18°C → 27°C
  Mostly sunny.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Slight chance of a shower during the morning. Mostly sunny day. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h turning easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.
  
  Sunday 29 December
  
  18°C → 30°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Total Fire Ban - All tracks and trails closed in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park - Monday 23 December 2024
  All tracks and trails in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park are closed on Monday 23 December 2024 due to a Total Fire Ban and elevated Fire Danger rating.
  The following areas are closed:
  
  West Head road
  
  West Head lookout
  
  Barrenjoey headland
  
  Sphinx memorial precinct
  
  Stringybark Ridge precinct
  
  All remote campgrounds (accessible by water only)
  
  These areas will remain open:
  
  Apple Tree Bay picnic area
  
  Apple Tree Bay boat ramp
  
  Bobbin Head picnic areas
  
  Bobbin Head Marina
  
  Duckholes picnic area
  
  Illawong Bay picnic area
  
  Gibberagong Boardwalk
  
  Kalkari Discovery Centre (the walking track is closed)
  
  The Basin campground and picnic area (accessible by water only)
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the Bobbin Head Visitor Centre on 02 9472 8949.
  Please review RFS information on Total Fire Bans, Fire Danger Ratings, and keep up to date using the Hazards Near Me app:
  https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fdr-and-tobans
  https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/hazards-near-me-app
  
  Fire bans: Total Fire Ban
  A total fire ban has been declared by the NSW Rural Fire Service. The total fire ban applies for the entire 24-hour period. Total fire ban rules apply. This ban may be extended. Please continue to check this website. To find out where and when total fire bans are currently in effect, please visit the NSW Rural Fire Service.
  
  Other planned events: ‘1080 pest management’
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will be conducting a baiting program using manufactured baits, fresh baits and Canid Pest Ejectors (CPEs) containing 1080 poison (sodium fluroacetate) for the control of foxes. The program is continuous and ongoing between 1 August 2024 and 31 January 2025 in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Don’t touch baits or ejector devices. Penalties apply for non-compliance.
  
  All baiting locations are identifiable by signs.
  Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW national parks and reserves. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
  Fox baiting in these reserves is aimed at reducing their impact on threatened species.
  For more information, contact the local park office on:
  Forestville 9451 3479 or Lane Cove 8448 0400 (business hours)
  NPWS after-hours call centre: 1300 056 294 (after hours)
  
  Closed areas: Berowra walking track partial closure
  Berowra walking track is partially closed until further notice from Apple Tree Bay to the Mt-Ku-ring-gai access track. There is a threat of rockfalls due to slope instability caused by recent weather events. NPWS is in the process of carrying out necessary repair works.
  The Berowra walking track from Berowra Station to Mt Ku-ring-gai is open for use.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 8448 0400 or call 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS).
  
  Closed areas: North Mackerel track closed and Mackerel trail partially closed
  North Mackerel track is permanently closed due to a potential risk of rockfalls and unstable cliff edges in the Great Mackerel Beach area.
  The only designated land access to or from Great Mackerel Beach is via Mackerel track to the north, which intersects with Resolute track.
  Due to land instability and risk to personal safety, there is no through or return access to or from the following places:
  
  The south end of Great Mackerel Beach via The Basin or Mackerel trail
  
  The west of Great Mackerel Beach via North Mackerel track, which is closed.
  
  Please be aware of the risks associated with visiting natural areas, including rock falls, unstable edges, falling branches and interactions with wildlife.
  For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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