Flint and Steel Beach and bay loop

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Warning
This journey requires significant bushwalking experience, specialised equipment and navigation skills.
Please ensure you and your group well prepared and equiped for this journey.

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	(-33.5788805,151.2887895)
Mode	Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)
Directions	From Pacific Highway, A1, Gordon. Turn on to then drive for 12 km Keep left and drive for another 30 m Turn slight left onto McCarrs Creek Road and drive for another 25 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto McCarrs Creek Road and drive for another 5 km Turn left onto West Head Road and drive for another 350 m Turn slight left onto West Head Road and drive for another 11.2 km Turn left and drive for another 3 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the back of the car park, the walk follows the 'Flint and Steel Track' sign along the bush track heading down through the bush. The walk drops down some stairs and turns right at the old 'Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park' sign, then left down the side of the hill. After about 100m, the walk continues down a set of stairs and then down the bush track to the signposted intersection.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start.
	After another 335 m (at the intersection of Flint and Steel Track & Flint & Steel Bay Track) continue straight, to head along Flint and Steel Track. After another 670 m find the "Flint and Steel Beach" (about 20 m ahead). Flint and Steel Beach Flint and Steel Beach, Ku-ring-gai National Park, is a small north-east facing stretch of sand. The beach is hemmed in by prominent headlands on either side and backed by a grassy hill. A seat on the hill lends views over the Hawkesbury River to Patonga and Lion Island, with Box Head in the background. After another 910 m find the "McGaw Ruins" (25 m on your left). McGaw Ruins The McGaw ruins are situated north-west of White Horse Beach, on West Head in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The property was originally owned by John Miller, who also owned large areas of West Head. The property was sold to Mr Eardley McGaw in 1928, on the condition that he built a house there. Mr McGaw built a two-storied house with several other smaller buildings, including a wharf. Mr McGaw and his wife lived there until he became ill, when they moved to Narrabeen and NSW National Parks took over management of the land. The house and other buildings were lost during a 1971 bushfire, leaving the sandstone foundations and ruins to be grown over with vegetation.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to White Horse Beach. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip turn around when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 40 m (at the intersection of Flint & Steel Bay Track & Unmarked track) turn sharp left, to head along Flint & Steel Bay Track.
	After another 400 m (at the intersection of Flint and Steel Track & Flint & Steel Bay Track) turn right, to head along Flint and Steel Track.
	After another 335 m come to the end.

An optional side trip to White Horse Beach.

Turn map

Directions & comments

Start.

After another 200 m come to the end.

About 70 m past the end is "White Horse Beach".

White Horse Beach

White Horse Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a 30m stretch of sand sitting on the coast of Flint and Steel Bay between rocky boulders. The beach, backed by a steep hill, provides north-westerly views over the Hawkesbury from Patonga, Broken Bay Sport and Recreation Centre and up the river towards Brooklyn.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 200 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Flint and Steel Beach and bay loop

Grading

	Class 5/6 Very challenging
Length	2.7 km
Time	1 h 15 min to 1 h 30 min

Quality of track	Rough unclear track (5/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	No directional signs (5/6)
Infrastructure	No facilities provided (5/6)
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

McGaw Ruins
The McGaw ruins are situated north-west of White Horse Beach, on West Head in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The property was originally owned by John Miller, who also owned large areas of West Head. The property was sold to Mr Eardley McGaw in 1928, on the condition that he built a house there. Mr McGaw built a two-storied house with several other smaller buildings, including a wharf. Mr McGaw and his wife lived there until he became ill, when they moved to Narrabeen and NSW National Parks took over management of the land. The house and other buildings were lost during a 1971 bushfire, leaving the sandstone foundations and ruins to be grown over with vegetation.

White Horse Beach
White Horse Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a 30m stretch of sand sitting on the coast of Flint and Steel Bay between rocky boulders. The beach, backed by a steep hill, provides north-westerly views over the Hawkesbury from Patonga, Broken Bay Sport and Recreation Centre and up the river towards Brooklyn.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Mona Vale Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  
  Sunday 22 December
  
  24°C
  Becoming mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy morning, clearing to a mostly sunny afternoon. Light winds becoming northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:40am to 5:00pm, UV Index predicted to reach 11 [Extreme]
  
  Monday 23 December
  
  20°C → 24°C
  Mostly sunny.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny. The chance of fog in the outer west in the early morning. Slight chance of a shower in the early afternoon. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning then tending southeast to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the late afternoon.
  
  Tuesday 24 December
  
  17°C → 21°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Wednesday 25 December
  
  18°C → 23°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
  
  18°C → 25°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds becoming northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.
  
  Friday 27 December
  
  20°C → 31°C
  Possible late shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning.
  
  Saturday 28 December
  
  23°C → 27°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting east to southeasterly during the day.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park alerts
  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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