Cockle Creek Lookout

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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 (-33.6596461,151.1591056)
Mode Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the 'Bobbin Inn' cafe, this walk heads to the front of the building to the 'Information Centre' main entrance. From here this walk follows the 'Birrawana Loop Track' alongside the road a few meters to find a metal 'Welcome to the Cockle Creek Lookout Track' sign and map. Now the walk follows the track behind the safety barrier (keeping the road to your right) for about 70m to cross a small culverted creek and pass a few old a couple of picnic tables in a shaded and mossy gully. This walk continues for another 30m behind the safety barrier to come to the bottom of the signposted 'Birrawanna Track' steps.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Bobbin Inn Cafe (about 35 m back from the start). Bobbin Inn Cafe At the centre of Bobbin Head picnic area, in the old 'Bobbin Inn' building, is a cafe offering inside and outdoor dining, and a range of foods and drinks. Food includes fish and chips, wraps, focaccia, sandwiches and snack foods. Tea, coffee and cold drinks are also on offer. Opening hours are 9 - 4pm Mon to Fri (closed Tuesdays) & 9 - 5pm weekends. For more information, phone the cafe on 9457 7170. The NPWS Bobbin Head Information Centre is open 7 days a week (closed Christmas Day) 10 - 4pm (closed 12 - 12:30pm lunch). Ramp access available on the southwestern corner of the building. Ramp access to the information centre through the cafe. There is a picnic table (about 25 m back from the start).
	After another 40 m (at the intersection of Apple Tree Bay Road & Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Road) turn left, to head along Birrawanna Track (a walking track). After another 7 m pass the car park (7 m on your right). After another 5 m pass the "Bobbin Head Inn" (15 m on your left). Then pass the "National Parks Information Centre" (10 m on your left). Mo-Su 10:00-16:00 Then pass the "Welcome to Cockle Creek Lookout Track". After another 115 m cross the bridge (about 3 m long) After another 15 m pass the "Birrawana Loop Track" (6 m on your right). Then head up the 30 steps (about 10 m long) After another 10 m head up the 28 steps (about 7 m long) After another 20 m head up the 60 steps (about 30 m long) After another 8 m head up the 12 steps (about 10 m long) After another 60 m cross the ford.
	After another 165 m (from the Birrawanna Track) turn right.
	(Cockle Creek Lookout) Continue another 115 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 600 m to get back to the start. "Cockle Creek Lookout". Cockle Creek Lookout Cockle Creek Lookout is an informal lookout with no facilities, on the Birrawanna track in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. The lookout provides Glimpses of Cockle and Cowan Creeks. The area is surrounded by some beautiful gum trees and rock boulders, making it a nice place to sit and reflect on the surroundings.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Cockle Creek Lookout

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	1.2 km
Time	30 min to 1 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
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	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Bobbin Head
Bobbin Head is a historic recreation area which is still popular today, suiting the needs of many people. At the center of the Bobbin Head area is the old 'Bobbin Inn', built in the 1930s - it is now the park information center and cafe. The area is popular with picnickers, boaters, walkers, canoeists, family groups and people who like to fish. Bobbin Head is roughly divided into three sections (north, south and east). Southern Bobbin Head is a popular picnic area for families and large groups. The area is surrounded by a car park and dotted with picnic tables, electric BBQs, shelters and a large playground. There are toilets nearby, and 'The Station' is a sheltered accessible area with BBQ and tables that can be booked NPWS. The northern Bobbin Head (Orchard Park) area is a more formal picnic area. There is a large picnic shelter, surrounded by 14 smaller octagonal shelters, each of these divided into 4 walled-off compartments, ideal for small groups. The eastern side of Bobbin Head is dominated by the Empire Marina and a public wharf. The marina is home to a nice restaurant and public toilets.

Bobbin Inn Cafe
At the centre of Bobbin Head picnic area, in the old 'Bobbin Inn' building, is a cafe offering inside and outdoor dining, and a range of foods and drinks. Food includes fish and chips, wraps, focaccia, sandwiches and snack foods. Tea, coffee and cold drinks are also on offer. Opening hours are 9 - 4pm Mon to Fri (closed Tuesdays) & 9 - 5pm weekends. For more information, phone the cafe on 9457 7170. The NPWS Bobbin Head Information Centre is open 7 days a week (closed Christmas Day) 10 - 4pm (closed 12 - 12:30pm lunch). Ramp access available on the southwestern corner of the building. Ramp access to the information centre through the cafe.

Cockle Creek Lookout
Cockle Creek Lookout is an informal lookout with no facilities, on the Birrawanna track in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. The lookout provides Glimpses of Cockle and Cowan Creeks. The area is surrounded by some beautiful gum trees and rock boulders, making it a nice place to sit and reflect on the surroundings.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Terrey Hills Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Friday 25 Jul
  
  16°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon.
  Fire Danger: Moderate
  UV Alert: Sun protection not recommended, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]
  
  Saturday 26 Jul
  
  10°C → 16°C
  Showers easing.
  95% chance of rain
  3 → 9mm
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending northerly 20 to 30 km/h before dawn then becoming light in the late evening.
  
  Sunday 27 Jul
  
  9°C → 17°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h tending northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning.
  
  Monday 28 Jul
  
  9°C → 16°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending westerly 25 to 35 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Tuesday 29 Jul
  
  7°C → 16°C
  Cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely later in the day. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h.
  
  Wednesday 30 Jul
  
  8°C → 15°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h tending southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.
  
  Thursday 31 Jul
  
  7°C → 14°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 6mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h tending southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- The Basin campground and picnic area closed for weed spraying
  The Basin picnic area The Basin campground
  
  The Basin campground and picnic area will be closed on Wednesday 30 July and Thursday 31 July 2025 for weed spraying.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service
- Berowra walking track partial closure
  Berowra track to Apple Tree Bay
  
  Berowra walking track is partially closed from Apple Tree Bay to the Mt-Ku-ring-gai access track until further notice. 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.
  
  Berowra walking track from Berowra Station to Mt Ku-ring-gai remains open.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 8448 0400 or call 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS).
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service
- 1080 pest management operation
  
  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 Saturday 1 February 2025 and Thursday 31 July 2025 in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
  
  Please don’t touch baits or ejector devices. 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.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the Forestville area office on 02 9451 3479 or the Lane Cove area office on 02 8448 0400 (business hours). Alternatively, call the NPWS after-hours call centre on 1300 056 294.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service
- Ryland and Cooyong/Neverfail trail closures
  
  Ryland trail and Cooyong/Neverfail trail in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park will be closed weekdays from Wednesday 23 July until Tuesday 5 August 2025 inclusive for essential maintenance. Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the Sydney North area office on 02 9451 3479.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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Start	(-33.6596461,151.1591056)
Mode	Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)

Weather Forecast

Alerts