The Bluff Track

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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	(-33.7630021,151.2294182)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Warringah Road, A38 Turn on to Warringah Road, A38 then drive for 810 m Turn right onto Hilmer Street and drive for another 165 m Turn left onto Primrose Avenue and drive for another 115 m Turn right onto Bantry Bay Road and drive for another 940 m Turn sharp right onto Grattan Crescent and drive for another 285 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the end of the road, this walk heads through the large metal gate and past the 'Garigal National Park' sign, continuing south-west along the management trail until coming to an intersection with a track, signposted as the 'Natural Bridge Track'.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. There is a toilet (about 145 m back from the start). There is water tap (about 55 m back from the start). Austrian Club Restaurant (about 45 m back from the start). W:www.austrianclubrestaurant.com T:+61 2 9975 3172 Fr-Sa 18:00-22:00 Su 12:00-20:00 There is a car park (about 30 m back from the start). Ararat Reserve (about 20 m back from the start). After 40 m head through/around the gate.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Natural Bridge. To start this optional side trip veer right here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 250 m (at the intersection of Natural Bridge Track & The Bluff Track) turn left, to head along The Bluff Track.
	After another 45 m continue straight, to head along The Bluff Track.
	After another 80 m (at the intersection of The Bluff Track & Gahnia Mountain Bike Track) continue straight, to head along The Bluff Track (a walking track). After another 100 m come to a sign. About 40 m past the end is "Bluff Lookout". Bluff Lookout The Bluff is a large, unfenced rocky hilltop, in Garigal National Park, that provides great views up Middle Harbour. The views extend across the bushland of the National Park, along Bantry Bay, to the city of Sydney (You can even see Centrepoint Tower). Apart from the distant views, the bluff is also an interesting rock feature, with a number of caves containing honeycomb rock formations.
	Turn around here and retrace the main route for 520 m to get back to the start.

An optional side trip to Natural Bridge.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of The Bluff Track & Natural Bridge Track Start heading along Natural Bridge Track (a walking track). Find the sign at the start.
	After another 45 m veer left, to head along Natural Bridge Track. After another 430 m cross the bridge (about 10 m long) After another 20 m find the "Natural Bridge" (6 m on your left). Natural Bridge The Natural Bridge is a sandstone arch in Garigal National Park. The arch spans an unnamed creek feeding into Bantry Bay. The Natural Bridge track uses this arch to cross the creek, and is not always noticed by walkers as the surrounding vegetation hides the full view of the feature from the track. The arch has formed the eroding forces of water flowing down the creek. The arch provides an interesting natural feature to explore and enjoy.
	After another 6 m come to the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 520 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

The Bluff Track

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	1 km
Time	20 min to 30 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one -126 m back from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	-126 m	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Natural Bridge
The Natural Bridge is a sandstone arch in Garigal National Park. The arch spans an unnamed creek feeding into Bantry Bay. The Natural Bridge track uses this arch to cross the creek, and is not always noticed by walkers as the surrounding vegetation hides the full view of the feature from the track. The arch has formed the eroding forces of water flowing down the creek. The arch provides an interesting natural feature to explore and enjoy.

Bluff Lookout
The Bluff is a large, unfenced rocky hilltop, in Garigal National Park, that provides great views up Middle Harbour. The views extend across the bushland of the National Park, along Bantry Bay, to the city of Sydney (You can even see Centrepoint Tower). Apart from the distant views, the bluff is also an interesting rock feature, with a number of caves containing honeycomb rock formations.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Terrey Hills Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Friday 25 October
  
  20°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, mostly likely this afternoon. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then tending south to southeasterly 25 to 35 km/h in the early afternoon.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:00am to 4:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 8 [Very High]
  
  Saturday 26 October
  
  11°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting easterly in the afternoon.
  
  Sunday 27 October
  
  11°C → 23°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Monday 28 October
  
  14°C → 27°C
  Possible shower developing.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Sunny morning. Medium chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then turning southerly 20 to 30 km/h during the afternoon.
  
  Tuesday 29 October
  
  14°C → 19°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h.
  
  Wednesday 30 October
  
  13°C → 21°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning southerly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning.
  
  Thursday 31 October
  
  14°C → 22°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Garigal National Park alerts
  Hazard reduction burns: Bantry Bay HR
  There is a planned Hazard Reduction burn in this park from 23/10/2024. The fire is called Bantry Bay HR. Refer to the Rural Fire Service for latest information. Do not enter any closed area or area with fire. If you see an unattended fire call Triple Zero (000). Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information about fire safety in parks and reserves, visit the NSW National Parks fire safety page for park safety guidelines.
  
  Closed areas: Magazine track closed for hazard reduction burning
  Magazine track is closed for hazard reduction burning from Wednesday 23 to Friday 25 October 2024. The closed areas are:
  
  Magazine track between the end of Killarney Drive to the Tipperary Avenue track intersection.
  
  Flat Rock Beach
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. This burn is called NPWS Bantry Bay HR. For more information, contact the local NPWS office or visit the Rural Fire Service website.
  
  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 Garigal 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 (business hours)
  NPWS after-hours call centre: 1300 056 294 (after hours)
  
  Closed areas: Flat Rock track partial closure
  The section of Flat Rock track from the Killarney Drive entrance to the Downpatrick Street entrance, is permanently closed as the old track passes through private property near Killarney Point.
  Please note:
  
  Walkers heading west should exit Flat Rock track at the eastern end of Killarney Drive and use Killarney Drive until you reach Downpatrick Street. Then walk down the street and re-enter Flat Rock track from the Downpatrick Street fire trail.
  
  Walkers heading east should exit Flat Rock track at the Downpatrick Street fire trail and use Downpatrick Street, then Killarney Drive until you reach the end of Killarney Drive. Re-enter Flat Rock track from the Killarney Drive entrance.
  
  For more information, please contact the NPWS Forestville area office on 02 9451 3479 between 9.30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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