Route: Harbour to Hawkesbury Track

Submitted by Matty Small on Sun, 01/09/2022 - 06:44pm
Location
New South Wales, AU
Distance
59 km
Vertical Gain
2,200 m
Description

Back in 1993, Mosman Council initiated the concept of a Harbour to Hawkesbury bushwalk, which would connect to the Great North Walk. Supported by Ku-ring-gai Council and the NPWS, a bushwalking route was established from Manly to Berowra Waters. The Harbour to Hawkesbury route traverses the Sydney Harbour National Park, Garigal NP, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP and Berowra Valley Regional Park, using existing bushwalking tracks. The Harbour to Hawkesbury walk is about 59km in length, but unlike the Great North Walk has no camping sites or accommodation along its length (public transport allows it to be done in smaller sections). You’ve probably seen the distinctive red logo (an H-H symbol with a bushwalker) on many track markers, despite all official references and information on the track having faded into obscurity.

The majority of the track is single trail with some rocky technical sections as well as some brief road and fire trail sections peppered throughout. Considering the proximity and accessibility from Sydney and the popularity of the Great North Walk it is astounding that the trail doesn't get as much attention nor end to end attempts. There are historic indigenous site located along or nearby the trail as it traverses Sydney's sandstone bushland, a truly special place.  

https://hikingtheworld.blog/2020/09/19/harbour-to-hawkesbury-walking-track/

There are other references to this track on-line also.

The official start of the route is out the front of the ferry terminal at the first "Spit to Manly" walk sign/Manly Pathway of Olympians Plaque.  The official end of the route is at the Berowra Waters Public Car Park on Berowra Waters Rd.

SECTION 1: MANLY TO THE SPIT [9.2km]

 0.0km Manly Wharf - start of Spit to Manly Walk

 1.0km Kay Ye My Point

 1.5km Manly Boatshed and start of North Harbour Walk

 3.3km Forty Baskets Beach

 3.6km Access track to Beatty St; start of Reef Beach Track

 4.4km Dobroyd Head; start of Dobroyd Head Track

 5.0km Crater Cove Lookout; start of Grotto Point Track

 5.7km Aboriginal engraving site

 5.9km Junction with Lighthouse Track to Grotto Point [1km return]

       Start of Castle Rock Track

 6.3km Castle Rock beach; start of Clontarf Track

 7.5km Clontarf Beach

 9.2km The Spit

SECTION 2: SPIT TO DAVIDSON PARK [14.6km]

 9.2km The Spit

13.9km Seaforth Oval - start of Timber Getters Track

14.7km Bantry Bay Picnic Area - start of Bay Track / Bluff Track

16.7km Turn onto Natural Bridge Track

17.5km Turn onto Currie Street Track

17.7km Junction with Cook St; start of Bates Creek Track

18.4km Junction with Tipperary Ave track; start of Magazine Track

20.6km Flat Rock Beach

20.8km Killarney Drive track & start of Flat Rock Beach Track

21.7km Killarney Point

22.5km Access trail to end of Downpatrick Drive

23.8km Davidson Park

SECTION 3: DAVIDSON PARK TO ST IVES [11.6km]

23.8km Davidson Park & start of Lyrebird Track

27.0km Carroll Creek & start of Governor Phillip Track

28.6km Track crosses under pipeline

29.3km Stepping Stones & start of Middle Harbour Track

31.9km The Cascades & start of Cascades Track

32.8km Turn onto Upper Cambourne Trail

33.3km Cambourne Avenue (ST Ives)

35.4km Corner Kitchener Ave & Mona Vale Road

SECTION 4: ST IVES TO BOBBIN HEAD [9km]

35.4km Corner Kitchener Ave & Mona Vale Road

36.0km Management trail through Garigal NP

37.8km End of Phillip St

38.2km End of Warrimoo Ave & start of Warrimoo Track

39.5km End of service trail & start of bushwalking track

43.7km Bobbin Head Trail (to North Turramurra)

43.9km Empire Bay (Bobbin Head) marina

44.3km Bobbin Head (kiosk and NP info office)

SECTION 5: BOBBIN HEAD TO BEROWRA WATERS (14.4km)

44.3km Bobbin Head (kiosk and NP info office)

45.6km Apple Tree Bay - start of Berowra Track

46.5km Junction with Mount Ku-ring-gai Track

48.1km Apex of second bay (Winson Gully Bay)

49.0km Apex of third bay (Lords Bay)

51.1km End of Waratah Bay (track ascends from here)

53.0km Berowra Station

53.8km Start of Crowley Trail (on Crowley Road)

54.7km Turn into  Berkeley Fire Trail

55.7km Berkeley Fire Trail meets Benowie Track

56.0km Naa Badu lookout

57.1km Junction with Currawong Fire Trail (to Currawong Road)

58.7km Berowra Waters

 

GPS Track