This walk provides a beautiful mixture of scenery, including rainforest-like sections along the creek, as well as drier forest with grass trees and beautiful sandstone overhangs. The walk starts on Francis Greenway Dr and follows part of the Callicoma Walk. There are two main points of interest on the walk, the 'Coachwood Grotto' and the 'Callicoma Caves', making it a rewarding walk.
(open in app)
There are Safety alerts in Berowra Valley National Park Today's Fire rating LOW MODERATE (No fire ban)
Please note: This is a 'return' style walk and therefore these graphs only show the terrain for the first half of the walk (until the turn around point.)
Cross sectional view of the Callicoma caves bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Callicoma caves bushwalking track
Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length
2.5km
Time
1 hr 30 mins
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Quality of track
Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Signs
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience Required
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather
Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing
Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk. Gradient
Around 630m of this walk has short steep hills, whilst the remaining 630m has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
690m of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 360m follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (210m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
This whole walk, 1.3km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 930m of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 330m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
Around 970m of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 290m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 1.3km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Francis Greenway Dr trackhead
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Int of Callicoma Walk and Thorpe Ave trail Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 97 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -17 m
From the intersection of Francis Greenway Drive and Macquarie Drive, the walk follows the 'Bushland Walking Trail' arrow, then goes steeply down the stepped bush track, arriving at an intersection with a management trail, marked with a 'Callicoma Walk' signpost.
(0.1 km)
Int of Callicoma Walk and Thorpe Ave trail
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Int of sewer management trail and Callicoma Walk Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 291 m
Time = 7 mins
Climb = 7 m
Descent = -21 m
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail gently up the hill and soon branches to the left at an unmarked intersection, following a bush track gently down the hill away from the houses. Immediately after crossing the creek, on concrete stepping stones, the track bends to the left (just behind the houses) then meanders along, keeping the creek on the left, before reaching an intersection at the top of the wooden steps, marked with a 'Callicoma Walk' signpost.
(0.39 km)
Int of sewer management trail and Callicoma Walk
to
Number 8 sign Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 328 m
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = -4 m
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the track going gently down the hill, keeping the creek on the left. The track passes several sewer inspection points before arriving at the intersection marked with an '8' sign (just before the track bends up the hill to the right).
(0.72 km)
Number 8 sign
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Coachwood grotto Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 23 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = 0 m
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the steps steeply down the hill, soon coming to the viewing spot. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn left to continue along this walk.)
Coachwood grotto
Alt = 129 m
This beautiful, shady spot is beside Nyrippin creek, on the Callicoma Walk near Cherrybrook. The 'grotto' is an open area, shaded by Coachwood trees, with a curved section of low cliffs across the creek, giving an 'amphitheatre' feeling. This is a very atmospheric spot to sit and relax for a while.
(0.72 km)
Number 8 sign
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Nyrippin Creek four ways Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail
Length = 331 m
Time = 6 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -7 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the stepped track going up the hill, leaving the creek on the left, and soon arrives at the signposted intersection for the 'Callicoma Walk'. Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail gently down the hill, keeping the creek on the left (ignore a bush track going to the right where the main track drops a little to the left). The track then becomes a bush track and bends to the right at a ventilation stack, climbing some steps to arrive at the 4 way intersection.
(1.05 km)
Nyrippin Creek four ways
to
Callicoma Caves Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 214 m
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 14 m
Descent = -9 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk goes steeply up the hill using the wooden steps. The walk then swings to the left and follows the short cliff line, on the right, before reaching a large overhang at the end of the cliffline, marked with a number '6' sign.
Callicoma caves
Alt = 129 m
The Callicoma caves are a series of large sandstone overhangs on the Callicoma Walk near Cherrybrook. These beautiful sandstone overhangs are a highlight on the walks in the area. The sandstone has some beautiful texture and golden colouring.
Fire Danger This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a LOW MODERATE rating and No fire ban in place. (Tomorrow the Fire Danger Rating is LOW MODERATE, No fire ban.) (Downloaded 7 years ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.
Berowra Valley National ParkLink to official closures and fire bans page Following the Berowra Creek the Berowra Valley National Park is located on the Hornsby Plateau and is made up of typical Hawkesbury Sandstone. The great North walk, Benowie walking track, and many other great walks stretch spann this park. The area has varied vegetation including many different sorts of Eucalyptus and plenty of native animals, includingl swamp wallibies, water dragons, bandicoots, Lyre Birds, and bush turkeys. There are several campsites within the Park, and Crosslands Reserve is also a popular spot near the middle of the park. Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park feesCamping Current Park Closure information for Berowra Valley National Park Closure information last downloaded Sunday 27th of September 2015 07:00 AM Safety alerts: Quarry trail and Benowie walking track restricted access Access restrictions are in place along trails that traverse the land managed by the Hornsby Rifle Range. Restricted areas include:
an 800m section of trail, 2km in from the Quarry Road entrance at Dural
an 800m section of trail, 300m in from the Stewart Avenue entrance at Hornsby
a 750m section of the Benowie walking track between Steele Bridge and Fishponds Waterholes.
Shooting times are between 9am and 4.30pm, 7 days a week. All visitors wishing to access the restricted sections of trail during these times must request prior authorisation by contacting the Hornsby Rifle Range on their 24 hour contact number 0417 201 606. Consult the map on Page vii of the Berowra Valley National Park Draft Plan of Management to plan alternative routes during these hours. Visit the website for further information about the Hornsby Rifle Range.