This circuit walk starts at Founders Way and follows the Bungaroo bush track through the national park to Middle Harbour Creek. There is an optional side trip to the creek crossing before returning, via the pipe bridge and the Pipeline Track. Along the Bungaroo Track there are plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the great forest like surroundings, in what is a tiny portion of the Garigal National Park.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Bungaroo and Founders Way Loop bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Bungaroo and Founders Way Loop 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
3.5km
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
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
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
1.8km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1.1km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (490m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
1.7km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.1km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. The remaining (660m) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 2.6km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 870m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 1.7km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.7km requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 3.5km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 2.2km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 1.3km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Catch the bus to Int of Hunter Ave and Founders Way
(0 km)
Int of Hunter Ave and Founders Way
to
Int of Pipeline Track and Founders Way Walk: Easy - servicetrail
Length = 66 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -2 m
From the intersection, this walk follows the Founders Way service trail, heading away from the road and past a picnic seat, continuing along to the 'T' intersection with the pipeline track.
(0.07 km)
Int of Pipeline Track and Founders Way
to
Int of Pipeline and Bungaroo Tracks Walk: Easy - servicetrail
Length = 177 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 8 m
Descent = 0 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail keeping the pipeline on the right as it heads up the gentle hill and past a Garigal National Park sign. It then continues through the bush for a while before coming to the signposted intersection with the Bungaroo Track.
(0.24 km)
Int of Pipeline and Bungaroo Tracks
to
Int of Bungaroo and Lower Link Track Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 1.3 km
Time = 33 mins
Climb = 47 m
Descent = -165 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Bungaroo Track' sign along the bush track, heading away from the pipeline and through the gum trees, winding down some wooden steps before coming to the intersection of the lookout rock at the track markers. Here, the track turns right and continues along through the bush to the intersection with the upper link track, where a power line tower comes into view at a rock surface with some painted green arrows. Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track east towards the rock platforms, where it follows the steps down a cleft between the rocks. The walk continues along the bush track, winding through the bush and under some high-tension power lines and down some spaced-out wooden steps, until it comes to the intersection with the middle link track at a rock surface with some green painted arrows. Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track heading east, down the hill and through the bush for a while, steadily winding down wooden and rock steps. The track heads down around some rock platforms and past an information sign on a local bird called the Anomalous Hornbill. The walk passes a track marker and continues down some more wooden steps to the intersection of the lower link track.
(1.54 km)
Int of Bungaroo and Lower Link Track
to
Int of Gov. Phillip and Bungaroo tracks Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 236 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 10 m
Descent = -5 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track, with the ground sloping up to the left and keeping the wide creek a short distance (through the bush) to the right. The track continues through the thick bush and around some boulders for a little while before bending to the right and coming to the Middle Harbour Creek, which it crosses at the large sandstone steppingstones (not safe to cross if stepping stones covered in water). The walk then continues up the steps on the other side to the signposted intersection of the 'Governor Phillip Track'. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then continue straight to continue along this walk.)
Bungaroo
Alt = 9 m
Governor Arthur Phillip (first governor of NSW) described this section of the river as where "the flowing of the tide ceased". Phillip and his party of nine camped here in 1788 whilst looking for land suitable for farming. John White (Surgeon General) described the the area as "the most desert, wild and solitary seclusion that the imagination can form any idea of". Over the past 200 years the river has changed, but somewhere not far upstream of the stepping stone is Bungaroo. More info
(1.54 km)
Int of Bungaroo and Lower Link Track
to
Int of Pipeline and Middle Harbour Creek tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 425 m
Time = 8 mins
Climb = 9 m
Descent = -13 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track, with the ground sloping up to the right, through the bush to a grassy clearing at the waters edge. From here, it continues along the track, winding back through the thick bush, keeping the creek on the left as it winds along to the intersection of the Pipeline Track, at the end of the pipe bridge.
Pipeline
Alt = 2 m
This pipeline is unearthed at Hunter Street, St Ives, and travels through Garigal National Park, across Middle Harbour Creek to John Oxley Drive, Sorlie. The pipe carries water under pressure From Ryde to Pymble to the reservoir at Beacon Hill. The old smaller-capacity pipe can still be seen running parallel to the larger pipe. [1]
(1.97 km)
Int of Pipeline and Middle Harbour Creek tracks
to
Int of Hunter Ave and Founders Way Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 1.49 km
Time = 35 mins
Climb = 126 m
Descent = -11 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the pipeline service trail away from the wide creek, steadily climbing up the long hill for a while. In time, the track flattens out and then comes to the faint intersection with the middle link track on the right (just before it starts up another gentle hill). (Look for an 'X' marked into the concrete pipeline support opposite the track) Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail up the gentle hill, keeping the pipe line on the left as the track winds through the bush, coming to the intersection of the upper link track, almost directly below the high-tension power lines. (Look for an arrow marked into the concrete pipeline support opposite the track) Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail, keeping the pipe line on the left as the track heads through the bush for a short while before coming to the signposted intersection of the 'Bungaroo Track'. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the Pipeline Track arrow along the management trail, keeping the pipeline on the left as it heads through the bush for a while, before it passes a 'Garigal National Park' signpost and comes down to the intersection with the wide management trail heading off to the right. Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail heading away from the pipeline and past a picnic seat, continuing along for a short distance to the intersection with Hunter Avenue.
Catch the bus from Int of Hunter Ave and Founders Way
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 8 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.
Garigal National ParkLink to official closures and fire bans page Largely following Middle Harbour Creek and stretching from Seaforth in the south to St Ives in the north Garigal National Park is hidden through Sydney's Northern suburbs. Despite how close it is to large urban centres Garigal is quite beautiful with lots of different walking and cycling tracks. For those just wishing to picnic Davidson Reserve is a great spot just next to Middle Harbour Creek, under the Roseville Bridge. Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park feesCampingFacilities I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Hard
1 km
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times.
There is free parking available.
not too much longer now :)