HomeHiking near Sydney Currie Rd Track to Ferguson St via Magazine Buildings and Davidson Park
Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Currie Rd Track to Ferguson St via Magazine Buildings and Davidson Park are found in each of the tabs below
Currie Rd Track to Ferguson St via Magazine Buildings and Davidson Park
Starting at Currie Road in Forestville, this walk explores much of the northern shore of Middle Harbour Creek. There are some great side trips, in-particular to Natural Bridge and to Flat Rock Beach. Davidson Picnic area has great facilities if you are looking for a BBQ picnic lunch, otherwise there are some quieter spots like Flat Rock Beach for your snacks.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Currie Rd Track to Ferguson St via Magazine Buildings and Davidson Park bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Currie Rd Track to Ferguson St via Magazine Buildings and Davidson Park 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
11km
Time
4 hrs 30 mins
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Very steep (4/6)
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
7km of this walk has short steep hills and another 2km is flat with no steps. Whilst another 1.4km is very steep and the remaining 890m has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
5km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 3.2km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. Whilst another 1.8km follows a clear and well formed track or trail and the remaining 920m follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 8km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 3.4km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 8km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 3km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 11km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 7km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 4.2km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Catch the bus to Start of Currie Road service trail
(0 km)
Start of Currie Road service trail
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Int of Currie Road and Cannons Parade service trails Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 563 m
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 10 m
Descent = -16 m
From the intersection, this walk heads through the metal gate and along the service trail for a short distance before coming to some power lines. This trail follows the power lines through the bush, winding along beside the telegraph poles for a little while before coming to the intersection with the service trail that heads up the hill to the right.
(0.56 km)
Int of Currie Road and Cannons Parade service trails
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Int of Natural Bridge and Currie Road Tracks Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 346 m
Time = 6 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -12 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the flat service trail heading south, in the opposite direction of the closest telegraph pole, winding alongside the power lines for a little while. The trail then breaks away from the power lines, heading through thicker vegetation until it comes to the signposted intersection of the Natural Bridge Track.
(0.91 km)
Int of Natural Bridge and Currie Road Tracks
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Natural Bridge Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 254 m
Time = 6 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -39 m
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Natural Bridge' sign along the bush track, heading down the rocky hill which steepens as it winds down a few sets of wooden steps. The track then flattens out to a gentle descent, and winds down through the bush until coming to a wide stone arch referred to as the Natural Bridge, crossing a creek that feeds into Bantry Bay. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn left to continue along this walk.)
Natural Bridge
Alt = 39 m
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.
(0.91 km)
Int of Natural Bridge and Currie Road Tracks
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Int of Bates Creek and Currie Rd tracks Walk: Easy - servicetrail
Length = 182 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -1 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the H/H walker on the 'Currie Road Track' sign south, along the service trail. The track soon comes to a four-way intersection with a large gum tree in the centre.
(1.09 km)
Int of Bates Creek and Currie Rd tracks
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Bantry Bay View Optional sidetrip: Track: Hard - servicetrail,bushtrack
Length = 1.15 km
Time = 22 mins
Climb = 7 m
Descent = -89 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail heading south east, gently down hill. The track gently winds down the hill passing some interesting rocky outcrops along the way. As the track starts to steepen it passes two service trails on the left (same track looping around), then becomes steeper before coming to an end at a small clearing (with a bush track heading down to the water). Continue straight: From the end of the service trail, this walk follows the bush track down the rocky path for a short distance to the waters edge where there is a great view of Bantry Bay from the rocky shoreline. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn left to continue along this walk.)
Bantry Bay View
Alt = 2 m
Bantry Bay View is a small, informal lookout, found at the end of a track on the northern end of Bantry Bay, in Garigal National Park. The track finishes on the rocky shoreline looking down Bantry Bay. On the right of the bay is the Bantry Bay Explosives Magazine complex, and on the left is the Bantry Bay Picnic Area. You can see along Middle Harbour to Seaforth. There are usually plenty of boats in the otherwise quiet waters.
(1.09 km)
Int of Bates Creek and Currie Rd tracks
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Int of Magazine Track and Tipperary Road service trail Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 731 m
Time = 13 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -35 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track, heading through the dense vegetation. After a little while, the track starts to zigzag down the rocky hill and through the bush until it flattens out and crosses Bates Creek. The walk then turns left and continues through the bush, meandering along the flat bush track until coming to the signposted intersection with the Magazine Track.
(1.82 km)
Int of Magazine Track and Tipperary Road service trail
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Back of Magazine Buildings Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.15 km
Time = 27 mins
Climb = 45 m
Descent = -79 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Magazine Track' sign along the wide, flat trail which winds around behind some houses (on the right). The track continues along a narrower, rocky bush track which steadily winds down a long hill to the bottom of the valley, where it flattens out just above the water. From here, the walk continues along the bush track, winding up and down along the side of the hill until it follows a track marker up to the magazine buildings' fence line. The track runs parallel to this fence as it heads along to an open, square concrete tank just off to the left of the track, from which the roofs of the magazine buildings and Middle Harbour Creek are both visible.
Bantry Bay Explosives Magazine complex
Alt = 12 m
The Magazine Buildings were the premier storage facility for merchants' explosives between 1915 and 1974. During this time, the carefully constructed building where crucial for the safe storage of explosives used for building public works such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and additionally used by the Australian Navy during World War II. There is currently no public access to the site, and the buildings are best viewed from across the water at Bantry Bay Picnic Area, or anywhere on the other side of Bantry Bay. More info
(2.97 km)
Back of Magazine Buildings
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Int of Magazine and Flat Rock Beach Tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.05 km
Time = 23 mins
Climb = 44 m
Descent = -53 m
Continue straight: From the open concrete tank, this walk follows the bush track, with the ground sloping up to the right, as it heads down a short rocky hill. The track flattens out and follows the fence line to the end, where it turns left and continues down the rocky hill, along the bush track running parallel to a shorter fence. Soon, the track turns right and leaves the fence line. The walk follows the bush track heading away from the buildings and down the rocky hill, to the waters edge where it continues along the side of the hill, following Middle Harbour Creek for a long while. In time, the track winds around behind a small beach to the intersection of a narrow bush track heading down a short hill on the left.
(4.02 km)
Int of Magazine and Flat Rock Beach Tracks
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Flat Rock Beach Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 29 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -6 m
Turn sharp left: From the intersection, this walk follows the narrow bush track heading down the hill to the small beach at the bottom. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then veer left to continue along this walk.)
Flat Rock Beach
Alt = 2 m
Flat Rock Beach is a small, south-facing beach on Middle Harbour, in Garigal National Park. The sand is deposited on a rock shelf that pokes through in places, forming interesting sculptures. The beach is frequented by walkers and boaters enjoying their day by the water. The beach can be accessed by a bush track from the end of Killarney Drive, Killarney Heights. Historically, the beach was a popular picnic area and serviced by a ferry in the early 1900's. Today, there are no facilities, but some shade is provided by the trees at the back of the beach.
(4.02 km)
Int of Magazine and Flat Rock Beach Tracks
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Int of Flat Rock and Magazine Tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 187 m
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 36 m
Descent = 0 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track with the ground sloping up to the right, heading up the wooden steps. The track flattens out and turns right, following the track marker through the bush and up the rocky hill, using the spread-out sets of wooden steps. The walk comes to an intersection and a signpost for the 'Magazine Track'[1].
(4.21 km)
Int of Flat Rock and Magazine Tracks
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Int of Downpatrick Road Servicetrail and Flat Rock Track Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.54 km
Time = 39 mins
Climb = 86 m
Descent = -116 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Flat Rock Track' sign along the bush track heading down the side of the hill, with the ground sloping up to the right. The walk winds down the rocky track for a little while, before flattening out as it passes by a small pipeline and then continues along the side of the hill. The track meanders through the bush for a while before coming to the four-way intersection with a bush track (which heads up the rocky hill to the right, and down to a private property at the bottom of the hill on the left). Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track along the side of the hill, with the ground sloping up to the right. The track meanders through the dense bushland, occasionally catching a nice view over Middle Harbour Creek down to the left, and continues to the intersection of a rough service trail on the right, which heads uphill.
(5.75 km)
Int of Downpatrick Road Servicetrail and Flat Rock Track
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Int of Davidson Park driveway and Flat Rock Track Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 688 m
Time = 16 mins
Climb = 32 m
Descent = -41 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track along the side of the hill, with the ground sloping up to the right as it heads through the bush. The walk stays above Middle Harbour Creek for a while before it drops down a steep set of wooden steps to the intersection with the Davidson Park driveway, at a wooden picnic seat.
(6.44 km)
Int of Davidson Park driveway and Flat Rock Track
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Bottom of the Casuarina Steps Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road
Length = 922 m
Time = 16 mins
Climb = 14 m
Descent = -15 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the flat driveway towards the Roseville Bridge, heading under a pipe bridge and coming to the intersection with the driveway to Davidson Park. Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the Davidson Park driveway, crossing under Roseville Bridge with Middle Harbour Creek on the left. The walk passes a small car park and bends to the right, winding around the large picnic areas (on the left), passing a building with some toilets (also on the left), and continuing along for a little while before coming to the signposted intersection of the Rotary Rotunda footpath. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the road, keeping the park and Middle Harbour on the left. After a little while, this walk comes to the signposted intersection at the bottom of the 'Casuarina Stairway', uphill on the right.
Davidson picnic area
Alt = 4 m
Davidson Picnic Area is in Garigal National Park, under Roseville Bridge (access via Warringah Road, south bound lanes, or via many walking tracks in the area). The picnic area has a boat ramp, wheelchair-accessible toilets, large open grassy areas, picnic tables, free electric BBQ's, and a large rotunda. There are plenty of shady spots provided by the trees. The northern section of the picnic area has a small beach swimming area, and the southern section boasts a boat ramp. The park is open 6am to 8pm (6:30pm outside daylight savings time). Ticket machines are provided to pay the car access fee.
(7.36 km)
Bottom of the Casuarina Steps
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Casuarina Lookout Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 131 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 9 m
Descent = 0 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the Casuarina Stairway up the long wooden staircase, climbing the long hill to the top where it comes to the lookout (and a bush track continuing along the side of the hill).
(7.49 km)
Casuarina Lookout
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Int of Casuarina Track and Boree Road service trail Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 1.75 km
Time = 46 mins
Climb = 182 m
Descent = -111 m
Continue straight: From the lookout, this walk follows the bush track, meandering along the side of the hill for a little while before it climbs up a short but steep rocky hill. The walk flattens out again and continues along the side of the hill for a while before crossing a small stream at some boulders. After the stream crossing, this walk climbs up a small hill and across a few rock platforms as it starts to undulate along the side of the hill. It then passes under some power lines, and climbs steeply up the hill to the large power line tower, which it passes around (keeping the tower to the right), to the intersection of the Boree Road service trail at the Casuarina Track sign.
(9.23 km)
Int of Casuarina Track and Boree Road service trail
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Int of Casuarina and Carroll Creek Tracks Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 1.42 km
Time = 34 mins
Climb = 45 m
Descent = -101 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track opposite the service trail, heading north away from the power line tower and along the rocky bush track. The walk undulates up and down the side of the hill for a while before coming to a large rocky outcrop. After this, the track starts to wind down the long hill, until it flattens out again and passes under a long rock overhang, then continues down the side of the hill until it comes down to the signposted intersection of the 'Carrol Creek Track' at the end of a service trail, and at the top of some concrete stairs.
(10.65 km)
Int of Casuarina and Carroll Creek Tracks
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Int of Carroll Crk and Nothern Beaches Area Depot Servicetrails Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 405 m
Time = 11 mins
Climb = 51 m
Descent = 0 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail, heading up the long gentle hill which progressively steepens as it passes a short loop trail on the right, and winds up to the intersection with an asphalt service trail. (Note: The National Parks Depot is just down the hill along the asphalt trail to the right)
(11.06 km)
Int of Carrol Crk and Northern Beaches Area Depot Servicetrails
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End of Ferguson St Walk: Easy - servicetrail
Length = 124 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 6 m
Descent = -3 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the driveway, crossing under the power lines and passing the 'Northern Beaches Area Office and Depot' on the right (and a small car park on the left). Not much further up, the driveway passes through a white gate and comes to the end of Ferguson Rd, Forestville.
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.
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.
As of Aug 2015, the path is pretty rough going. As you get to Flat Rock Beach the path disappears as a large rock looms over you. Clamber up the rock to the other side and the path reappears before the turnoff to the beach. More importantly the Flat Rock Track is CLOSED and there is now no bush track to Davidson Park. At the intersection with the track up to Killarney Drive, where my map indicates the Flat Rock Track starts, there is no sign. If you walk up towards Killarney Drive there is a sign part way up indicating the Flat Rock track is closed. The only way is back through suburbia, unless you retrace your steps.
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 :)