This walk, between Davidson Park and Warrimoo Ave, is a fantastic harbour side trip. The focus for the walk is the waterway views, scattered throughout. This walk is a great way to explore the valley between the suburbs and the interesting, diverse flora it contains.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Davidson Park to St Ives Chase bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Davidson Park to St Ives Chase 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
14km
Time
5 hrs 30 mins
.
Grade 3/6
Track: Moderate
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
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
5km of this walk has short steep hills and another 5km is flat with no steps. The remaining (3.7km) has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
8km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 3.5km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (2.2km) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 9km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 5km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 8km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 6km requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 14km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 8km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 6km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Catch the bus to Int of Davidson Park driveway and Rotary Rotunda path
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.
(0 km)
Int of Davidson Park driveway and Rotary Rotunda path
to
Int of the Lyrebird Track and end of Davidson Park Driveway Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road
Length = 434 m
Time = 8 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -8 m
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. Continue straight: From the intersection at the bottom of the 'Casuarina Stairway', this walk follows the driveway, keeping the park and Middle Harbour Creek on the left. The walk heads along for little while before coming to the end of the driveway, at the signposted start of the 'Lyre Bird Track 4km'.
(0.43 km)
Int of the Lyrebird Track and end of Davidson Park driveway
to
End Lyrebird service trail Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 1.62 km
Time = 29 mins
Climb = 29 m
Descent = -29 m
Continue straight: From the gate at the north-western corner of Davidson Park, this walk follows the 'Lyrebird Track' sign through the metal gate and along the service trail, heading through the bush and following Middle Harbour Creek for a while before the track narrows to a bush track at a long grassy clearing.
(2.05 km)
End Lyrebird service trail
to
Int of Gov. Phillip and Bungaroo tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 3.25 km
Time = 1 hr 3 mins
Climb = 94 m
Descent = -86 m
Continue straight: From the clearing at the end of the management trail, this walk continues along the bush track, keeping Middle Harbour Creek on the left as it meanders along the water's edge for a while. The track climbs up the side of the hill, then flattens out and continues through the bush, steadily winding down to the edge of Carroll Creek, which it follows for a while before the track comes down to the signposted intersection of the 'Carroll Creek Track' at the stepping stones. Veer left: From the intersection, this walk crosses Carroll Creek at the stepping stones and continues along the bush track, passing the "Governor Phillip Walk" sign as the track bends to the left. This walk winds through the bush alongside Carrol Creek before steadily climbing up the rocky hill to the right for a little while. The track then drops back down to the edge of Middle Harbour Creek, which it follows as the walk undulates along the rocky bush track for a while, before crossing under a large pipe bridge to the end of an asphalt service trail. Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Bungaroo Track (450m)' sign, keeping Middle Harbour Creek to the left. The bush track makes its way upstream following the main creek, but crossing a few small gullies along the way. The track then comes an intersection with a signpost 'Bungaroo Track' and stepping stones across the creek, clearly visable on the left.
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
(5.3 km)
Int of Gov. Phillip and Bungaroo tracks
to
The Cascades Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 2.6 km
Time = 51 mins
Climb = 89 m
Descent = -72 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the track, with the signposted 'Bungaroo track'[1] on the left and the ground sloping up to the right. The walk heads through the forest and follows Middle Harbour Creek north, crossing rock platforms and winding through undulating bushland for quite some time. The track then comes down to a large rock platform at a junction in the creek, where the track turns right and continues to an intersection with a management trail.
The Cascades
Alt = 27 m
The Cascades are a series of small cascades (little waterfalls) in Garigal National Park. The cascades centre around a large rock platform on Middle Harbour Creek and are found in the northern section of the park, at the intersection of the Middle Harbour and Cascade Tracks. The cascades make a great spot to sit and rest when exploring the area.
(7.89 km)
The Cascades
to
Int of Cambourne Ave and Upper Cambourne Track Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 1.5 km
Time = 32 mins
Climb = 128 m
Descent = -27 m
Turn left: From the cascades, this walk follows the service trail across the creek and past the "Cascades" sign, continuing up the gentle hill and through the bush for a short while before dropping back down and across a creek. From here, the track continues up the other side to the signposted intersection of the 'Bare Creek Track' service trail. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the "Cascades Track" sign along the service trail. The walk climbs for a while to reach the intersection with the Link track (on the right). Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the service trail going up the hill. After winding up the long, and sometimes steep hill, the walk passes an intersection and continues up the hill on an asphalted section of management trail to reach the signposted intersection with the 'Lower Cambourne Track'. Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the Cascades track arrow along the service trail, climbing up the hill for a short while before coming to the intersection of the Upper Cambourne track. Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the service trail, zigzagging up the hill behind the 'Upper Cambourne' sign. The walk flattens out for a while and reaches an intersection with a service trail at a track marker. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the service trail down the side of the hill, with the ground sloping up to the left. The walk descends steadily until it crosses a small creek and climbs up the hill on the other side, passing through a metal gate to arrive at Cambourne Ave.
(9.39 km)
Int of Cambourne Ave and Upper Cambourne Track
to
End of Kitchener St Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road
Length = 2.64 km
Time = 57 mins
Climb = 105 m
Descent = -117 m
Turn right: From the intersection the track heads up Cambourne Ave keeping the bush on the right and the houses to the left of the road. The walk continues along Cambourne Ave which tends left to the intersection with Blackburn St. The track turns right onto Blackburn St, which it follows still keeping the bush on the right of the track. The walk then continues to the intersection with Whitehaven St, which it turns right onto. Whitehaven St is followed, passing Linigen Pl on the right, before tending left onto Roma Rd. The walk turns right onto Roma Rd which it follows to the intersection with Kitchener St. Veer left: From the intersection the track heads straight up Kitchener St to cross Mona Vale Rd and continue down to the other end of Kitchener St at the gate on the left.
(12.04 km)
End of Kitchener St
to
End of Phillip Rd Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 1.64 km
Time = 39 mins
Climb = 129 m
Descent = -93 m
Veer left: From the end of the road the track heads past a gate and down the hill swinging right. The track tends right for approximately 100m to pass a large white house above on the right. The track then follows the hillside for approximately 200m to a signposted intersection on the right. Continue straight: From the intersection the track heads down the hill tending right, to a large vertical green pipe. From the pipe the track continues down the hill for approximately 50m to turn left into the sign posted intersection. Veer left: From the intersection the track heads winds up the hill along the service trail away from Ku-ring-gai Creek. Once reaching the top of the hill the track winds, continuing along the servictrail until reaching the gate at the end of Phillip Ave signposted 'Harbour to Hawkesbury Track'.
(13.67 km)
End of Phillip Rd
to
End of Warrimoo Ave Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road
Length = 466 m
Time = 8 mins
Climb = 13 m
Descent = -1 m
Continue straight: From the end of Phillip Rd the track heads away from the bush up the road between the houses. The track continues along the road to turn right onto Warrimoo Ave. This is then followed to the end of Warimoo Ave where the track crosses Timbarra Rd to the National Parks sign to the right of the black and white traffic sign.
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.
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Moderate
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 :)