Starting at Currie Road in Forestville, this walk follows the edge of Bantry Bay to Seaforth Oval. The main highlights of the walk include the Natural Bridge, the views from the Bluff Lookout and Bantry Bay Picnic Area. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the views and wildlife along the way.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the East Bantry Bay bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the East Bantry Bay 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
4.6km
Time
2 hrs
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Very steep (4/6)
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
2.8km of this walk is very steep and another 1.2km is flat with no steps. The remaining (640m) has short steep hills.
Quality of track
Around 3.2km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 1.3km follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 3.2km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 1.4km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 2.8km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.8km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 4.6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 2.8km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 1.8km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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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 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.
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.
(1.16 km)
Natural Bridge
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Int of Bluff and Natural Bridge Tracks Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 501 m
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 71 m
Descent = -1 m
Continue straight: From the other side of the Natural Bridge, this walk follows the bush track heading east, steadily climbing up the long and sometimes steep rocky hill, to the top of the valley through a few large rock outcrops. The track flattens out and continues along for a short distance to the 'T' intersection of the bush track at the track marker. Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track facing the track marker, heading south-east for a short distance before it coming to the signposted intersection of the Bluff Track at the service trail.
(1.66 km)
Int of Bluff and Natural Bridge Tracks
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The Bluff Lookout Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 208 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -11 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the Bluff Track signpost along the service trail, heading south-east through the bush for a short while before coming to the intersection with an unsignposted track on the left, which heads through the bush. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail (with the bush track on the left) heading south through the bush for a while before it comes to the Bluff Lookout at the signposted intersection of "The Bay Track", looking down on Bantry Bay and the magazine buildings.
Bluff Lookout
Alt = 102 m
The Bluff is a large, unfenced rocky hilltop, in Garigal National Park, that provides great views up Middle Harbour. The views extend across the bushland of the National Park, along Bantry Bay, to the city of Sydney (You can even see Centrepoint Tower). Apart from the distant views, the bluff is also an interesting rock feature, with a number of caves containing honeycomb rock formations.
(1.87 km)
The Bluff Lookout
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Bantry Bay Picnic Area Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 1.83 km
Time = 48 mins
Climb = 77 m
Descent = -166 m
Turn left: From the lookout, this walk follows the "The Bay Track" signpost along the short bush track, to a large rock platform which it crosses, then follows a track marker down some rock steps. The walk continues to wind down into the valley, following the defined rocky bush track for a long while, dropping down past rock platforms and outcrops as it descends to a point not far above the water. The walk continues to undulate gently along the side of the hill, providing great views of the magazine buildings on the opposite side of the bay. The track continues in this manner to the Bantry Bay Picnic Area, situated just above a small wharf.
Bantry Bay Picnic Area
Alt = 9 m
The area of Bantry Bay has been popular with day visitors since the late 1800s. In the early 1900s, the picnic area was also home to a dance hall (foundations still visible), dining room, picnic ground and overnight accommodation. Today, the picnic area has a picnic table and a number of fireplaces. There is also a public wharf, toilets, open grassy area, shade from trees and a great view across the water. There are no garbage facilities. The picnic area is at the bottom of the Timber Getters Track, below Seaforth Oval, on the eastern shore of Bantry Bay. More info
(3.7 km)
Bantry Bay Picnic Area
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Int of the Timber Getters and Engraving Tracks Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 841 m
Time = 24 mins
Climb = 109 m
Descent = -9 m
Turn left: From the picnic area, this walk follows 'Timber Getters Track' sign[1] near the toilets, heading up a long set of rock steps that wind up the hill. The walk then flattens out and continues along a short bush track to another long set of wooden steps. From here, the walk climbs the steps, winding up and out of the valley until the walk flattens out again at a rock platform. The walk continues past an old telegraph pole with no power lines attached, and across a small creek at some stepping stones, as it winds along to the signposted intersection with the 'Old Bullock Track'[2] (closed for maintenance at time of writing). Continue straight: From the intersection (with the signposted Bullock Track on the left), this walk follows the bush track heading up the hill and up a set of wooden steps, continuing through the dense scrub as the track steadily winds up the long hill, passing a bush regeneration sign and climbing up some more steps to the signposted intersection with the Engraving Track[3].
(4.54 km)
Int of the Timbergetters and Engraving Tracks
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Seaforth Oval Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 46 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = 0 m
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk heads up the hill, climbing up the wooden steps for a short distance before flattening out at the corner of the Seaforth Oval car park, next to some information signs.
Seaforth Oval
Alt = 113 m
Seaforth Oval is a large playing oval on the Wakehurst Parkway in North Balgowlah. It is managed by Manly Council, who have also recently been upgrading the Timber Getters Track in association with NPWS. There is a distant view of Chatswood from the oval. There are toilets, but they are usually locked. There is a large car park, shelter and sign with information about the Harbour to Hawkesbury walk. More info
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: 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 :)