This walk starts in St Ives and follows the Pipeline and Bungaroo tracks down to Middle Harbour Creek, crossing the creek at the stepping stones and continuing to Davidson Picnic area. Much of this walk follows Middle Harbour Creek, providing great water views and passing some interesting sandstone caves along the way. The Davidson park picnic area is a great place for a rest and play after this walk.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the St Ives to Davidson Park via Casuarina Track bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the St Ives to Davidson Park via Casuarina Track 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
9km
Time
4 hrs
.
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
3.7km of this walk has short steep hills and another 3.6km has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 1.4km is very steep and the remaining 330m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
4.2km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and another 3.4km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. Whilst another 1.2km follows a clear and well formed track or trail and the remaining 160m follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 4.9km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 4.1km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 6km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 2.8km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 9km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 6km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 3.5km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Catch the bus to Hunter Ave (opposite Yarrabung Rd)
(0 km)
Hunter Ave (opposite Yarrabung Rd)
to
Int of Pipeline Track and Founders Way Walk: Easy - servicetrail
Length = 914 m
Time = 19 mins
Climb = 28 m
Descent = -43 m
From the intersection, this walk heads through the metal gate and follows the service trail down the hill, keeping the pipeline on the right, as it heads through the bush and behind the houses to the intersection of the wide service trail on the left.
(0.91 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
Continue straight: 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.
(1.09 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.
(2.39 km)
Int of Bungaroo and Lower Link Track
to
Int of Gov. Phillip and Bungaroo tracks 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'.
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
(2.63 km)
Int of Gov. Phillip and Bungaroo tracks
to
Int of Davidson and Governor Phillip tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 695 m
Time = 16 mins
Climb = 30 m
Descent = -38 m
Turn right: From the intersection, the track follows the 'Governor Phillip Walk' sign, keeping Middle Harbour Creek to the right of the track. The track mostly follows the bank of the creek, bending to avoid a few obstacles along the way. Before long, the track comes to an intersection at the bottom of the concrete Davidson Track management trail. This intersection is well-signposted and is a few meters before the large 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]
(3.32 km)
Int of Davidson and Governor Phillip tracks
to
Int of Lyrebird and Carroll Creek tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.51 km
Time = 28 mins
Climb = 39 m
Descent = -31 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk crosses under the pipebridge and continues along the rocky bush track, following Middle Harbour Creek as the track undulates up and down for a while. The walk then steadily climbs up the side of the hill to the left for some time, before dropping back down and continuing along beside Carrol Creek. The walk passes a "Governor Phillip Walk" sign, as the track bends to the right and crosses the creek at the stepping stones at the signposted intersection of 'Carroll Creek Track' and 'Lyrebird Track'.
(4.83 km)
Int of Lyrebird and Carroll Creek tracks
to
Int of Casuarina and Carroll Creek Tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 743 m
Time = 12 mins
Climb = 21 m
Descent = -3 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Carrol Creek Track' sign along the bush track, winding through the dense vegetation as it follows the creek for a while. The walk winds under a long rock overhang and continues up to the bottom of a concrete staircase and a metal bridge. (The track doesn't cross the bridge but does have quite a pretty view of Carroll Creek.) From here, the track turns right and climbs the concrete staircase to the end of the management trail at the top.
(5.58 km)
Int of Casuarina and Carroll Creek Tracks
to
Int of Casuarina Track and Boree Road service trail Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 1.42 km
Time = 34 mins
Climb = 101 m
Descent = -45 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Casuarina Track' sign, following the bush track as it winds up the side of the hill for a while. The track flattens out and passes under a long rock overhang, then continues to wind up the hill until it comes to a large rocky outcrop. Here, the walk flattens out for a little while before undulating up and down along the side of the hill for a while, before coming to the base of a large high-tension power line tower.
(7 km)
Int of Casuarina Track and Boree Road service trail
to
Casuarina Lookout Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 1.75 km
Time = 46 mins
Climb = 111 m
Descent = -182 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Casuarina Track' signpost along the bush track, heading around the large power line tower (keeping the tower on the left of the track) and down the steep rocky hill. The track crosses under the power lines before flattening for out a short distance, continuing along the rough track as it undulates up and down along the side of the hill, crossing a few rock platforms and a creek. As the track continues along the side of the hill, it becomes more defined and easier-going, passing under a short rock overhang and down one last rocky hill before flattening out and continuing to the lookout at the top of the Casuarina Stairway.
(8.74 km)
Casuarina Lookout
to
Bottom of the Casuarina Steps Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 131 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -9 m
Continue straight: From the lookout, this walk heads down the long wooden staircase descending to the bottom of the hill where it comes to Davidson Park.
(8.87 km)
Bottom of the Casuarina Steps
to
Int of Davidson Park driveway and Rotary Rotunda path Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road
Length = 155 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -2 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows along the driveway (keeping the park and Middle Harbour Creek on the left) for a little while before coming to the signposted intersection of the 'Rotary Rotunda' footpath.
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.
Catch the bus from Int of Davidson Park driveway and Rotary Rotunda path
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 :)