Starting at Cambourne Ave, St Ives, this walks explores the ridges and valleys of the upper reaches of the Middle Harbour Creek in Garigal National Park. The walk follows service trails, and crosses several creeks along the way. The Lower Cambourne waterhole is a great spot to rest and enjoy a snack whilst enjoying the peace and quiet.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Quarry Rd Track bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Quarry Rd 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
5km
Time
2 hrs 15 mins
.
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
2.1km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1.5km is very steep. Whilst another 1.2km has gentle hills with occasional steps and the remaining 610m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 4.4km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 1.1km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 3.8km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 1.6km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 3.2km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 2.3km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 5km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 4.4km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 1.1km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Catch the bus to Int of Cambourne Ave and Upper Cambourne Track
(0 km)
Int of Cambourne Ave and Upper Cambourne Track
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Int of Upper Cambourne and Douglass Street East tracks Walk: Easy - servicetrail
Length = 155 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -8 m
From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Upper Cambourne Track' arrow through the metal gate and along the management trail. After crossing the creek, the walk continues up and along to the intersection with the Douglass Street East service trail (at the track marker).
(0.16 km)
Int of Upper Cambourne and Douglass Street East tracks
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Int of Cascades and Upper Cambourne service trails Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 449 m
Time = 11 mins
Climb = 15 m
Descent = -39 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the service trail along the side of the hill with the ground sloping up to the right. The trail then zigzags all the way down to the intersection with the Cascades service trail, marked with an 'Upper Cambourne Track' sign.
(0.6 km)
Int of Cascades and Upper Cambourne service trails
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Int of Cascades and Lower Cambourne service trails Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 92 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -15 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail opposite the 'Upper Cambourne' sign, heading down the hill for a short distance to the signposted intersection of the Lower Cambourne track.
(0.7 km)
Int of Cascades and Lower Cambourne service trails
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Int of Lower Cambourne and Waterhole Track Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 1.2 km
Time = 26 mins
Climb = 29 m
Descent = -65 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Lower Cambourne Track ->' sign along the management trail, with the ground sloping up to the left. The trail starts to descend into the valley, dropping down the side of the hill and crossing a small creek. The trail undulates gently through the bush, winding steadily down into the valley and steepening after a while. At the bottom, the trail flattens out, coming to the intersection with a narrow bush track a short distance later.
(1.9 km)
Int of Lower Cambourne and Waterhole Track
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Middle Harbour Creek Waterhole Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 21 m
Time =
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -1 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the short bush track, heading away from the management trail and through the bush. The walk soon comes to a rockshelf, situated above a waterhole in Middle Harbour Creek. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn right to continue along this walk.)
Lower Cambourne waterhole
Alt = 48 m
This unnamed waterhole and cascade is on Middle Harbour Creek, just below its junction with Bare Creek in Garigal National Park. The waterhole accessed by a short track from the Lower Cambourne track. There is a large rock platform, and a waterhole with a small waterfall flowing into it. This can be a great spot to relax and enjoy the local area, if you sit quietly enough you may see a Water Dragon.
(1.9 km)
Int of Lower Cambourne and Waterhole Track
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Int of Bare Creek and Lower Cambourne service trails Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 195 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 7 m
Descent = -2 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail heading north, down the gentle slope. It soon crosses a wide creek via some stepping stones, and continues up the other side, following the management trail as it climbs to the 'T' intersection with the Bare Creek management trail.
(2.09 km)
Int of Bare Creek and Lower Cambourne service trails
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Int of Quarry Road and Bare Creek Tracks Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 243 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -6 m
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the Bare Creek management trail down the gentle hill, with the ground sloping up to the right. Soon, the trail flattens out and comes to an intersection with a bush track on the right. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail, with the ground sloping up to the right. It soon comes down to the intersection with a management trail (heading down across the creek on the left).
(2.34 km)
Int of Quarry Road and Bare Creek Track
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Mcintosh Lookout Track: Hard - servicetrail
Length = 2.48 km
Time = 50 mins
Climb = 142 m
Descent = -60 m
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail heading down the short hill and across the small creek. The walk continues up the other side as the trail climbs up and out of the valley, passing through a metal gate at the top. From here, the walk follows the management trail, heading up to a 'Y' intersection with another trail where this walk veers left. The walk continues through the bush for a little while longer, until coming to an intersection with another management trail. Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail, heading away from the large power line tower. The walk crosses a drainage ditch, veering left at the intersection on the other side. The trail passes a large pond on the right and veers left again, passing an old tip and continuing along for a little while before crossing under a set of power lines to the intersection with the Pump House Track. Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail, heading away from the power lines and through the bush. The walk passes a '20' speed limit sign (facing the other way) and continues along for a little while before coming to an intersection with a slightly overgrown management trail on the left.
(4.82 km)
Mcintosh Lookout
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Int of Kitchener and Linigen Servicetrails Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 459 m
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 12 m
Descent = -40 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the slightly overgrown management trail past the 'No Vehicles' and No Pets signs and through the bush. The trail steadily winds down the long hill and drops into a gully then continues up the other side, following the trail as it winds up and around to the intersection with the Kitchener Street management trail.
(5.28 km)
Int of Kitchener and Linigen Servicetrails
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Kitchener Rd Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 193 m
Time = 6 mins
Climb = 29 m
Descent = -1 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the steeper of the two management trails heading up the steep hill, bending sharply to the left partway up then flattening out, continuing through the bush behind some houses and up a shorter hill to the intersection with Kitchener Street.
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 :)