This pleasant walk starts in the outskirts of St Ives and follows several tracks to explore a section of the Garigal National Park. The walk follows the Upper Cambourne Track down into Garigal National Park, then the Lower Cambourne Track into the valley, and the Bare Creek Track, through the forest. The walk then follows the Cascades Track to climb out of the valley. There is an optional side trip to the Cascades.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the The Cambourne Loop bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the The Cambourne Loop 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
4.4km
Time
2 hrs
.
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
2.5km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1.9km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (90m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 3.5km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 900m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 2.3km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 2.2km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 3.2km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.2km requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 4.4km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 4.1km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 310m 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
to
Int of Cascades and Upper Cambourne service trails Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 604 m
Time = 14 mins
Climb = 20 m
Descent = -47 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). 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
to
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
to
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
to
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
to
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
to
Int of Bare Creek and Cascades service trails Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 1.15 km
Time = 24 mins
Climb = 33 m
Descent = -48 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail over the crest of the hill and down the other side, with the ground sloping up to the left. The track continues through the bush for a long while, descending a little every now and then, until it turns down to the right and crosses the creek, continuing up the other side to the intersection with the link track (which climbs up the rocky hill). Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail away from the creek, with the ground sloping up to the right. It soon comes to the intersection with the Cascades management trail (where there is a 'Bare Creek Track' sign).
(3.24 km)
Int of Bare Creek and Cascades service trails
to
The Cascades Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 300 m
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -14 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Cascades Track' arrow along the service trail, heading down the hill and across a creek, continuing up the other side as the track winds through the bush for a short while before crossing a creek and coming to the cascades. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then continue straight to continue along this walk.)
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.
(3.24 km)
Int of Bare Creek and Cascades service trails
to
Int of Cambourne Ave and Upper Cambourne Track Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 1.2 km
Time = 27 mins
Climb = 114 m
Descent = -26 m
Turn right: 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.
Catch the bus from Int of Cambourne Ave and Upper Cambourne Track
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.
Great walk!! Just long enough to tire out the 7 and 5 year olds. The best part about this walk is that it crosses so many creeks which give plenty of opportunity for the kids to play. The cascades on the detour are a must see. Bring your swimmers and old shoes in summer and have a great time swimming around in the pools! The photos don't do it justice.
admin - re: Great walk
Super Administrator | 2012-03-27 02:17:36
Andrew wrote:
Great walk!!
Thanks Andrew, sounds like a great family day out. If we get a summer next year, then I will try to get down there with my swimmers and grab some better photos as well :)
Thanks
Happy walking
Matt :)
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 :)