This pleasant walk follows the pipeline, from Hunter Avenue in St Ives, to John Oxley Drive, Davidson. The walk follows the pipeline down into the valley and crosses Middle Harbour Creek (via a quick upstream detour to the Bungaroo Track crossing) before climbing out of the valley to John Oxley Drive.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the The Pipeline Way bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the The Pipeline Way 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
4.7km
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
Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
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 has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 1000m is very steep. Whilst another 760m has short steep hills and the remaining 180m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 3.3km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 1.4km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 3.2km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 1.5km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 3km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.7km requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
Around 3.7km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 1000m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 3km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 1.7km 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 Pipeline and Middle Harbour Creek tracks Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 1.25 km
Time = 31 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = -124 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail in the opposite direction to the Pipeline Track arrow. The track keeps the pipe line on the right while heading through the bush, until the track comes to the intersection of the upper link track almost directly below the high-tension power lines. (Look for an arrow marked into the concrete pipeline support opposite the bush track.) Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail, keeping the pipeline on the right as the track heads through the bush. The trail comes down a gentle hill to the intersection with the middle link track as it flattens out. (Look for an 'X' marked into the concrete pipeline support opposite the bush track) Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail, keeping the pipeline on the right as it steadily heads down the long hill into the valley, coming to the intersection with the Middle Harbour Creek bush track at the 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]
(2.34 km)
Int of Pipeline and Middle Harbour Creek tracks
to
Int of Bungaroo and Lower Link Track Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 425 m
Time = 8 mins
Climb = 13 m
Descent = -9 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track heading away from the pipeline, keeping the creek on the right as it winds through the thick bush for a while with the ground sloping up to the left. The walk comes to the intersection with the Bungaroo track (this heads up the wooden steps on the left).
(2.77 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
Continue straight: 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
(3 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.
(3.7 km)
Int of Davidson and Governor Phillip tracks
to
John Oxley Drive (Sth of Prahran Ave) Track: Hard - servicetrail
Length = 995 m
Time = 27 mins
Climb = 121 m
Descent = -11 m
Turn sharp left: From the intersection, this walk follows the concrete management trail up the hill as it bends to the right. The track soon passes a sign 'Davidson Track' pointing up the hill, as the track winds its way up. Then, about halfway up this hill, the track flattens out to cross a creek and to leave the National Park. The track continues steeply up the hill, with the pipe on the right of the track. There is a lookout point partway up, and, at the top of the hill, there is a brick pump house. From here, the trail become dirt and follows the pipe to John Oxley Drive (just a little way south of Prahran Ave).
Catch the bus from John Oxley Drive (Sth of Prahran Ave)
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 :)