This nice walk starts from North Turramurra and follows the Darri and Warrimoo tracks into Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The walk follows Cowan Creek through the lush green forest, then takes the Sphinx Track, climbing out of the valley to the war memorial, finishing on Bobbin Head Road.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Darri and Warrimoo to the Sphinx Memorial bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Darri and Warrimoo to the Sphinx Memorial 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
7km
Time
2 hrs 45 mins
.
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
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
3.3km of this walk has short steep hills and another 3.2km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (95m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
4.1km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 2.1km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (430m) follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 4.6km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 2km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 3.9km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 2.7km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
Around 6km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 1.1km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 4km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 2.5km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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(0 km)
Bedford Ave, Turramurra
to
Int. Darri Track and Malborough Rd Servicetrail Walk: Easy - servicetrail
Length = 485 m
Time = 9 mins
Climb = 9 m
Descent = -25 m
From opposite 18 Bedford Ave, this walk follows the service trail around the metal gate and past the 'Terramerragal Reserve' sign, soon passing the information sign about the Darri Track. This wide track winds down the hill and crosses a small creek, and then follows Cowan Creek downstream. After passing through the dense bush, enjoying the occasional view of the small creek (and avoiding a small false track off to the right), this track comes to an intersection with a service trail coming in from the left, at the concrete ditch.
(0.49 km)
Int. of Darri Track and Malborough Rd Servicetrail
to
Cowan Creek and Darri track Int. Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 1.03 km
Time = 21 mins
Climb = 27 m
Descent = -47 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail that heads up the hill and away from Cowan Creek. The trail soon turns to the right and starts to flatten out. Just before the trail starts heading downhill, it comes to an intersection with a small bush track coming down from the left. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads north along the service trail, passing a large Scribbly Gum on the right and then heading down the hill. The track continues to wind down to the bottom of the valley where it crosses Cowan Creek and continues along the other side, steadily climbing up the side of the valley until coming to the intersection of the Glengarry Road service trail, and a Darri Track information sign.
(1.52 km)
Cowan Creek and Darri track Int.
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Tokanue Place Track Intersection Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 229 m
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 17 m
Descent = -5 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail heading north-east up the hill, climbing up the side of the valley for a short while until it flattens out and comes to the intersection with the Tokanue Place access trail at the large metal gate.
(1.75 km)
Tokanue Place Track Intersection
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Waipori Street Track Intersection Walk: Easy - servicetrail
Length = 326 m
Time = 9 mins
Climb = 31 m
Descent = -19 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail heading north-east, keeping the asphalt service trail on the right, winding around the back of some houses and through the bush for a while until it comes to the intersection of the Waipori Street service trail.
(2.07 km)
Waipori Street Track Intersection
to
Gould Avenue Creek crossing Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 395 m
Time = 9 mins
Climb = 21 m
Descent = -27 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Darri Track' sign past the 'Terramerragal Reserve' sign and along the service trail, heading through the bush and down the long gentle hill, until it comes to the intersection of the lower valley link trail at the information sign. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail past the "No Through Road" sign and along the side of the hill, gently undulating until it comes to a small creek crossing, where the service trail becomes a bush track.
(2.47 km)
Gould Avenue Creek crossing
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Int of Darri and Timbarra Road tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 724 m
Time = 18 mins
Climb = 63 m
Descent = -18 m
Continue straight: From the end of the service trail, this walk crosses the small creek and continues along the bush track, winding up the long hill, keeping the metal handrail on the right. The walk continues up the rocky hill, and up a metal staircase to a flat rock platform at the top. From here, the track turns left onto the rock platform and continues along the bush track, passing a 'Kuringai Chase National Park' sign before dropping down a small hill then continuing up some rock steps. From the top of the steps, the walk follows the bush track through the gum trees until it comes to a 'Y' intersection with another bush track at a Darri Track marker.
(3.19 km)
Int of Darri and Timbarra Road tracks
to
Int of Darri and Warrimoo Tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 528 m
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 9 m
Descent = -22 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track, heading north past some blackened gum trees and through the bush, undulating gently for a while before coming to the signposted intersection of the 'Warrimoo Track'.
(3.72 km)
Int of Darri and Warrimoo Tracks
to
Sonja Huddles Chair Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 849 m
Time = 18 mins
Climb = 7 m
Descent = -92 m
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the Bobbin Head arrow along the service trail (heading north west). The trail meanders through the bush for a while before winding steadily down a long hill to the end of the ridge. Here, the trail comes to a Memorial Chair at a lookout over Cowan Creek.
(4.57 km)
Sonja Huddles Chair
to
Int of Sphinx walking and Warrimoo Tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 521 m
Time = 12 mins
Climb = 12 m
Descent = -57 m
Continue straight: From the Memorial Chair, the walk heads down the rock steps and follows the bush track. The track winds steeply down the rocky hill and crosses Cowan Creek at the stepping stones. The track then continues along the edge of the creek (keeping the creek to the right) until coming to the signposted intersection with the Sphinx Track.
(5.09 km)
Int of Sphinx walking and Warrimoo Tracks
to
Int of Sphinx walking Track and management trail Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.05 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 140 m
Descent = -17 m
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Sphinx Track - Nth. Turramurra' sign[1] uphill along the clear rocky track. The track zig-zags quite steeply up a series of timber and stone steps[2] for almost 250m to then pass under the high tension power lines[3]. Here the track gently undulates along the side of the hill crossing a few pleasant rock platforms[4] for 130m to cross a small often dry creek on a sandstone rock platform[5]. Now the track leads gently uphill along the side of the valley among the grass trees[6] for almost 200m to cross a usually larger but still fairly small creek on a sandstone rock platform[7]. The walk then heads up a series of and carved stone and timber steps[8] for about 50m where the track mostly flattens out[9] for about 30m to come to a shallow sandstone overhang[10] (on your left). Just shy of 150m past this cave, the track leads between two tall eucalyptus[11] then follows the rocky track[12] and series of timber steps[13] uphill for another 300m to a T-intersection with a wide trail, marked with a 'Sphinx Walking Track' sign[14] pointing back down the track.
(6.14 km)
Int of Sphinx walking Track and Service trail
to
Int of Sphinx Memorial Track and Sphinx service trail Walk: Easy - servicetrail
Length = 9 m
Time =
Climb = 1 m
Descent = 0 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads gently uphill along the wide trail, for just over 10m to an intersection with an asphalted path (on your left), marked with a 'Sphinx Fire Trail'[15] sign pointing back down the trail.
(6.15 km)
Int of Sphinx Memorial Track and Sphinx fire trail
to
Sphinx Memorial Walk: Easy - footpath
Length = 57 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 6 m
Descent = 0 m
Turn left: From the intersection this walk follows the asphalt footpath, gently uphill directly away from the face of the 'Sphinx Fire Trail'[16] sign. The footpath leads for about 50m to head behind the picnic tables[17] and come to the sandstone 'Sphinx Memorial'[18].
Sphinx Memorial
Alt = 138 m
Private Shirley spent one and a half years carving this monument whilst a patient of the Lady Davidson Convalescent Hospital. William Shirley was in hospital, being treated after serving in WW1. Shirley died in 1929, leaving this memorial to fallen A.I.F. comrades.
"To my glorious comrades of the A.I.F
by the late W. Shirley
No 5756 Pte. 13th Battalion
Died 27th August 1928" More info
(6.21 km)
Sphinx Memorial
to
Int of Bobbin Head and the Sphinx Roads Walk: Easy - footpath,road
Length = 371 m
Time = 7 mins
Climb = 23 m
Descent = 0 m
Veer right: From the picnic ground, this walk heads south-west, uphill along the footpath, until emerging onto the Sphinx Memorial Drive. At this point, there is a gate and a sign giving information on the local walks. Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the road, heading up the long gentle hill. The road flattens out and passes through some metal gates, coming to the intersection with Bobbin Head Road. The NPWS toll booth is just to the left.
Catch the bus from Int of Bobbin Head and the Sphinx Roads
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 8 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.
Cowan Creek Reserve Cowan Creek Reserve (aka Terramerragal Reserve) is a large reserve owned and managed by Ku-ring-gai council. The reserve is home to the Darri track and some wonderful stands of She-oak trees. Region: I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National ParkLink to official closures and fire bans page A largely untouched wilderness on the northern boundary of Sydney, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP is one of Australia's oldest national parks. Here at the head of the Hawkesbury River, you'll find Aboriginal engravings and sites, as well as sandstone escarpments, Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park feesCampingFacilities I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.
What a fantastic site. The directions and maps are excellent. Thank you to the people who have put this together you are providing a great service.
admin - thanks
Super Administrator | 2012-07-20 09:33:12
Diane Renshaw wrote:
What a fantastic site. The directions and maps are excellent. Thank you to the people who have put this together you are providing a great service.
Thanks Diane
Appreciate the feedback and kind words.
What a great walk as well :)
Happy walking
Matt :)
alanm - Damp but pleasant walk
IP:220.240.94.xxx | 2015-07-01 08:45:49
Did this walk yesterday, using public transport that makes it into an 8km walk. Rather damp but a nice walk. I got lost at the 5km section and missed the track. Some bushbashing fixed that.
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 :)