This pleasant walk starts with a wander through the interesting Kalkari Discovery Center. Enjoy the displays and chat with the volunteers before heading out the back door to find the rest of the walk. The walk follows the concrete path past more information signs and a lovely pond. As you wander through the large fenced enclosure keep an eye out for wallabies, bush turkeys and other animals. The main lookout provides stunning views and well worth spending time to enjoy.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Kalkari Discovery trail bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Kalkari Discovery trail 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
800m
Time
30 mins
.
Grade 1/6
Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Flat, no steps (1/6)
Quality of track
Smooth and hardened path (1/6)
Signs
Clearly signposted (1/6)
Experience Required
No experience required (1/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
Infrastructure
Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
*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
This whole walk, 800m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
This whole walk, 800m follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
This whole walk, 800m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 800m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 800m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 800m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
(0 km)
Kalkari car park
to
Kalkari Discovery Centre Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 34 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = 0 m
From the Kalkari Discovery Centre car park[1][fac=8054] (on Ku-ring-gai Chase Rd), this walk heads up the short ramp[2] towards the Visitor Centre[3]. At the top of the ramp this walks goes between 2 bollards[4] (1.3m apart, 93cm high), past the picnic table[fac=8055], seats[fac=8056] and toilets[fac=8058][fac=8059] to the front door[5] of the Discovery Centre. From here the walk heads through the front door (80cm wide, expandable to 1.7m with a 3cm step[6]) into the Visitor Centre with the information desk[7] (on your right).
Kalkari Discovery Centre
Alt = 184 m
Kalkari Discovery Centre[8] is in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, on Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Road, Mt Colah. The discovery center is staffed by volunteers from Chase Alive. The center boasts some interesting flora and fauna displays inside[9], and out the back is a large enclosure with emu, kangaroos and other native animals roaming around. Take time to explore the wheelchair-accessible circuit within the fence. There are toilets[fac=8059][fac=8058] at the centre. For information, phone 02 9472 9300. There are picnic tables[fac=8055], seats[fac=8056] and drinking fountain[fac=8057] at the front. There is a large car parking area at the front of the centre with two designated mobility parking bays[fac=8054].
(0.03 km)
Kalkari Discovery Centre
to
Kalkari picnic area Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 35 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = 0 m
Continue straight: From the front desk[10] (inside the Kalkari Discovery Centre), this walk leads through the back glass door[11] into the fence enclosure area. The wide concrete path leads for about 35m past the information sign[12] and sheltered 3D map[13] to find short picnic tables and seats[fac=8060][14][15] at the Kalkari picnic area[16].
Kalkari Picnic Area
Alt = 186 m
Out the back of the Kalkari Visitor Center[17] is a fenced animal enclosure and a small seating area. There are some information signs[18][19] and some seats[fac=8060][fac=8061]. There is also a covered 3D terrain map of the area[20].
(0.07 km)
Kalkari picnic area
to
Pond intersection Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 69 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = 0 m
Continue straight: From the picnic tables and seats[fac=8060][21][22] at the Kalkari picnic area[23], this walk leads along the concrete path, past the sheltered information sign[24] (on your left). This walk then winds along the path gently uphill for 20m, past the 'Tallowwood'[25] and 'White Bottlebrush'[26] signs to a timber bridge (2.2m wide)[27] with timber handrails (1m high)[28]. Continue across the bridge over the pond[29] to reach a 3-way intersection[30], marked with a 'Kalkari Bush Discovery Track' sign[31].
(0.14 km)
Pond intersection
to
Lookout intersection Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 107 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -12 m
Veer right: From the intersection[32], this walk follows the 'one way' arrow (marked on the 'Kalkari Bush Discovery Track' sign[33]) along the concrete path, directly away from the pond, over a small rise then gently downhill. Over the next 60m this walk passes the 'Sweet Pittosporum' sign[34] and comes to a seat[35][fac=8062] (on your left). From the seat this walk continues for another 30m to a 3-way intersection[36], marked with a 'Sydney Red Gum' sign[37].
(0.25 km)
Lookout intersection
to
The Kalkari Lookout Optional sidetrip: Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 24 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -9 m
Turn right: From the intersection[38], this walk follows the concrete path gently downhill for about 25m to the visible Kalkari Lookout[39]. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then veer right to continue along this walk.)
Kalkari Lookout
Alt = 168 m
The Kalkari Lookout is a timber fenced platform[40] with fantastic views over Cockle Creek[41] and Bobbin Head area. There are a series of seats[fac=8063][fac=8064][fac=8065] providing different ways of enjoying this space. The timber fence is 1m tall and provides a view through the slats[42]. A lovely place to sit and enjoy this amazing national park.
(0.25 km)
Lookout intersection
to
Eastern loop int. Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 108 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -1 m
Turn left: From the intersection[43], this walk meanders gently uphill, following the concrete path directly away from the lookout, leaving the main valley and fence to your right[44]. This walk then heads downhill, past the 'Old Man Banksia'[45] and 'Black She-Oak'[46] signs for 100m, over a rise, to come to a 3-way intersection[47] marked with a 'No hiding place' sign[48] (on the left).
(0.35 km)
Eastern loop int.
to
Western loop int. Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 105 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -5 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk leads gently uphill along the concrete path, following the NPWS arrow sign[49] and under the power lines[50]. This path bends sharply left and goes up and over a rise for the next 80m, past the 'Grasstrees' sign[51] (on the left) to the 3-way intersection with a dirt path with timber steps[52] (on the right), just before the scribbly gum tree with the 'Die' sign[53] next to it.
(0.46 km)
Western loop int.
to
The Kalkari Outlook Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 27 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -2 m
Continue straight: From the intersection[54], this walk heads along the concrete path past the scribbly gum tree (with the 'Die' sign[55]) and towards the clearing and the fence[56]. The path soon bends left and then leads gently downhill for the next 10m to the seat[fac=8067][57] on the fenced concrete platform (on the right).
Kalkari Outlook
Alt = 176 m
The Kalkari Outlook is a fenced lookout[58] with views over one of the Kalkari fenced enclosures. At times you will be able to see kangaroos grazing in the clearing. There are two seats[fac=8067][fac=8068] with views over the outlook. The lower end of the platform is natural rock[59] and the fence is about 90cm high[60].
(0.49 km)
The Kalkari Outlook
to
Pond intersection Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 175 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 16 m
Descent = -1 m
Veer left: From the Kalkari Outlook[61], this walk follows the concrete path uphill and directly away from the view. This walk winds through the open forest (near a house) passing signs for a 'Grey Gum'[62], a 'Dwarf Apple'[63] and a 'Scribbly Gum'[64], to pass straight through the 4-way intersection under the power lines[65]. From here this walk leads gently downhill for 25m to a 3-way intersection[66], marked with a 'Kalkari Bush Discovery Track' sign[67].
(0.66 km)
Pond intersection
to
Kalkari car park Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 138 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -4 m
Turn right: From the intersection[68], this walk heads towards the timber fenced bridge (2.2m wide)[69] with timber handrails (1m high)[70], away from the face of the 'Kalkari Bush Discovery Track' sign[71]. This walk then winds for 20m gently downhill, leaving the pond on your right, passing the 'White Bottlebrush'[72], 'Tallowwood'[73] signs and a sheltered information sign[74] (on your right) to reach the picnic tables and seats[fac=8060][75][76] at the Kalkari picnic area[77]. Continue straight: From picnic tables and seats[fac=8060][78][79] at the Kalkari picnic area[80], this walk leads along the wide concrete path toward the Kalkari Discovery Centre[81]. After 35m this walk leads through the glass back door[82], straight to the front desk[83] (inside of the Kalkari Discovery Centre). Continue straight: From the information desk[84] at the Kalkari Discovery Centre[85] this walk leads down the hallway[86] (on the car park side) to the front door (80cm wide, expandable to 1.7m with a 3cm step[87]). Walk heads through the door, veers right (away from the toilets[fac=8058][fac=8059]) then past seats[fac=8056] and picnic table[fac=8055], down the short ramp[88], between 2 bollards[89] (1.3m apart, 93cm high), to the car park[90][fac=8054] (on Ku-ring-gai Chase Rd).
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.
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.