Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Walking tracks

Willunga Trig Walk

Willunga Trig is the highest point in the park. To get there, follow the track marked by the Number 6 post, 4.7 kilometres along West Head Road from the Coal and Candle Drive junction (it's directly opposite the Towlers Bay Track). The track will take you through dry heathland, then up through woodland to the rocky top with its 360° panoramic view of the park and waterways.

Plant communities: heathlands, grassy woodlands

America Bay track

Moderate 2 km return walk to a waterfall looking out over America Bay. Difficult in some parts.

Centre Track

On this trail, you'll be walking through heathland that's a mass of wildflower colour in spring. The track begins 30 m past the toll booth on Coal and Candle Drive, near the corner of McCarrs Creek Road. Walk along the ridge, looking out over McCarrs Creek and Coal and Candle Creek, before climbing to a small knoll. Here there's a rock escarpment and some tesselated pavements on which you can make out faint Aboriginal engravings of footprints. You can then either retrace your steps, or walk down to Coal and Candle Drive and stroll back along the road.

Plant communities: heathlands

Topham Track

Take this track through open woodland to the edge of an escarpment, where you'll have some fine views over Refuge Bay and America Bay. The path begins on West Head Road, 5.9 kilometres from the Coal and Candle Drive junction at the Number 7 post.

Plant communities: grassy woodlands

Salvation Loop

This track features wet heathlands and hanging swamps (swamps found in shallow depressions at the edge of a cliff). It begins at the picnic area at Salvation Creek, 3.5 kilometres along West Head Road from Coal and Candle Drive junction. Walk along the edge of the hanging swamp and wet heathland to the Loop Track, which is a service trail passing through woodland with a variety of flowering plants. Pass the Wallaroo Track junction and, at the end of the loop, walk back along the road.

Plant communities: heathlands, grassy woodlands

Birrawanna Track

The walk down is past Kalkari's emu enclosure, through woodland and onto a historic track through open forest to Bobbin Head. On the return loop there are views over Cockle Creek and Cowan Water. Pass the park office and the ruins of a youth hostel, and then return to Kalkari carpark. You can make this walk easier and quicker by leaving a car at Bobbin Head and just walking down from Kalkari.

Plant communities: grassy woodlands, dry eucalypt forests

Jerusalem Bay Track (to Jerusalem Bay and back)

This track covers a small section of the 250km Great North Walk, which goes all the way from Sydney to Newcastle. Starting at Cowan station, take the steep descent through thick scrub, across a creek, past the ruins of Rhodes boatshed and on to the beautiful Jerusalem Bay. From here you can turn around and return to Cowan. Expect spectacular views. For more information on the Great North Walk, visit the Department of Lands website.

Plant communities: heathlands, dry eucalypt forests, saltwater wetlands

Resolute Track

This track takes you around the landscape of West Head. Start from Resolute picnic area and walk to the path's junction with the North Mackerel Track, passing Aboriginal rock engravings on the way. Keep going down a spur through woodland to a lookout on the edge of the escarpment, then down a steep slope to an Aboriginal occupation site in a cave. From the bottom of the slope, you can take the foreshore track to Great Mackerel Beach (and retrace your steps back to the Resolute Track), or detour down a steep rainforest gully to Resolute Beach. If you just want to head straight home, go northwards on the Headland Track. Leave this track and walk back up a creek to Resolute picnic area.

Plant communities: heathlands, grassy woodlands, dry eucalypt forests, rainforests

The Basin Track and Mackerel Track

The Basin, with its sandy beach, inner lagoon and campsite, is one of the park's most popular attractions. You can get to it the scenic way on this track, which begins from West Head Road, 8.5 kilometres from the Coal and Candle Drive junction. Near the start of the track, look for a wooden walkway - it leads to one of the best Aboriginal engraving sites in the park. The main track then takes you across the heathland of the plateau and down through tall forest to The Basin. Make your way round the shoreline to Currawong Beach (you can walk at low tide, or catch a ferry to Mackerel Beach - they run hourly). At the northern end of the beach, you'll find a service trail which leads back to The Basin Track.

Plant communities: heathlands, grassy woodlands, dry eucalypt forests

Elvina Track

Waterpools, pools and rainforests are the main features of this track, which begins off West Head Road. Starting 1.3 kilometres from the Coal and Candle Drive junction, you'll be walking on a wide service trail. On a small detour, you'll pass some Aboriginal rock engravings and a tesselated pavement, before heading down through forest to the settlement at Elvina Bay. The track then continues around the bay towards Lovett Bay, and up to a small rainforest waterfall. From the top of the waterfall, there's a pool large enough to swim in - and one of the best views in the park. From here, it's back to the service trail and West Head Road.

Plant communities: rainforests

Perimeter trail

Walking along this popular bridle trail (7 km) in the Terrey Hills area is made up of mostly service trails, but you can make side trips to Wilkins and Nerang lookouts for some excellent views and lunch spots.

Gibberagong Track

The walk to Gibberagong Waterholes starts from Bobbin Head carpark. Follow Cockle Creek along a mangrove boardwalk, then up into the bush and down to the creek again a few times, until you get to a large pool. Return the way you came. This walk can be done in a 6 kilometre one-way stretch, going from the end of Grosvenor Street Wahroonga down to Bobbin Head.

Plant communities: saltwater wetlands

Waratah Track

This is a good walk to do in spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom. It begins at the Number 2 post on West Head Road, about 1.7 kilometres from Coal and Candle Drive junction. Walk out along a ridge of sandy heathland and over a few rocky knolls, enjoying views down to Akuna Bay on the left and Yeomans Creek gully to the right. A large rock shelf towards the end of the track is covered in islands of flowering plants in spring, and at the end you'll be looking over Yeomans Bay and Coal and Candle Creek. When you've had your fill of flowers and scenery, retrace your steps back home.

Plant communities: heathlands

Wallaroo Track

This track ends at a beautiful secluded spot above rocks overlooking Cowan Creek. To get there, start about 1.5 kilometres along the Salvation Loop Track off West Head Road. Follow a service trail along the ridge, passing through a stand of rare yellow-top ash trees before heading down a steep slope with views over Cowan Creek and Refuge Bay. You'll go through open woodland and heath before reaching the end of the trail and retracing your steps. You can take a detour along the Yeomans Branch Track - it's a 50 minute return trip.

Plant communities: heathlands, grassy woodlands

Sphinx Track and Warrimoo Track to Bobbin Head

One of this walk's highlights is a sandstone miniature of the Egyptian sphinx, carved by a returned serviceman in the 1920s. The track takes you from the park entrance gates at North Turramurra down to Bobbin Head and back. Walk down the Bobbin Head Track and through open forest to Empire Marina (the old Halvorsen's boatshed). The return Warrimoo Track will take you past mangroves and through Aboriginal middens to the Sphinx Track. Here there's a short, steep climb before you continue to the miniature sphinx itself.

Plant communities: dry eucalypt forests, saltwater wetlands

Bairne Track

This might be a long walk, but it's along the ridge tops - and the views are definitely worth it! It starts at the Number 8 Post on West Head Road, 6.1 kilometres from the Coal and Candle Drive junction. Take the service trail through heathland and woodland to Towlers Bay lookout, where there's a magnificent view up and down Pittwater. After this, head back up the track and veer off to Soldiers Point for more great views of The Basin and northern Pittwater. Retrace your steps back to West Head Road - or catch a ferry to The Basin from Bonnie Doon Wharf at Soldiers Point (service runs hourly).

Plant communities: heathlands, grassy woodlands

Jerusalem Bay Track (to Brooklyn)

This track covers a small section of the 250km Great North Walk, which goes all the way from Sydney to Newcastle. Starting at Cowan station, take the steep descent through thick scrub, across a creek, past the ruins of Rhodes boatshed and on to the beautiful Jerusalem Bay. From here you can grit your teeth and head towards Campbells Creek and Brooklyn (where you can catch the train home from Hawkesbury River station). Expect spectacular views.

Plant communities: heathlands, dry eucalypt forests, saltwater wetlands

Mt Kuring-gai Track to Berowra station

If you don't have a car, and don't mind a steep climb, try this walk from Mt Kuring-gai station to Berowra station. From Mt Kuring-gai station, walk into the park and down through woodland and past Aboriginal middens to historic Apple Tree Bay. From there, the path goes along Cowan Creek to Waratah Bay, the site of Windybank's boatshed, then there's an hour of steep climbing up to Berowra station.

Plant communities: grassy woodlands, dry eucalypt forests

Great North Walk

Constructed in 1988 by the NSW Department of Lands, the Great North Walk is a 250-kilometre bushwalking track linking the Sydney CBD with the Hunter Valley and Newcastle. It passes through a number of parks and reserves, including Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. For more information on the Great North Walk, visit the Lands website.