Walk 14:- Mount Kuring-gai to Berowra via Cowan Creek
At A Glance
Route Summary:- This walk is all on track. It follows Harwood Ave. for about 0.4 km. from Mt Kuring-gai Station to the start of the Kuring-gai Track. It follows this track for about 2,5 km to a track junction with the Berowra Track next to Cowan Creek. The walk then follows the Berowra Track to Berowra Station
RQI:- 90
Highlights:- Views over Cowan Creek, then Berowra Track along Cowan Creek over three tributary creeks and bays to Waratah Bay where Mr Windibanks had a home, garden and boat hire business in the early 1900s, then along the old access road next to Waratah Gully and zigzag track up to Berowra.
Negatives :- The 0.43 km walk along Harwood Ave. to start of track
Length:- 8.9 km.
Grade:- Medium
Weather:_All weather but care on slippery rocks at gully crossings after rain
Time :- 2 hrs 40 min. continuous walking
Train Time from Central to Start :-. 1 hr 2 mins. via T1 Line
Train Time from finish to Central:-. 0.47 minutes via express or 1 hr 6 mins via T1 Line
Total Climb :- 275 meters
Total Descent :- 280 meters
Water:- Berowra Station
Toilets:- Berowra Station
Café/Kiosk :- Berowra
Published 1:25,000 Map :- Hornsby
Walk 14 track Notes Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra
22/10/13
Km/hrs.min. Kilometers in bold are shown on map
0.00/0.00 Leave Mt Kuring-gai Station to signboard at bottom of steps in pedestrian tunnel:- ‘ Berowra Waters 10 km’ to right and ‘ Mt Kuring-gai walking Track’ to left; turn left and walk along pedestrian bridge across motorway to the end of Harwood Av.; go straight along Harwood Ave. to its end at a gate and turning circle.
0.43/0.05 At gate with signboard:- ‘ Mt Kuring-gai National Park- Mt Kuring-gai Track’; ‘Apple Tree Bay 4 km’ and ‘berowra 8 km’; follow service road
1.05/0.11 Track junction; track on right goes to lookout; continue straight on arrowed post along what is now a wide walking track
2.86/0.40 Track junction beside Cowan Creek and signboard on left:- Mt Kuring-gai 2.5 km’ back track; turn left onto unsignposted Berowra track
3.16/0.45 timber wharf and walkway
3.45/0.50 First bay and creek crossing; take care on slippery rocks, especially at high tide
4.31/1.05 Winson Gully crossing at Winson Bay; easier crossing on rocks
5.16/1.20 Lords Bay; first of two gully crossings comprising Lords Bay
5.23/1.23 Second gully crossing
5.47/1.28 Minor creek crossing; these rocks can be slippery when wet
7.19/1.59 At end of Waratah Bay near creek entry point and start of washed out service road up along left bank of Warath Gully; in this area Mr Windibanks had a home, garden and boat hire business in the early 1900s; the old access road up from here was part of this venture; take old road up.
7.84/2.14 Waratah Gully crossing; after crossing continue up along zig zag old service road; note slab sandstone culverts
8.60/2.39 Track junction near top; take right track up
8.71/2.40 On bridge over motorway
8.86/2.42 Berowra Station
Route Quality Index
On public vehicular road:- 0.58 km/ 7%
On locked service/fire trail:- 0.62 km/ 7%
On walking track:- 7.66 km/ 86%
RQI= 86+4+0= 90
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