Great North Walk – Part 2

Part 2 – Lindfield to Thornleigh (April 2021, about 13.5k)

A beautiful April day saw us do Part 2 with our visitors from Victoria. Starting from Lindfield and walking through our local streets to our starting point at Fiddens Wharf.

Street Walking and near our start at Fiddens Wharf

This section of the walk follows the Lane Cove River Valley northwards as it cuts through Sydneys northern suburbia, creating a bushland sanctuary.

Fiddens Wharf to De Burghs bridge

From Fiddens Wharf the track follows closely beside the river around a few bends, sometimes rising up and down a bit, with some rock platforms to view the river.

Walking beside the Lane Cove River between Fiddens Wharf and De Burghs bridge.

Rocky overhangs

This section to De Burghs bridges passes through some very nice bush sections, with good track and interesting changes every few hundred meters. There is a great section as the track skirts a rock break and you pass through some overhangs and around boulders. We saw a couple of birds nesting in a cliff side nook.

The track reaches a junction and heads down, crossing a side creek and coming to a junction at the Blue hole. There were people bouldering in a rock overhang here. Continuing you soon reach De Burghs bridge. As you approach, the road noise grows into a constant rumble.

North of De Burghs bridge

The track past De Burghs bridge crosses a couple of creeks and soon meets the Gloucester road fire trial. I was pleased that the Great North Walk has sections of foot track that bypass some of these fire roads. It makes for much more pleasant walking and you are much more “in” the bushland setting.

Walking along the GNW track. Termite mounds overlook the track. Rock Platform above the river.

Soon the single track rejoins the fire road and some well placed rocks make a good seat for a break.

Continuing along the fire road we soon come to our lunch spot at the major track junction beside Brown’s waterhole.

Nice fire road walking to lunch stop at Browns waterhole.

Lane Cove Valley walk – Brown’s waterhole to Thornleigh

After lunch the GNW continues upstream on the true left bank of the Lane Cove river, which is now becoming a shallow stream running in a rocky bed. The trail narrows and after a while is quite rocky underfoot, so you need to pay attention to your footing.

Walking upstream on a rocky track beside the stream.

As you wind further up the valley you follow the Lane Cove Valley walk upstream you take the right hand (ie true left) branch of the river towards Thornleigh.

Creek crossings and forest glades

There are a number of shallow river crossings, negotiable on stepping stones.

Some creek crossings on the way upstream.

The track traverses some lovely forest surrounding the clear stream as it reaches for the headwaters.

Forest beside the Lane Cove river’s stream.

Conscript Pass

Soon the track crosses the creek for the last time and heads uphill for Thornleigh. It follows some uphill steps and reaches Conscript pass, with its historic inscriptions.

And then the track reaches Thornleigh oval, and you are back into the streets of suburban Sydney. Its not far to the station and a train home.

Thornleigh oval, near the end of this section of the GNW.

Such a beautiful day and walking with good friends made part 2 a really enjoyable day out. The bushland was great especially the forest in the upstream, less visited and more remote sections. Varied walking on good track make it easy to recommend this section for a day walk through some of Sydneys remaining bushlands.