Hornsby to Berowra
The route I chose for this section combines pieces from three of the GNW day walks to take me from Hornsby station to Berowra station. The section of GNW through Berowra Creek north of Fishponds is closed due to the Hornsby firing range, so the route has been diverted back up to the streets of Hornsby and back into Berowra creek at Clarinda St wetlands. Also, I have previously walked Lyrebird Gully track to and from Mt Kuring-gai station and while it is a lovely walk, it is not much further to push on from Sams creek to Berowra, avoiding Lyrebird gulley on this part and the next.
Today route is nearly 25Kms and I am walking it in late June, near the shortest day, so made a reasonably early start from Hornsby a little before 8:30 on a cool, but beautiful winter blue sky weekday.
Again great track notes linked below:
Hornsby to Clarinda St
A little under half an hour through the streets from Hornsby gets you to the trackhead at Clarinda St. Still crisp in the morning after overnight rain.
Back to Berowra Creek
The route follows a fire trail for a bit then drops down a ridge into a side creek of Berowra creek with a small attractive waterfall. You cross the creek just below the waterfall and climb the opposite back before rejoining firetrail (Stewart Ave service trail).
“Steele” Bridge
The firetrail rounds the next ridge and returns you to Berowra Creek, where an historic “Steele” bridge gets you across Berowra creek. There are only a few of these military style bridges left operational in NSW.
Tunks ridge
The firetrail from the “Steele” bridge climbs around and up towards Tunks ridge. The day is warming up and the uphill brings an attire adjustment. Soon the camping ground at Tunks Ridge is reached.
At Tunks ridge, I met another walker, doing the GNW end to end while visiting NSW from West Australia. This was his third day. Twynam, a retired farmer, and I had a companionable walk together for the rest of the day. It was great to get some company and Twynam provided some inspiration for the more northerly sections, where I expect to do a few overnight or multi day sections.
Galston Gorge
We followed the track along the ridge for a while, walking into the sun, before descending steeply into Galston gorge, with some car traffic on the road bridge. The descent is quite steep and you clamber down the rocks and in a few places metal spikes to aid the climb. Nice descent as the sun was on the rocks this morning.
Crossing Berowra Creek
You cross the creek again under the Galston gorge road bridge on some concrete stepping stones that stand quite high out of the water. One or two wobble a bit and there’s one washed away. Keep your eyes up so you don’t fall in!
On to Crosslands
A long trail section of nice creekside walking heads towards Crosslands reserve. This is really beautiful and varied walking, climbing up beside the creek, on well made track, through forest with creek views, and made steps.
Heading downstream, there are a few side creeks to cross, descend into the crossing and climb out the other side. As usual, in the sandstone country, clifftops often make for easier walking, and as the valley broadens out good views are had from the higher cliff top vantage. Keep an eye out for wildlife, we encountered a lyrebird just off the track.
Creek to estuary
Soon Berowra creek widens to become a shallow estuary and we come to campsites, Berowra camp and the car accessible Crosslands reserve.
Easy stroll on past Berowra camp to lunch at Crosslands Reserve
Crosslands Reserve is a large open grassed park with facilities and is a great stopping point, sitting beside the tidal creek. Today a bit of a chilly wind was blowing, so jumpers were donned for our lunch stop.
Calna Creek
Winding alongside the mangrove lined Berowra creek, sometimes on short boardwalk sections, a major tributary is soon reached, Calna creek. A bridge allows easy crossing without diverting upstream. Continuing on, boardwalks cross the saltmarsh flats that fill the creek junction. Calna creek junction is where the track from Mt Kuring-gai via Lyrebird gulley joins, so I’ve been to this bit before.
Sams creek is the next downstream tributary and where the track heads up out of the valley. There are plenty of signs of shell middens visible beside the track. Just before reaching Sams creek there is a small rise and an large isolated boulder. We didn’t look today, but there are archeological sites here.
From the boulder clearing the track heads upstream beside Sams creek until it reaches a crossing, at the first rock break in the creek.
Up, Up!
After crossing Sams creek you shortly climb out of the valley up a zig zag track climbing through some cliff sections. Enjoy the well placed seat for a rest!
Naa Badu lookout
The climbing track soon reaches Berkley fire trail, which contours the ridge. A left turn onto the fire trail takes you to Naa Badu lookout, with a great view back over Berowra creek towards Crosslands, just around the far corner.
The usual route to Berowra station heads back from here, but I’ve been that way before, so I walked along further with Twynam, until we reached the GNW turnoff to Berowra Waters. He was headed onwards, and I back home, so we made our farewells after a great days walking.
I kept on the fire trail back to the streets of Berowra Heights and to Berowra, somewhat footsore after the day out.
PS
Twynam sent me this, so I think he found a great spot overnight:
Really pleased with todays walk, I wasn’t sure how long it would take as sometimes creekside tracks are slow, so carried my headlamp just in case. Turned out I reached the Berowra streets about 4pm, so had more than an hour’s light up my sleeve. Great to have met Twynam and have unexpected good company on the way. I hope his grand adventure goes well. It will, as he is an experienced long distance hiker.
There is so much variety on this track, and it is a showcase for the beautiful bushland, so close around Sydney. Great day out.