Berowra to Berowra Waters
Download & Print Map and Notes
2 hrs 45 mins
5.7 km One way
287 m
Hard track
(0km) Berowra Station → Crowley Road track head
710 m
14 mins
25m
-15m
Very easy
From the entrance to Berowra train station[1], this walk follows the ‘Berowra Waters’ arrow on the ‘Great North Walk’ sign, crossing the highway at the traffic lights[2]. On the other side of the highway, this walk turns left and follows the footpath past a series of local shops and cafes[3][4] for about 150m, then turns right onto Berowra Waters Rd[5]. The footpath passes the post office[6] then Caltex service station[7], then the walk crosses ‘The Gully Rd’[8]. Continuing along the Berowra Waters Rd footpath, this walk passes the park[9][10] and then crosses the road just to the right of the roundabout[11]. Turning left in front of the community hall, this walk immediately turns right at Crowley Rd, and comes to the open grassy area[12] behind the community hall[13], where a sign in the park points back to ‘Berowra Station’[14].
(0.71km) Crowley Road track head → Int of Berowra service trail and Great North Walk
900 m
21 mins
18m
-106m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the small park on Crowley Rd, this walk follows the ‘Crosslands’ sign[15] downhill, tending left behind the houses[16]. The track soon bends right and leads quite steeply[17] down a series of steps for about 120m, then tends left and flattens out on an unfenced rock platform[18]. From here, the track leads down a metal staircase[19][20] then heads fairly steeply[21] down along a rocky track.
The track begins to flatten out over the next 400m, crossing the gully twice, then leads down to a three-way intersection marked with a couple of arrow posts[22].
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the arrow post[23] downhill and soon crosses a small creek[24]. The track then continues up the other side of the valley, over a small rise, then leads down to an intersection with a management trail[25], marked with a couple more arrow posts.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the arrow post[23] downhill and soon crosses a small creek[24]. The track then continues up the other side of the valley, over a small rise, then leads down to an intersection with a management trail[25], marked with a couple more arrow posts.
(1.61km) Int of Berowra service trail and Great North Walk → Int of Great North Walk and Berowra Link tracks
1.1 km
27 mins
69m
-57m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the Great North Walk arrow[26] down the wide management trail for about 40m, then continues up the moderately steep hill to a wide three-way intersection[27], where a sign points back towards ‘Berowra Station’[28].
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Crosslands’ sign [29] as the trail bends left, leading down the hill. The trail then undulates around the side of valley for about 300m and crosses a small creek (where the trail is gravel[30]). The trail then heads generally uphill for about 600m, before a last little downhill stretch leads to an intersection (with a track on your left) and a ‘Berowra Station’ sign[31] pointing back along the track.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Crosslands’ sign [29] as the trail bends left, leading down the hill. The trail then undulates around the side of valley for about 300m and crosses a small creek (where the trail is gravel[30]). The trail then heads generally uphill for about 600m, before a last little downhill stretch leads to an intersection (with a track on your left) and a ‘Berowra Station’ sign[31] pointing back along the track.
(2.72km) Int of Great North Walk and Berowra Link tracks → Int of Naa Badu Lookout
260 m
7 mins
19m
-22m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Berowra Waters’ sign[32] gently down along the management trail, keeping the valley to your left. The trail gently undulates along the side of the hill, enjoying some glimpses up to the cliff faces[33] (on the right). After about 180m, the trail crosses a concrete drain[34], then leads up the hill to find the signposted ‘Naa Badu’ lookout[35] and its great view[36].
Naa Badu Lookout
Naa Badu Lookout offers magnificent views south over Berowra Creek as well as over Sams and Calna Creeks. Naa Badu means ‘See water’[37] in the Aboriginal tribal language of the Dharug people. It is believed that Berowra Creek was the boundary between the Dharug and Guringai Aboriginal peoples. The lookout is fenced[38], has a bench seat[39], picnic table[40] and a fair amount of natural shade.
(2.98km) Int of Naa Badu Lookout → Int of Great North Walk and Berkeley Close service trail
540 m
11 mins
16m
-26m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the ‘Naa Badu’ lookout[41], this walk follows the management trail over the small rise[42] and across the concrete ditch[43], keeping the valley to your left. The trail leads around the side of the hill for about 300m, gently undulating to come to an intersection with a narrow track and small clearing (on your left, as the trail bends right), just past the large scribbly gum. (This informal track leads down to an unfenced rock platform, with filtered views over Berowra Creek).
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the wide trail gently downhill as it bends right[44], keeping the valley to your left. After about 140m, the trail narrows a bit, leading down a few short but steeper sections[45] to an intersection (with some steps[46] on your left), where a ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[47] points back up along the trail.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the wide trail gently downhill as it bends right[44], keeping the valley to your left. After about 140m, the trail narrows a bit, leading down a few short but steeper sections[45] to an intersection (with some steps[46] on your left), where a ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[47] points back up along the trail.
(3.52km) Int of Great North Walk and Berkeley Close service trail → Int of Great North Walk and Currawong Road track
570 m
18 mins
78m
-31m
Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Berowra Waters’ sign[48] down the timber steps. The walk then crosses Banggarai Creek using a timber bridge[49], and leads up some timber steps[50]. The rocky track then leads up some more timbers steps, between two rocks[51] then over a few rocks, where the track then flattens out. The now flat, sandy track[52] winds through the forest for about 150m and passes a timber seat[53], then leads down across a small gully[54] before the track begins to climb again. The track leads up some more timber steps[55], then the walk climbs two metal pegs[56] in the rock and continues to climb steeply up the rock and timber steps[57]. After 60m, the track[58] flattens out again, leading gently up through the scribbly gum[59] and angophora forest[60] for just over 100m to a three-way intersection marked with a couple of GNW arrow posts[61].
(4.09km) Int of Great North Walk and Currawong Road track → Washtub Gully Creek
1.3 km
33 mins
31m
-201m
Hard track
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post north-west down the sandy track[62], directly towards the valley. The track soon becomes rocky[63] and leads fairly steeply down the hill for about 150m before mostly flattening out and coming close to the top of an unfenced cliff with good views over Berowra Creek[64]. Here the rocky track continues more gently down along the top of the ridge[65] for about 200m and comes to a large rock platform[66]. This walk veers right to lead down the gap in the rock[67][68], climbing down some steel pegs[69] to where the track flattens out again[70]. The track leads across the saddle[71] for about 60m then veers left and follows along the base of a long rock wall[72] (on your right). Here the track leads down around the side of the ridge for just over 400m, passing some unfenced views for rock platforms[73][74][75] then down some sandstone steps[76] to find a tall sandstone overhang[77] with a timber seat[78]. From this cave, this walk continues along the base of the rock wall[79], and soon bends left and winds fairly steeply down a series of rock[80] and timber steps[81] to come to the edge of Berowra Creek (where there is a ‘no wash’ sign[82][83] facing the water from the rock platform). The track leads along the shore line for a short time to head onto the rock platform[84][85] in Washtub Gully.
(5.4km) Washtub Gully Creek → Berowra Waters trackhead
320 m
9 mins
31m
-30m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From Washtub Gully[86], this walk crosses the creek[87] and follows the track, keeping Berowra Creek not far to your left[88]. After about 50m, the track passes an old partially sunken boat[89], then about 100m further on, the track passes a view point that is an obviously popular (but not recommended) jumping spot[90]. The track then soon leads up some steps and over a rise[91] behind the ‘Berowra Waters Garden House’ restaurant[92], then heads down the steps[93] to come to the signposted ‘Berowra Waters Trackhead’[94][95] on ‘Berowra Waters Rd’[96].
Berowra Waters Garden House
#######CLOSED###### This picturesque little restaurant sits on the eastern side of Berowra Creek and is just a hop, skip and a jump from the ferry. With breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, the Garden House Restaurant is a great spot for those looking to tap into the Berowra Valley’s full potential. For information on bookings and opening hours phone (02)9456 2955.
(5.72km) Berowra Waters trackhead → Berowra Waters Marina
480 m
9 mins
9m
-11m
Very easy
Turn left: From ‘Berowra Waters trackhead’[97], this walk follows ‘Berowra Waters Rd’ downhill for 100m past the ‘Berowra Waters Garden House’[98], letter box and phone box[99] to the ferry[100]. After waiting to be directed onto the ferry[101][102], this walk crosses Berowra Waters[103]. The ferry runs 24hrs a day 7 days a week, but is closed for service on the second Tuesday of each month from noon to 2.30pm. There is no charge. On the other side, this walk follows the footpath[105] between the road and the water for 150m to come to the shops at the Berowra Waters Marina[106] (on your right). At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn sharp left.
The Fish Café
This seafood restaurant is located on the western side of the Berowra Waters Ferry, and offers casual dining with a great menu, overlooking the marina and river. The restaurant is open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch, with dinner available on Friday through Sunday. The cafe is open 8:30 – 9pm Wed-Sun and closes at 3pm Mon & Tuesdays. Takeaway is also available, and the nearby reserve provides picnic tables, toilets, children’s playground and parking. Kayak hire is available from the marina building.
The Fish Café is located at 199 Bay Road, Berowra Waters, and the phone number is (02)9456 4665.
Maps for the Berowra to Berowra Waters walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
| Cowan | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91304N COWAN | NSW-91304N |
| Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map | 1:40 000 Map Series | CMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map | CMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map |
| Sydney | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9130 SYDNEY | 9130 |
Cross sectional view of the Berowra to Berowra Waters bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Berowra to Berowra Waters
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
| Length | 5.7 km | ||
| Time | 2 hrs 45 mins | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
| Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
| Experience Required | Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
2.2km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 1.9km is very steep. Whilst another 940m has short steep hills and the remaining 710m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
1.9km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.9km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. Whilst another 1.2km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and the remaining 710m follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 4.8km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 970m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 3.1km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 2.6km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 3.4km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 2.4km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Berowra to Berowra Waters walk starts at the Berowra Station (gps: -33.62318, 151.15328)Your transport options to Berowra Station are by;
Train. (get details)
Bus. (get details)
Car. Parking fees apply in the area.(get details)
The Berowra to Berowra Waters ends at the Berowra Waters trackhead (gps: -33.60055, 151.12561)
Your main transport option to Berowra Waters trackhead is by;
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/btbw
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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