Berowra to Cowan via Berowra Waters
Download & Print Map and Notes6 hrs
884 m
Hard track
(0km) Berowra Station → Crowley Road track head
710 m
14 mins
25m
-15m
Very easy
(0.71km) Crowley Road track head → Int of Berowra service trail and Great North Walk
900 m
21 mins
18m
-106m
Moderate track
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 Naa Badu Lookout
1.4 km
34 mins
88m
-79m
Moderate 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.
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
(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 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 → Berowra Waters trackhead
2.2 km
1 Hr
140m
-262m
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.
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].
(5.72km) Berowra Waters trackhead → Berowra Waters Marina
480 m
9 mins
9m
-11m
Very easy
The Fish Café
Waterview Restaurant
(5.72km) Berowra Waters track head → End of Kirkpatrick Way
390 m
8 mins
10m
-15m
Very easy
(6.11km) End of Kirkpatrick Way → Berowra Waters view point
810 m
26 mins
127m
-24m
Hard track
Veer right: From the seat and view[124], this walk follows the ‘Cowan’ sign[125] steeply uphill, following the series of timber[126] and rock steps[127]. After about 50m, the track leads up beside a rock wall[128], and at the top, turns right and mostly flattens out[129] for about 80m before starting to climb again[130]. At the top of this hill, this walk comes to a small clearing[131] (on the left, that has been used as a campsite[132]) and a large unfenced rock platform with great views[133] back over the valley (on your right).
(6.93km) Berowra Waters view point → Int of GNW and Coreen Close western trail
1.2 km
41 mins
191m
-88m
Hard track
Continue straight: From beside the creek, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[141] east, away from the creek, up the steep rocky hill[142]. The track soon passes between two rock slabs[143], then passes a handrail to climb up two metal pegs beside some more hand railing[144]. The track then continues to climb up for another 50m before mostly flattening[145] out for about 150m. the track then starts to climb again and soon steps up a rock with two more metal pegs[146]. Then after another 70m, the track climbs up past a sandstone cave[147] and heads up a crack in the rock with four metal pegs[148], then just past the next cave[149], goes up another rock with a single peg[150]. A short time later, this walk leads up another rock with two pegs[151], where the track then leads up the steps through a cleft of a rock[152]. Here the track mostly flattens out and leads gently uphill for almost 200m until crossing a small saddle, marked with a two GNW arrow post beside each other[153]. The track then leads steeply up[154] to a fair sized rock platform, with rewarding views[155] back over Berowra Creek (on your left). From this view point, the track leads fairly gently uphill for almost 150m, coming to a T-intersection[156] with a wide sandy management trail.
(8.15km) Int of GNW and Coreen Close service trail → Int of ridge top campsite and GNW
220 m
4 mins
2m
-4m
Moderate track
Ridge Top Campground
(8.38km) Int of ridge top campsite and Great North Walk → Joe Crafts Creek crossing
1.7 km
37 mins
24m
-196m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection[170], this walk follows the GNW arrow post[171] east along the track as it leads very gently downhill along the top of the ridge. Over the next 300m, the track passes a rock platform[172] and comes to a second rock platform with more views[173] and a ‘Great North Walk’ log book box[174] on a post. After leaving your note (and reading through a few entries), this walk continues down along the top of the ridge for another 200m to step down off another rock platform[175] (ignoring the track to your left). Here the walk starts to head downhill for the next 1km – initially the track leads down a series of short rocky steep sections[176][177], and passes some interesting large rock boulders[178][179] along the way. As the track moves further into the valley, it becomes consistently steeper[180] until leading down leading into the ferns and beside Joe Crafts Creek[181][182].
(10.03km) Joe Crafts Creek crossing → Valley viewing area
660 m
26 mins
158m
-5m
Hard track
(10.69km) Valley viewing area → Int of GNW and Glendale Road
880 m
16 mins
25m
-14m
Moderate track
(11.56km) Int of GNW and Glendale Road → Int of GNW and Pacific Highway service trail
830 m
19 mins
33m
-59m
Moderate track
(12.4km) Int of GNW and Pacific Highway service trail → Cowan trackhead
500 m
11 mins
27m
-13m
Moderate track
Maps for the Berowra to Cowan via 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 Cowan via Berowra Waters bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Berowra to Cowan via 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 | 12.9 km | ||
Time | 6 hrs | ||
. | |||
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 | Forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6) | ||
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
5km of this walk is very steep and another 5km has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 1.3km has short steep hills and the remaining 1.3km is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
6km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 3.1km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. Whilst another 2.6km follows a clear and well formed track or trail and the remaining 1.1km follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 12km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 1.4km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 8km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 4.4km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
12km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation) and another 660m is affected by forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather events that may impact on navigation and safety. The remaining (390m) is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 9km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 3.7km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Berowra to Cowan via 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. There is free parking available.
(get details)
The Berowra to Cowan via Berowra Waters ends at the Cowan trackhead (gps: -33.593647, 151.17134)
Your transport options to Cowan trackhead are by;
Train. (get details)
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Metropolitan weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/bbwc
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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