Bobbin Head Rainforest walk
Download & Print Map and Notes
40 mins
1.6 km Return
82 m
Moderate track
Bobbin Head
Bobbin Head is a historic recreation area which is still popular today, suiting the needs of many people. At the center of the Bobbin Head area is the old ‘Bobbin Inn’[1], built in the 1930s – it is now the park information center and cafe[2]. The area is popular with picnickers, boaters, walkers, canoeists, family groups and people who like to fish. Bobbin Head is roughly divided into three sections (north, south and east).
Southern Bobbin Head is a popular picnic area for families and large groups. The area is surrounded by a car park[3] and dotted with picnic tables[4][5], electric BBQs[6], shelters and a large playground[7]. There are toilets[8] nearby, and ‘The Station’ is a sheltered accessible area with BBQ and tables[9][10] that can be booked NPWS.
The northern Bobbin Head (Orchard Park)[12] area is a more formal picnic area. There is a large picnic shelter[13], surrounded by 14 smaller octagonal shelters[14], each of these divided into 4 walled-off compartments, ideal for small groups.
The eastern side of Bobbin Head is dominated by the Empire Marina[15] and a public wharf. The marina is home to a nice restaurant[16] and public toilets[17].
(0km) South End of Bobbin Head Park → End of the Mangroves Boardwalk
280 m
5 mins
9m
-8m
Very easy
From the far southern end of the Bobbin Head car park, this walk follows the footpath behind the ‘Gibberagong Track. Mangrove Boardwalk.’ sign[18] (away from the car park and picnic tables) for about 20m to the sheltered ‘Welcome to the Mangrove Boardwalk & Gibberagong Track’ information sign[19]. Here the walk continues along the patterned concrete path beside the water for just under 20m to pass a bench seat where the path bends right. After just shy of 20m the path leads past another bench seat to find a sandstone cave (with a 1.9m clearance[20])with a ‘Rock Solid?’ information sign[21]. Here the path bends left and crosses Cockle Creek on a cable-stayed foot bridge[22]. Enjoy the great water and cliff views from the bridge. The walk now follows the fenced timber boardwalk for about 25m to come to a viewing area[23] marked with a ‘Teeming with life’ information sign[24].
Continue straight: From the viewing area[25], this walk follows the timber boardwalk away from the fenced area initially keeping the main view of water to your left. This section of boardwalks does not have handrails or side capping. Over the next 100m the boardwalk winds among the mangroves and saltmarsh[26] and past the ‘Natural Recycler’[27] and ‘Land Developers?’[28] information signs to come to the end of the boardwalk[29], marked with a ‘More? You want more?’ information sign[30]. There is a turning area for wheelchairs at the end of the boardwalk.
Continue straight: From the viewing area[25], this walk follows the timber boardwalk away from the fenced area initially keeping the main view of water to your left. This section of boardwalks does not have handrails or side capping. Over the next 100m the boardwalk winds among the mangroves and saltmarsh[26] and past the ‘Natural Recycler’[27] and ‘Land Developers?’[28] information signs to come to the end of the boardwalk[29], marked with a ‘More? You want more?’ information sign[30]. There is a turning area for wheelchairs at the end of the boardwalk.
(0.28km) End of the Mangroves Boardwalk → Aboriginal Axe Grindings
330 m
8 mins
23m
-17m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the end of the boardwalk, this walk heads past the ‘More?’ sign and up the timber ramp[31]. The rocky track then leads past a small sand stone overhang[32] then up some steps that lead through a cleft in the rock[33]. Here the walk leads across the top of the rock platform then follows the track uphill for just shy of 300m to the top of a rise[34] where the is a unfenced[35] view over the water[36] (just of the track to your right)
Then over the next 80m the sandy track heads gently downhill along the ridge, before leading up a series of stone steps[37] where the track mostly flattens out to come to a the signposted Aboriginal ‘Axe Grinding Grooves’ site[38] (on a short detour track, on your left).
Aboriginal Axe Grindings
This protected site clearly shows 23 oval-shaped grooves that were worn by Indigenous Australian people, making axe heads from hard rock. Using a blank axe head, the Aboriginal people would use this rock platform, with water from the nearby creek, to sharpen the stone into a useful tool. The rubbing ground the axe head to a sharp edge and left behind these tell-tale signs. More info.
(0.6km) Aboriginal Axe Grindings → Int of Bobbin Head and Rainforest tracks
20 m
3m
0m
Easy track
(0.62km) Int of Bobbin Head and Rainforest tracks → Bobbin Head Rainforest
190 m
5 mins
15m
-7m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Rainforest 500m’ sign[41] gently uphill along the clear track heading south east. After about 60m the track starts to lead gently down the side of the hill among the grass tree and eucalypt forest[42] for about 100m before leading down a series of timber steps into the more densely forest gully[43]. Here the walk comes to a sandstone rock bed[44] and creek in a pleasant rainforest setting[45].
Bobbin Head Rainforest
A well-protected piece of rainforest is found just a short walk from the popular Bobbin Head picnic area in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. The rainforest is distinct when compared to much of the dry eucalypt forests that dominate the area. The rainforest is beside a small creek, just below Bobbin Head Road, and is a safe haven for many birds that frequent the area.
Maps for the Bobbin Head Rainforest walk 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.
| Hornsby | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91304S HORNSBY | NSW-91304S |
| 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 Bobbin Head Rainforest walk bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Bobbin Head Rainforest walk
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 | 1.6 km | ||
| Time | 40 mins | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 3/6 Moderate track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6) |
| Quality of track | Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) | ||
| Signs | Clearly signposted (1/6) | ||
| Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
Around 520m of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 300m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
520m of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 280m follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (20m) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
This whole walk, 820m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 820m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 820m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 820m 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 Bobbin Head Rainforest walk walk starts and ends at the South End of Bobbin Head Park (gps: -33.663293, 151.15709)Your main transport option to South End of Bobbin Head Park is by;
Car. A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/bhrw
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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