Bobbin Head to Mt Kuring-gai via Apple Tree Bay
Download & Print Map and Notes
2 hrs 30 mins
5.3 km One way
364 m
Hard track
Bobbin Inn Cafe
At the centre of Bobbin Head picnic area, in the old ‘Bobbin Inn’ building[1], is a cafe offering inside and outdoor dining[2], and a range of foods and drinks. Food includes fish and chips, wraps, focaccia, sandwiches and snack foods. Tea, coffee and cold drinks are also on offer. Opening hours are 9 – 4pm Mon to Fri (closed Tuesdays) & 9 – 5pm weekends. For more information, phone the cafe on 9457 7170.
The NPWS Bobbin Head Information Centre is open 7 days a week (closed Christmas Day) 10 – 4pm (closed 12 – 12:30pm lunch).
Ramp access[3][4] available on the southwestern corner of the building. Ramp access to the information centre through the cafe.
(0km) Bobbin Inn → Int of Apple Tree Bay Road and Harbour to Hawkesburry Track
1.2 km
27 mins
64m
-67m
Easy track
From Bobbin Inn[5], this walk heads to the front of the building to the ‘Information Centre’[6] to turn right and cross Bobbin Head Road[7]. Here the walk follows the ‘Apple Tree Bay’ signs[8] through the car park[9] and between the toilet block[10] (on your left) and ‘The Pavillion’[11] (on your right) for just over 100m to pass over a speed bump between six sandstone pillars[12]. The walk continues to follow the sealed road gently uphill for [13] 900m passing a few speed bumps to the top of the rise where the road bends left[14]. Here the walk continues downhill along the road for just over 150m to and intersection at the bottom of the signposted ‘Regional Office’ track[15] (on your left).
(1.16km) Int of Apple Tree Bay Road and Harbour to Hawkesbury Track → Apple Tree Bay Kiosk
170 m
3 mins
4m
-3m
Very easy
Continue straight: From the intersection at the bottom of the signposted ‘Regional Office’ track[16], this walk follows the sealed road gently downhill keeping the water and main valley to your right. After about 30m the road leads past a footpath (to a small gated marina[17], on your right) to continue down the road for 150m to the Apple Tree Bay car park[18]. Just across from the entrance this walk comes to a Kiosk and ‘Welcome to Apple Tree Bay’ sign[19].
(1.33km) Apple Tree Bay → Int of Mt Kuring-gai and Berowra Tracks
940 m
26 mins
82m
-66m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the kiosk[20], this walk heads across the eastern end of the car park[21], keeping the water to your right for just shy of 100m to pass the top of the boat ramp[22] and find the sheltered ‘Information’ sign[23]. Here the walk crosses Apple Tree Creek on the timber bridge[24] to find a small clearing and picnic area where this walk turns right following the ‘Berowra Track’ sign[25]. The walk soon leaves the metal fence and follows the rocky track and stone steps[26] for about 100m where the track then mostly flattens out[27] for another 100m to cross a small rock gully and grove of sassafras[28]. The track then crosses another gully and continues along the shore for just over 200m leaving the Apple Tree Bay where the track veers left over a small rise using some timber steps[29]. From here this walk continues along the shoreline in a similar manor for 300m to come to a constructed stone wall[30] and series of disused stone steps (on your left)[31]. This is the site of the historic Woodnutts Boatshed that was built in 1910. The rusting water tank and a few other relics remain[33].
Here the walk continues along the clear track along the shoreline for another 40m to the intersection at the bottom of the signposted ‘Mt Ku-ring-gai Track’[34] (on your left).
(2.27km) Int of Mt Kuring-gai and Berowra Tracks → Int of Lookout and Mt Kuring-gai Tracks
1.9 km
49 mins
190m
-13m
Hard track
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘MT Ku-ring-gai Track’ sign[35] up the rock and timber steps and past the small overhang[36]. The track leads fairly steeply up for 80m to then bend sharply right[37] and continue fairly steeply for another 200m to pass a natural rock wall[38] (on your left). Just 20m past this wall the track comes to a small flat area[39] with good views over Cowan Creek[40]. Here the walk continues more gently uphill along the rocky ridge line[41] for 300m where the track completely flattens out to pass along the side of a small hill[42] (on your left). Over the next 600m the track leads down across a saddle then up along the ridge to bend right onto[43] an exposed rock platform[44]. From there the sandy track soon bends left again to follow the ridge uphill for 100m to pass a small sandstone overhang[45] then continue up a long set of stone steps[46] where the sandy track mostly flattens out again[47]. Soon the track starts heading up more stone steps [48] for about 400m to pass between a large boulder (on your left) and along rock wall (on your right)[49]. At the end of this rock wall the track bends right and leads up the stone steps through the cleft in the rock[50] where the then mostly flat wide sandy track leads gently uphill for 250m to find a three-way intersection[51]
marked with a NPWS arrow post[52].
(4.2km) Int of viewpoint and Mt Kuring-gai Tracks → Apple Tree Bay Viewpoint
110 m
2 mins
0m
-14m
Moderate track
Turn left : From the intersection, the walk heads east away from the main trail[53] to follow the wide sandy track gently downhill. The track begins to narrow[54] and after about 100m the now rocky track comes to an unfenced rock platform[55] with good views down over Apple Tree Bay and down along Cowan Creek valley[56]. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer left.
(4.2km) Int of Lookout and Mt Kuringai Tracks → Corner of Harwood Avenue and Young Street
650 m
11 mins
5m
-12m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the face of the face of the NPWS arrow post[57] to head south west over a small rise and along the sandy management trail. The trail passes through open wooded forest for just over 600m to pass a ‘Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park – Mt Kuring gai Track’ sign[58] as the trail bends right where this walk heads around the green metal National Park gate[59]. Here the walk heads past a few houses to find the intersection of ‘Harwood Ave’ and ‘Young St’[60] (Mt Kuring-gai).
(4.85km) Corner of Harwood Avenue and Young Street → Mt Kuring-gai Railway Station
400 m
8 mins
19m
-1m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the corner of Harwood Avenue and Young Street, this walk follows Harwood Ave downhill along the footpath. The footpath then leads up past a ‘Seaview St’[61] and across ‘Low St’[62] to continue to the end of Harwood Ave to find a footbridge[63]. Here the walk crosses the the F3 freeway using the caged foot bridge[64] to head down the steps into a concrete tunnel[65]. Part way through the tunnel this walk comes to an intersection at the bottom of the steps at Mt Kuring-gai Railway Station. Here there is a sign that points back to ‘Mt Ku-ring-gai Walking Track’[66]
Maps for the Bobbin Head to Mt Kuring-gai via Apple Tree Bay 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 to Mt Kuring-gai via Apple Tree Bay bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Bobbin Head to Mt Kuring-gai via Apple Tree Bay
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 | 5.3 km | ||
| Time | 2 hrs 30 mins | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) | ||
| 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
2.7km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 1.9km is very steep. The remaining (580m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
2.9km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 1.7km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (650m) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 3.3km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 1.9km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 3.3km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.9km requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 5km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 3.3km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 1.9km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Bobbin Head to Mt Kuring-gai via Apple Tree Bay walk starts at the Bobbin Inn (gps: -33.659694, 151.15912)Your main transport option to Bobbin Inn is by;
Car. Parking fees apply in the area.(get details)
The Bobbin Head to Mt Kuring-gai via Apple Tree Bay ends at the Mt Kuring-gai Railway Station (gps: -33.653814, 151.13674)
Your transport options to Mt Kuring-gai Railway Station are by;
Train. (get details) Car. From Mt Ku-ring-gai Station it is possible to get away to either Hornsby to the South or Brooklyn and the Central Coast in the North using the Pacific Hwy. (get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/bhtmkvatb
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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