Sphinx to Mt Kuring-gai
Download & Print Map and Notes4 hrs 45 mins
673 m
Hard track
Sphinx Memorial
(0.06km) Int of Sphinx Memorial Track and Sphinx service trail → Int of Sphinx walking Track and Service trail
10 m
0m
-1m
Easy track
(0.07km) Int of Sphinx walking Track and management trail → Int of Sphinx walking and Warrimoo Tracks
1.1 km
25 mins
17m
-140m
Moderate track
(1.12km) Int of Sphinx walking and Warrimoo Tracks → Int of Warrimoo and Bobbin Head Tracks
3.7 km
1 hr 32 mins
242m
-245m
Moderate track
(4.83km) Int of Warrimoo and Bobbin Head Tracks → Empire Marina
170 m
3 mins
6m
-5m
Easy track
Empire Marina – Galley Foods cafe
(5km) Empire Marina → Bobbin Inn
420 m
8 mins
13m
-10m
Very easy
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the driveway[76] out of the car park a short distance to the intersection with Bobbin Head Road, just beside the bridge. Here there is a toilet block[77] (ahead and on the left), a shelter and phone both[78] (just to your left).
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the footpath beside the road over the wide bridge[79], crossing Cowan Creek[80]. On the far side of the bridge, this walk continues beside the road along side ‘Orchard Park’[81] to pass a side road (on the left)[82]. Just 60m later along the main road (Ku-ring-gai Chase Road) this walk comes to the end of a small set of car parks just beside the ‘Bobbin Inn’ building[83] (on your left), home to cafe and ‘information centre’.
Bobbin Head
Bobbin Inn Cafe
(5.42km) Bobbin Inn Cafe → Bottom of the Birrawana track steps
160 m
4 mins
30m
0m
Easy track
(5.57km) Int of Birrawana track and Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Road → Int of Birrawana and Cockle Creek Lookout tracks
300 m
7 mins
38m
-10m
Hard track
(5.87km) Int of Birrawana and Cockle Creek Lookout tracks → Cockle Creek Lookout
110 m
3 mins
1m
-15m
Moderate track
Cockle Creek Lookout
(5.87km) Int of Birrawana and Cockle Creek Lookout tracks → Birrawana Loop Int (behind the Regional Office)
370 m
9 mins
24m
-25m
Moderate track
NPWS North Sydney Regional Office
(6.24km) Birrawana Loop Int (behind the Regional Office) → National Parks Regional Office
50 m
1 mins
2m
-2m
Easy track
Apple Tree Flat Picnic Area
(6.29km) National Parks Regional Office → Apple Tree Flat Picnic Area
40 m
1 mins
0m
-3m
Easy track
(6.33km) Apple Tree Flat Picnic Area → Apple Tree Flat Lookout
70 m
2 mins
0m
-12m
Easy track
Apple Tree Flat Lookout
(6.33km) Apple Tree Flat Picnic Area → Int of Apple Tree Bay Road and Apple Tree Flat bushtrack.
230 m
7 mins
1m
-60m
Moderate track
(6.56km) Int of Apple Tree Bay Road and Harbour to Hawkesbury Track → Apple Tree Bay Kiosk
170 m
3 mins
4m
-3m
Very easy
Apple Tree Bay
(6.73km) Apple Tree Bay → Int of Mt Kuring-gai and Berowra Tracks
940 m
26 mins
82m
-66m
Moderate track
(7.67km) 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
(9.6km) Int of Lookout and Mt Kuringai Tracks → Corner of Harwood Avenue and Young Street
650 m
11 mins
5m
-12m
Easy track
(10.25km) Corner of Harwood Avenue and Young Street → Mt Kuring-gai Railway Station
400 m
8 mins
19m
-1m
Easy track
Maps for the Sphinx to Mt Kuring-gai 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 Sphinx to Mt Kuring-gai bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Sphinx to Mt Kuring-gai
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 | 10.7 km | ||
Time | 4 hrs 45 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 | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
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 has short steep hills and another 2.3km has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 2.2km is very steep and the remaining 1.2km is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
9km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 1.1km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (1.1km) follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 7km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 3.3km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 8km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 3.1km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 6km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 4.8km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 7km 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 Sphinx to Mt Kuring-gai walk starts at the Sphinx Memorial (gps: -33.688678, 151.15581)Your transport options to Sphinx Memorial are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.
(get details)
The Sphinx to Mt Kuring-gai 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)
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/stmk
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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