Warrimoo Track to the Sphinx

(0km) End of Warrimoo Ave → Sonja Huddles Chair

1.4 km
28 mins
7m
-115m

Moderate track

From the car park, this walk follows the management trail through the bush for a while before winding down a gentle hill and coming to the signposted intersection with the Darri track.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the Bobbin Head arrow along the service trail (heading north west). The trail meanders through the bush for a while before winding steadily down a long hill to the end of the ridge. Here, the trail comes to a Memorial Chair at a lookout over Cowan Creek.

(1.37km) Sonja Huddles Chair → Int of Sphinx walking Track and management trail

1.6 km
37 mins
152m
-74m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the Memorial Chair, the walk heads down the rock steps and follows the bush track. The track winds steeply down the rocky hill and crosses Cowan Creek at the stepping stones. The track then continues along the edge of the creek (keeping the creek to the right) until coming to the signposted intersection with the Sphinx Track.
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Sphinx Track – Nth. Turramurra’ sign[1] uphill along the clear rocky track. The track zig-zags quite steeply up a series of timber and stone steps[2] for almost 250m to then pass under the high tension power lines[3]. Here the track gently undulates along the side of the hill crossing a few pleasant rock platforms[4] for 130m to cross a small often dry creek on a sandstone rock platform[5]. Now the track leads gently uphill along the side of the valley among the grass trees[6] for almost 200m to cross a usually larger but still fairly small creek on a sandstone rock platform[7]. The walk then heads up a series of and carved stone and timber steps[8] for about 50m where the track mostly flattens out[9] for about 30m to come to a shallow sandstone overhang[10] (on your left). Just shy of 150m past this cave, the track leads between two tall eucalyptus[11] then follows the rocky track[12] and series of timber steps[13] uphill for another 300m to a T-intersection with a wide trail, marked with a ‘Sphinx Walking Track’ sign[14] pointing back down the track.

(2.94km) Int of Sphinx walking Track and Service trail → Int of Sphinx Memorial Track and Sphinx service trail

10 m
1m
0m

Easy track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads gently uphill along the wide trail, for just over 10m to an intersection with an asphalted path (on your left), marked with a ‘Sphinx Fire Trail’[15] sign pointing back down the trail.

(2.95km) Int of Sphinx Memorial Track and Sphinx fire trail → Sphinx Memorial

60 m
1 mins
6m
0m

Easy track

Turn left: From the intersection this walk follows the asphalt footpath, gently uphill directly away from the face of the ‘Sphinx Fire Trail’[16] sign. The footpath leads for about 50m to head behind the picnic tables[17] and come to the sandstone ‘Sphinx Memorial’[18].

Sphinx Memorial

Private Shirley spent one and a half years carving this monument whilst a patient of the Lady Davidson Convalescent Hospital. William Shirley was in hospital, being treated after serving in WW1. Shirley died in 1929, leaving this memorial to fallen A.I.F. comrades. “To my glorious comrades of the A.I.F by the late W. Shirley No 5756 Pte. 13th Battalion Died 27th August 1928” More info.

(3.01km) Sphinx Memorial → Int of Memorial Rd and Sphinx Track

90 m
2 mins
9m
0m

Easy track

Veer right: From the picnic ground, this walk heads south-west, uphill along the footpath, until emerging onto the Sphinx Memorial Drive. At this point, there is a gate and a sign giving information on the local walks.

(3.1km) Int of Memorial Rd and Sphinx Track → Int of Bobbin Head and the Sphinx Roads

280 m
5 mins
14m
0m

Easy track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the road, heading up the long gentle hill. The road flattens out and passes through some metal gates, coming to the intersection with Bobbin Head Road. The NPWS toll booth is just to the left.

Maps for the Warrimoo Track to the Sphinx 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 Warrimoo Track to the Sphinx bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Warrimoo Track to the Sphinx

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	3.4 km
		Time	1 hr 30 mins
		.
Grade 3/6 Moderate track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		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

1.7km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 1.6km has short steep hills. The remaining (95m) is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

2.4km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 530m follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (430m) follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs

Around 2.3km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 1.1km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 2.4km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 960m requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 2.3km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 1.1km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

Around 1.8km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 1.6km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Warrimoo Track to the Sphinx walk starts at the End of Warrimoo Ave (gps: -33.700621, 151.16556)
Your transport options to End of Warrimoo Ave are by;

Bus. (get details)

Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)

The Warrimoo Track to the Sphinx ends at the Int of Bobbin Head and the Sphinx Roads (gps: -33.688744, 151.15235)
Your transport options to Int of Bobbin Head and the Sphinx Roads are by;

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

Download Pdf

Open iPhone app

Short URL = http://wild.tl/wttts

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 🙂

Warrimoo Track to the Sphinx

(0km) End of Warrimoo Ave → Sonja Huddles Chair

Moderate track

(1.37km) Sonja Huddles Chair → Int of Sphinx walking Track and management trail

Moderate track

(2.94km) Int of Sphinx walking Track and Service trail → Int of Sphinx Memorial Track and Sphinx service trail

Easy track

(2.95km) Int of Sphinx Memorial Track and Sphinx fire trail → Sphinx Memorial

Easy track

Sphinx Memorial

(3.01km) Sphinx Memorial → Int of Memorial Rd and Sphinx Track

Easy track

(3.1km) Int of Memorial Rd and Sphinx Track → Int of Bobbin Head and the Sphinx Roads

Easy track

Maps for the Warrimoo Track to the Sphinx walk

Cross sectional view of the Warrimoo Track to the Sphinx bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Warrimoo Track to the Sphinx

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Some more details of this walks Grading

Gradient

Quality of track

Signs

Experience Required

weather

Infrastructure

Similar walks

Other Nearby walks

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

Fire Danger

Weather Forest

Park Information & Alerts

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