Bungaroo Track, Middle Harbour Creek & The Cascades
Located just a stone’s throw from the leafy streets of St Ives, Garigal National Park feels worlds away from the bustle of Sydney. I spent the day exploring the Bungaroo Track—an ancient, rugged path that winds along the undeveloped shores of Middle Harbour Creek—to reach the stunning series of waterfalls known as The Cascades. Whether you’re looking to squeeze through sandstone narrows or find the perfect rock pool for a summer dip, here is my detailed trail guide for tackling one of the most rewarding hikes in the park.
Bungaroo Track, Middle Harbour Creek & The Cascades
📍 GARIGAL NATIONAL PARK
Distance17.3 km
Duration04:13 hrs
Elev Gain+474 m
Elev Lost-474 m
Date
25 June 2023
Starting Point
Lawson Parade, St Ives
Difficulty
Moderate
Pace / Gear
4.4 km/h — Full day pack
Highlights
Bungaroo, The Cascades
🗺️ Interactive Route MapPinch or use wheel to zoom
I’ve been consciously exploring Garigal National Park, a sprawling wilderness surrounding Middle Harbour Creek. Because the rugged, steep shores of the bay and its many coves were largely overlooked by early European settlers, much of the shoreline remains surprisingly undeveloped, even today. For this hike, I was keen to check out The Cascades—arguably one of the national park's premier highlights.
I started the day on the leafy streets of the suburb of St Ives, located west of Middle Harbour and Garigal National Park. After a bit of manoeuvring, I was ready to begin my exploration by descending the Pipeline Track and the Bungaroo Track to reach Middle Harbour Creek. Ignoring the Pipeline Track—which follows a large Sydney Water sewer main—I opted for the neighbouring Bungaroo Track, which is one of the prettiest paths in the national park.
One of the bushland reserves near St Ives
The native bush around St Ives
The Bungaroo Track descends steeply through rocky outcrops to the creek, where permanent stepping stones provide a crossing across the channel. It was near this spot in 1788 that early European settlers first made camp after exploring the length of Middle Harbour Creek. At the time, it was described as “the most desert, wild, and solitary seclusion the imagination can form any idea of”—though things have certainly changed a little since then.
The pipeline at the entrance to Garigal National Park
The Bungaroo Track runs parallel to the Pipeline Track
Looking down towards Middle Harbour Creek
The Bungaroo Track
Power lines are a reminder that you are not far from Sydney
The Bungaroo Track
After crossing the stepping stones, you will encounter a divergence in the paths. Heading west continues the trek towards The Cascades via the Middle Harbour Track. Conversely, the eastern route guides you along the Governor Phillip Track toward Middle Harbour—a superb route that I had the opportunity to explore not long ago.
Middle Harbour Creek
The stepping stones across Middle Harbour Creek
The stones that form the crossing are cemented in place but will be submerged if the creek floods
Following the Middle Harbour Track alongside the creek is a bit of an adventure, passing beneath several sandstone overhangs and squeezing through the occasional gap in the rocks—tight enough that you have to take off your pack. All the while, there are plenty of views of the creek, and before long, I arrived at The Cascades.
Middle Harbour Creek
Middle Harbour Creek
The Middle Harbour Track
Sandstone outcrops along the Middle Harbour Track
A narrow squeeze
Middle Harbour Creek
Approaching The Cascades
Middle Harbour Creek
Middle Harbour Creek
The Cascades are a series of small waterfalls centred around a rock platform at the meeting point of Middle Harbour Creek and Frenchs Creek. Depending on the time of year and recent rainfall, the rock platforms, pools, and waterfalls can be completely submerged or almost entirely exposed. Both states are beautiful, but dry weather offers more opportunity to wander and explore.
The large pool below The Cascades
The Cascades
The Cascades
The Cascades
On a dry day, there will be plenty to explore
Frenchs Creek
After wandering around the Cascades for a while, I continued on my way, heading further north. The wide management track from The Cascades follows the course of Bare Creek until it reaches the Heath Trail. At the junction of the two tracks is a third path which climbs out of the valley.
The Cascades Trail links to the Bare Creek Trail
On the Bare Creek Trail
Bare Creek
Bare Creek
The path climbs through the trees to the interestingly named Tree Loppers Tip Trail—I assume the name is a reference to past logging in the area. While the name is intriguing, the trail itself is fairly uninspiring as it makes an unassuming traverse around the head of Middle Harbour Creek. The wide fire trail is far more popular with runners and mountain bikers than it is with hikers.
Treeloppers Tip Trail
Treeloppers Tip Trail
Power lines over Middle Harbour Creek
The trail emerges onto Kitchener Street in St Ives once again. I was intent on reaching City View, a lookout adjacent to Acron Oval and the beginning of the Cascades Trail, which can be reached by following the gridded streets of the suburb. Much of the view is currently hidden behind a thick stand of trees; however, I’m told that on a clear day, you can see the Sydney skyline and the Harbour Bridge.
City View has a peak at the towers of Greater Sydney
From the lookout, it was only a short distance back to where I had left the car that morning. While this is a pleasant hike, I wouldn't rush to repeat the northern section around the Tree Loppers Tip Trail. The Cascades, on the other hand, are superb and well worth a visit. For any Sydney locals, they look to be a perfect spot for some summer swimming.
If you’re planning to tackle this loop, I recommend starting early to make the most of the time spent rock-hopping and exploring the pools at The Cascades. While the northern fire trails are purely for logging the kilometres, the heart of Garigal National Park remains one of the most rewarding wilderness pockets in Sydney. Pack your swimmers, bring some sturdy footwear for the sandstone sections, and enjoy a side of the bush that feels a million miles away from the city.
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