Mount Kuring-gai to Berowra via the Berowra Track - Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

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Route: Mount Kuring-gai Station, Mount Ku-ring-gai Track, Firefighters Rest, Berowra Track, Winson Bay, Lords Bay, Waratah Bay, Waratah Creek, Berowra Station

Date: 25/01/2025
From: Mount Kuring-gai

Parking: N/A
Start Point: Mount Kuring-gai Station
Finish Point: Berowra Station
Region: Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Route length: 10.1 km
Time taken: 03:11
Average speed: 3.9 km/h
Ascent: 324m
Descent: 316m

Points of Interest: Firefighters Rest, Cowan Creek, Waratah Bay

The Mount Ku-ring-gai Track to Berowra Station is one of the best station to station walks in Sydney, offering beautiful scenery, Aboriginal and historic heritage in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Only an hour from Sydney, it’s a great bush getaway, taking in several fascinating historic sites. It's one of the more popular sections of the Great North Walk, both ends are accessible by train.

Footbridge over the M1 motorway

Starting the Mount Ku-ring-gai Track

The walk from Mount Kuring-gai to Berowra is equally enjoyable in either direction, with comparable elevation gain in either direction. However, the ascent/descent from Berowra is steeper than from Mount Kuring-gai, so this may be a factor in your decision. I began in Mount Kuring-gai where the Berowra Track begins as a wide, sandy fire trail. The trail remains fairly flat for around 1 km as it heads away from the station into the National Park.

Mount Ku-ring-gai Track

An unnamed lookout with a view eastwards

The trail narrows as it descends towards Cowan Creek. At the beginning of this descent, there's an unmarked path to the left leading to The Firefighters Rest. This memorial is dedicated to four National Parks and Wildlife Service officers who tragically lost their lives in 2000 after a hazard reduction burn flared out of control. Three other officers were severely injured.

Firefighters Rest

Firefighters Rest memorial

The Berowra Track steepens, featuring stone steps in a few sections. Along this section, I was lucky enough to spot a pair of Lyrebirds scratching around on the ground. The birds are notable for their impressive ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environment — even the sound of ambient background noise of a city. As the trail approaches the water, there are glimpses of Cowan Creek.

Mount Ku-ring-gai Track

Superb Lyrebird

Mount Ku-ring-gai Track

Cowan Creek

Cowan Creek

Apple Tree Bay

The Ku-ring-gai track intersects with the Berowra Track at the bottom of the slope. If you turn right, it's a short walk to Apple Tree Bay and Bobbin Head (however, this track is closed at the time of writing). Turning left leads you along the Berowra Track, which closely follows the shoreline of Cowan Creek on its way towards Berowra station. There are four bays fed by four small creeks that the path skirts on its journey north.

Mount Ku-ring-gai Track

Berowra Track

Cowan Creek

The first of the four bays is unnamed and is preceded by Cowan Creek View, where there's a sandstone platform alongside Cowan Creek. The path crosses a small creek before continuing around the next headland to Winson Bay. Just before crossing Winson Gully (the second creek), there's a sandstone ledge offering more views down Cowan Creek. 

Berowra Track alongside Cowan Creek

Berowra Track at the first unamed bay

Berowra Track

Cowan Creek

Cowan Creek

Winson Bay

Winson Bay

The third and smallest of the bays is Lords Bay. The trail then continues along a long section of coastline before following the last headland around to Waratah Bay, the final and largest of the four bays.

Cowan Creek

Berowra Track

Berowra Track

Cowan Creek

Waratah Bay

Waratah Bay is the location of a rusting metal structure that was once the home of Edward Windybank and his family. Windybank worked on the construction of the nearby railway line in the late 1880s. Windybank also named the bay and acquired a life-long lease to use it, going on to operate a boat building and hire business on site after the area was established as a national park.

Remains of the houseboat in Waratah Bay

Remains of the houseboat in Waratah Bay

Waratah Bay

From Waratah Bay, the track climbs to Berowra, first winding through shady forest alongside Waratah Creek. After crossing the old bridge site over the sandstone creek bed, the path ascends through stands of casuarina, eucalypts, and grass trees. The climb concludes at a footbridge leading to Berowra station, which spans the M1 Pacific Motorway.

Waratah Creek

Berowra Track

Berowra Track

Berowra Track

Berowra Track

For those who enjoy a good bush walk and stunning water vistas without the hassle of driving, the Berowra Track is a clear winner. Its unique advantage lies in how extensively it hugs the coastline, providing unparalleled and continuous water views. It's a great option for those who appreciate a long stroll in nature.