Looking for the ultimate canyon adventure with your dog? While Blue Mountains National Park strictly bans pets, the stunning Centennial Glen and Colliers Causeway loop in Blackheath is dog-friendly on-lead. This spectacular, rugged circuit plunges you and your pup straight into a Jurassic wonderland of deep sandstone slot canyons, hidden waterfalls, and lush rainforest gullies. Grab the leash and get ready to explore hidden gems like The Grotto and the breathtaking cliff edges of Fort Rock alongside your best four-legged friend.
Centennial Glen, Colliers Causeway & Porters Pass
📍 BLUE MOUNTAINS
Distance6.0 km
Duration02:12 hrs
Elev Gain+428 m
Elev Lost-430 m
Date
01 March 2025
Starting Point
Centennial Glen Road
Difficulty
Moderate
Pace / Gear
3.2 km/h — Light day pack
Highlights
Walls Ledge, The Grotto, Slippery Dip Falls, Porters Pass, Centennial Glen
🗺️ Interactive Route MapPinch or use wheel to zoom
At the headwaters of Centennial Glen Creek is Centennial Glen, a beautiful sandstone gorge that is home to a popular climbing area and one of the area's best short hikes. If you're seeking a bit of adventure, look no further than the Centennial Glen, Colliers Causeway and Porters Pass loop. This short trail boasts a remarkable mix of landscapes along its 6 km length: dramatic cliff lines, verdant rainforests, and a pretty little waterfall nestled within a narrow slot canyon. And, it's dog-friendly too, so Fido can enjoy it as well.
Parking for Centennial Glen is along Centennial Glen Road. While still a lesser-visited trail, there is a popular climbing area nearby, so the road can get busy. A small toilet block stands at the beginning of the man path, with a few others shooting off in different directions. We began with a direct descent towards the glen, however, there is a longer route along the Walls Ledge Loop Track which I'd recommend. There are some fine views of the Kanimbla Valley as you make your way down towards the glen.
Heading for Centennial Glen
There are plenty of signs along the way
Decisions, decisions
The Kanimbla Valley
Above Centennial Glen
A steep set of metal steps take you into the depths of the glen, meeting a signed path at the bottom. Before continuing the main walk, a short detour leads into a dark slot canyon (The Grotto) with a beautiful little waterfall at the far end. Reaching the waterfall requires a tricky shuffle along a rock shelf with a short, awkward move around an outcrop of rock. It's little exposed, though a fall may lead to little more than getting wet. Conversely, you could walk directly along the creek if you wish.
Getting to the canyon requires descending some steep steps
The Grotto
The Grotto
The Grotto — a panorama taken from the rock shelf
After exploring The Grotto, we returned to the track junction and continued in the direction of Colliers Causeway. The path makes a spectacular descent alongside the lower waterfalls of Centennial Glen Creek – the amusingly named Slippery Dip Falls. The carved stone steps and metal rails get you close to the action as they twist and turn their way to Colliers Causeway.
Centennial Glen Creek
The path squeezes between these large rocks
The narrow canyon above Slippery Dip Falls
Perfect place for a paddle
Time for a swim
Centennial Glen Creek
At the top of Slippery Dip Falls
At the top of Centennial Pass
Centennial Glen Creek
Colliers Causeway is one of the less well-publicised tracks in the Blackheath area of the Blue Mountains and is quite spectacular in its own right. It passes beneath the occasional overhanging cliff or waterfall as it winds along a sequence of ledges and terraces. Though the overall length is quite short, Colliers Causeway possesses a great deal of variety along its length. It's quite rough in places and slower going than you might expect.
Colliers Causeway
Colliers Causeway
Colliers Causeway
Colliers Causeway
The walls of the Kanimbla Valley
We soon arrived at the base of Porters Pass, one of the oldest tracks in the Blue Mountains, dating back to 1888, though it is probable that Indigenous people pioneered the routes down the western escarpment thousands of years before. Steps, typical of the national park, make a steep climb up the Porters Pass gully. At the top of the gully is Lamberts Lookout (located just off the main track) which has a sweeping view of the valley from one of the many rock outcrops.
The beginning of Porters Pass
Lamberts Lookout
Porters Pass
The top of Porters Pass
From the top of the pass, the route climbs a little further before dropping again, crossing an open expanse of hillside with wonderful views across the Megalong and Kanimbla Valleys. This is the Cliff Top Track and which leads to Fort Rock, a large, isolated rock at a junction of several other paths.
Cliff Top Track
Kanimbla Valley
Cliif Top Track
Fort Rock
Shortly after Fort Rock is another junction in the track. The right hand fork (which actually turns back on itself) delves back down into Centennial Glen and involves losing some of your hard-earned elevation. Otherwise, staying the course will take you to Delaney Reserve and a small waterfall on Centennial Glen Creek - perfect some more doggy splashing around.
Sugarloaf Mountain in the distance
Kanimbla Valley views
Cooling off some hot paws in Centennial Glen Creek
From the creek, it's a fairly easy 700m back to the car park, following a path that cuts across the hillside below Ambo Street, emerging back at the toilet block I mentioned earlier.
Centennial Glen is a highly recommended hike, particularly if you're after a less touristy experience. It provides an exceptional combination of traditional Blue Mountains characteristics, such as rainforest gullies, escarpments, and open heathland. While not as well-known as some other popular hikes, Centennial Glen/Porters Pass area is a favourite among those who have tackled it.
Escape the crowds and discover the ultimate Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park circuit with this diverse 13.3km multi-track loop. Starting from the ridges of North Turramurra, this moderate-grade Sydney day hike masterfully links the Gibberagong Track, Warrimoo Track, and Sphinx Track into a spectacular journey through deep sandstone gorges, rich mangrove ecosystems, and historic waterways. Whether you're navigating the rugged, boulder-lined banks of Cockle Creek, crossing the lively hub of Bobbin Head, or paying your respects at the poignant, hidden Sphinx Memorial, this rewarding trek offers the perfect half-day challenge just a stone's throw from Sydney's northern suburbs.
The Gibberagong, Warrimoo and Sphinx Tracks
📍 KU-RING-GAI CHASE NATIONAL PARK
Distance13.3 km
Duration4:03 hrs
Elev Gain+359 m
Elev Lost-362 m
Date
07 October 2024
Starting Point
North Turramurra
Difficulty
Moderate
Pace / Gear
4.0 km/h — Full day pack
Highlights
Cockle Creek, Bobbin Head, Cowan Water, Sphinx Memorial
🗺️ Interactive Route MapPinch or use wheel to zoom
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park lies just 25 km north of Sydney's CBD. The park gets its name from the Guringai Aboriginal people, who were long thought to be the traditional owners of the area, with the word 'Chase' meaning the area is open, unfenced bushland. The national park is the third oldest in Australia (The Royal National Park, to the south of Sydney, being the oldest, having been initially declared in 1879).
There are many hiking trails through the national park. This one involves a series of tracks along two of the river valleys which flow together at Bobbin Head, a large waterside area with a car park that is popular with boaters, paddlers, and hikers, like me. However, while I intended to start at Bobbin Head, the queue of traffic at the entry gate suggested I'd have to make an alternative plan: starting from North Turramurra instead.
The entry to the Murrua Trail
The small, wealthy suburb of North Turramurra takes its name from an Aboriginal word meaning 'big hill' or 'high place,' which describes the area's location above Cockle Creek and Cowan Water. After a bit of messing around in the retirement village (trying to find a way through), I eventually found my way to the Murrua Side Trail and the subsequent Murrua Trail, that leads downhill towards Cockle Creek.
Murrua Side Trail
Murrua Trail
Murrua Trail
Australian water dragon
The Murrua Track emerges at Gibberagong waterhole, a shady spot on a bend of Cockle Creek where the river is wide and shallow. It joins the Gibberagong Track, a well-maintained track that leads to Bobbin Head, following the course of the beautiful Cockle Creek. Occasionally, the path hugs the very edge of the water but mostly sits slightly elevated above the creek, ducking, and weaving around trees, bush, and sandstone outcrops for a number of kilometres.
The Murrua Trail leads directly to the Gibberagong Track
Gibberagong waterhole
Gibberagong waterhole
Cockle Creek
Gibberagong Track
Cockle Creek
Gibberagong translates as 'place of rocks' due to the abundance of rocks, you'll see these all the way along Cockle Creek. Eventually, the path climbs away from the creek to a site of Aboriginal interest a short distance later. On one side of the path is a curious carving of a person, which appears to be wearing a skirt — perhaps representing a European woman. On the opposite side of the track are a series of axe-grinding grooves and a shallow bowl, used to collect rainwater.
Cockle Creek
Cockle Creek
Cockle Creek
Cockle Creek
Cockle Creek
Cockle Creek
Gibberagong Track
Aboriginal carving rock
Aboriginal carvings
The Gibberagong Track descends some large steps into a thick stand of mangroves punctuated by a wooden boardwalk, bringing you closer to the complex saltwater ecosystem. The boardwalk leads to a footbridge, which will take you to Bobbin Head.
Above Cockle Creek
Cockle Creek
Foleys Bay
Mangrove boardwalk
Mangrove boardwalk
Gibberagong Track
Gibberagong Track
Bobbin Head is a historic recreation area that is very popular today and suits the needs of many people: picnickers, boaters, kayakers, hikers, etc., etc. (It was packed today, being a sunny public holiday). The Bobbin Inn was built in the 1930s and is now a park information centre and café in the middle of the Bobbin Head area.
Cockle Creek
Cockle Creek
Bobbin Head
Empire Marina
Bobbin Inn
From Bobbin Head you can pick up the Warimoo Track behind Empire Marina. The track undulates along the side of the hill close to Cowan Water, crossing several small gullies before passing along a long natural sandstone wall and below a notable sandstone overhang. You are never far from the beautiful waters of the creek.
A Goanna on the Warimoo Track — best left in peace
Warimoo Track
Cowan Creek
Warimoo Track
Cowan Creek
Warimoo Track
Cowan Creek
Warimoo Track
Warimoo Track
In total, the Warimoo Track is around 3.7 km long as it follows Cockle Creek. There are numerous vantage points where you'll get some superb views of the creek before you reach the bottom of the Sphinx Track.
Cowan Creek
Cowan Creek
Cowan Creek
Warimoo Track
Warimoo Track
Cowan Creek
Cowan Creek
The Sphinx Track provides the link between Cowan Water and the Sphinx Memorial, making a short climb out of the valley. The climb isn't too steep and doesn't take long to tackle, emerging at the Sphinx Memorial close to the national park entry gate.
On the Sphinx Track
The trunk of a Sydney red gum
Sphinx Track
The Sphinx Memorial, as its name suggests, is a 1.5 m high replica of the Great Sphinx of Egypt. It was carved out of sandstone in the 1920s by William Shirley, a returned soldier, in memory of fallen comrades. The Sphinx took one and a half years to complete. Shirley died in 1929, leaving an unusual legacy in stone for all who pass through the area.
Sphinx Memorial
Sphinx Memorial
Sphinx Memorial
Entry to the Sphinx Memorial
From the historic site of the memorial, it was just a straightforward, easy road walk back to North Turramurra, where the car was parked, bringing a classic day out on the trail to a close. Linking the Gibberagong Track, Warrimoo Track, and Sphinx Track creates a truly premier Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park circuit that beautifully showcases the diversity of the region. It offers a fantastic, medium-grade half-day trek for bushwalkers looking to test their legs against scenic elevation changes while soaking in incredible harbour views, thriving intertidal boardwalks, and irreplaceable cultural history. If you're looking for a rewarding, varied, and easily accessible Sydney day hike that delivers a proper bush escape right on the edge of Sydney's northern suburbs, this spectacular 13.3km multi-track loop hits every single mark.
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