Established in 1894, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is Australia’s second-oldest national park, following the Royal National Park by 15 years.
Spanning an impressive 15,000 hectares, the park features lush rainforests, dramatic cliffs, mangroves, Aboriginal heritage sites, picnic spots, secluded beaches, scenic lookouts, mountain biking trails, and an array of walking tracks.
In this article, we highlight nine of the most beautiful walking tracks in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, ranging from 1 to 13 km in length.
| Walk | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Head Army Track | 1 km (return) |
| 2 | America Bay Track | 2 km (return) |
| 3 | West Head Lookout to Great Mackerel Beach | 4 km (return) |
| 4 | Cowan to Jerusalem Bay Walking Track | 5 km (return) |
| 5 | Resolute Beach Loop Track | 6 km (circuit) |
| 6 | Bairne TRack | 9.5 km (return) |
| 7 | Berowra to Mount Kuring-gai | 9.5 km (one-way) |
| 8 | Sphinx Memorial to Bobbin Head Loop | 10 km (circuit) |
| 9 | Gibberagong Walking Track | 13 km (return) |
1. West Head Army Track
Opened in 2016, the West Head Army Track is a short but challenging trail at West Head Lookout that leads to a historic WWII army battery.
A notable feature of this track is the steep ladder structure, designed to help visitors descend safely to the site of the historic West Head Army Battery.
At the battery, you can explore the gun emplacements and observation posts that were used during the Second World War to safeguard Australia’s coastline from potential threats.
Read more about this walk in our West Head Army Track article.
| West Head Army Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 1 km (return) |
| Duration: | 1 hour |
| Grade: | Moderate / hard (steep sections) |
2. America Bay Track
The America Bay Track, located in the West Head and Basin precincts of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, may be short, but it offers plenty of bushwalking goodness.
The highlight of this 2 km track is the lookout at the end, which offers sweeping views of America Bay. It’s also a great spot to enjoy a picnic surrounded by beautiful natural surroundings.
Along the way, you’ll encounter Aboriginal engravings, small waterfalls, creek crossings, and stunning natural scenery, making this short walk a rewarding experience.
Read more about this walk in our America Bay Track article.
| America Bay Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 2 km (return) |
| Duration: | 1 hour |
| Grade: | Easy |
3. West Head Lookout to Great Mackerel Beach
West Head Lookout in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park offers stunning views of Pittwater, Broken Bay, Barrenjoey Headland, Palm Beach, and the Central Coast.
From this lookout, a 2 km (one-way) walking trail leads to Great Mackerel Beach, a secluded suburb resembling a remote holiday retreat, with a small population of just over 100.
Before reaching Great Mackerel Beach, the trail passes the secluded West Head and Resolute beaches, offering perfect spots for a quiet swim.
Read more about this walk in our West Head Lookout article.
| West Head Lookout to Great Mackerel Beach | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 4 km (return) |
| Duration: | 2 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate |
4. Cowan to Jerusalem Bay Walking Track
The Cowan to Jerusalem Bay Track is a scenic bushwalk in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, leading to a beautiful bay on Cowan Creek.
This 2.5 km trail is quite challenging, as it features some steep sections as you descend to the bay, where you’ll be treated to fantastic water views.
The walk is a short section of the iconic Great North Walk, a 250 km walking track that connects Sydney, the Hunter Valley, and Newcastle.
Public transport is the easiest way to access the trail, with the starting point located just opposite Cowan Station. Follow the signs for the Great North Walk to find the trailhead.
Read more about this walk in our Jerusalem Bay Walking Track article.
| Cowan to Jerusalem Bay Walking Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 5 km (return) |
| Duration: | 2 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate |
5. Resolute Beach Loop Track
Resolute Beach is one of Sydney’s most picturesque secluded beaches, nestled just south of the West Head Lookout. This 60-metre stretch of sand boasts calm, rock-free waters, making it ideal for a peaceful swim.
The beach is also a favourite landing spot for leisure boats, with many visitors arriving from Palm Beach to enjoy a quiet afternoon in the sun.
The best way to experience Resolute Beach is by tackling the 6 km Resolute Beach Loop Track, an exciting bushwalk that takes in Aboriginal engravings, scenic lookouts, and secluded beaches.
Read more about this walk in our Resolute Beach Loop Track article.
| Resolute Beach Loop Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 6 km (circuit) |
| Duration: | 2.5 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate |
6. Bairne Track
The Bairne Track is a relatively easy bushwalking trail starting from West Head Road that leads to two scenic lookouts.
This 9.5 km return track follows a fire trail for most of the way, but the surrounding bushland and the rewarding views at the lookouts make this a pleasant walk.
Bairne Lookout is the main attraction, and offers superb views over Pittwater, the Palm Beach peninsula, Towlers Bay, and Scotland Island.
The second lookout, Soldiers Point, is slightly less impressive, but the views over the coastline of the West Head and Basin areas of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park are quite special.
Read more about this walk in our Bairne Walking Track article.
| Bairne Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 9.5 km (return) |
| Duration: | 2.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate |
7. Berowra to Mount Kuring-gai
The challenging walking track between Berowra and Mount Kuring-gai is perfect for both seasoned bushwalkers and casual outdoor enthusiasts looking for a rewarding day out.
With train stations at both Berowra and Mount Kuring-gai offering regular train services, there’s no need to retrace your steps after completing the walk.
The track largely follows the scenic shoreline of Cowan Creek, with several excellent lookout points along the way. A short side trip to Apple Tree Bay is optional but highly recommended, especially if it’s your first visit.
Apple Tree Bay is a popular weekend spot, featuring a boat ramp, ample parking, large picnic areas with BBQs, a small kiosk, drinking water, toilet facilities, and plenty of shady trees to relax under.
| Berowra to Mount Kuring-gai | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 9.5 km (one-way) |
| Duration: | 4 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate / hard |
8. Sphinx Memorial to Bobbin Head Loop
The 10 km Sphinx Memorial to Bobbin Head Loop via the Warrimoo Track offers an exciting bushwalk through a variety of landscapes in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
One half of the loop, the Warrimoo Track, follows the picturesque shoreline of Cowan Creek, while the other half, the Bobbin Head trail, is a fire trail winding through a forest of gum trees.
While you can begin this loop at Bobbin Head, starting at the Sphinx Memorial in North Turramurra is often more practical.
The best section of the loop is the Warrimoo Track, where you’ll enjoy thriving forests, rock formations, mangroves, and scenic water views.
Read more about this walk in our Sphinx Memorial to Bobbin Head Loop article.
| Sphinx Memorial to Bobbin Head Loop | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 10 km (circuit) |
| Duration: | 4 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate / hard |
9. Gibberagong Walking Track
The Gibberagong Track is a popular bushwalk that begins at Bobbin Head.
The walk starts with the Bobbin Head mangrove boardwalk, which winds through saltwater mangroves along Cockle Creek.
From there, the track extends to North Wahroonga, passing through thriving bushland with a large waterhole as one of its highlights.
The Gibberagong Track is ideal for adventurous bushwalkers who enjoy birdwatching and spotting wildlife along the way.
| Gibberagong Walking Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 13 km (return) |
| Duration: | 5 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate / hard |
Thank you for the helpful information. How can we join bush walking groups?
Hi Ali, Meetup and Facebook are great resources for bushwalking groups in and around Sydney, including Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
These look great, thanks for the info.
Which of these do you think would be best for training for the Kokoda track, or can you recommend others?
Cheers,
Dave
Hello David, the Kokoda track is on a whole different level, very exciting.
From this list, the most challenging hike would be the Cowan to Brooklyn walking track, it’s quite a tough and long bushwalk.
Even better, when you get to Brooklyn, have a rest, then turn around and walk back! Take a head torch.
Are there any hike trails in Kuring-gai NP where you can bush camp overnight?
Hello Marshall,
I believe the only spot in Ku-ring-gai Chase where you’re allowed to camp is at the Basin campground, which is accessible via the Basin walking trail or otherwise via ferry, as it’s facing Pittwater.
Hope this helps!