Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KU-RING-GAI CHASE NATIONAL PARK
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
(
www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
;
admission per car $11) sits across Pit-
twater from the narrow peninsula containing Palm Beach and stretches for a vast 150-sq-km from Broken Bay.
On display is that classic Sydney cocktail of bushland, sandstone outcrops and water vistas, plus walking tracks,
horse-riding trails, picnic areas and Aboriginal rock engravings.
The park has over 100km of shoreline and several through roads (enter from Bobbin Head Rd, North Turra-
murra; Ku-ring-gai Chase Rd off Pacific Hwy, Mt Colah; or McCarrs Creek Rd, Terrey Hills). The
Palm Beach
Sat & Sun) leaves Palm Beach Wharf on the hour from at least 9am to 5pm, heading to The Basin (landing fee
$3) and other Pittwater wharves.
Staffed by friendly volunteers, the
Kalkari Discovery Centre
( 9472 9300; Ku-ring-gai Chase Rd;
9am-5pm) books walking tours and Aboriginal-led kayaking tours. It's 2.5km from the Mt Colah entrance. The
road descends from Kalkari to the Bobbin Head picnic area and
Bobbin Head Information Centre
( 9472
8949; Bobbin Head, Bobbin Inn; 10am-4pm) at the Bobbin Inn on Cowan Creek, then climbs to the Turra-
murra entrance. Also at Bobbin Head are a cafe and a mangrove boardwalk.
Elevated terrain offers glorious views over Cowan Creek, Broken Bay and Pittwater. The view from
West
Head
across Pittwater to Barrenjoey Lighthouse is a winner.
Normally elusive, lyrebirds are conspicuous at West Head during their mating season, from May to July. West
Head Rd also offers access to
Aboriginal engravings and handprints
: from the Resolute picnic area it's 100m
to some faint ochre handprints at Red Hands Cave. Another 500m along Resolute Track is an engraving site. A
3km loop from here takes in
Resolute Beach
and another engraving site. The Basin Track makes an easy stroll
to some well-preserved engravings; the Echidna Track (off West Head Rd) has boardwalk access to engravings.
