Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Crosslands to Berowra Waters return hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Crosslands to Berowra Waters return
Time:
6 Hrs
8 km N of Hornsby
Length:
12.2 km
Berowra Valley Regional Park
Climb:
827 m
Style:
Return
This day return walk starts from the Crosslands Reserve and follows the Great North Walk north along side Berowra creek across boardwalks and bushtracks, climbing up the side of the valley and coming back down into Berowra Waters. Here you can enjoy luch by Berowra Creek at the Garden House restaurant, or catch the free ferry across to the other the fish cafe on the opposite side.
Please note: This is a 'return' style walk and therefore these graphs only show the terrain for the first half of the walk (until the turn around point.)
Cross sectional view of the Crosslands to Berowra Waters return bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Crosslands to Berowra Waters return bushwalking track
Crosslands Reserve is a long stretch of land spanning along the edge of Berowra Creek that has been incorperated into the Berowra Valley National Park. The facilities that Crosslands offer are sheltered and unsheltered picnic tables, electric barbeques, toilets, ample parking, and a childrens playground and bicycle track, however do not dispair campers because there are large flat grassy areas all over the reserve, providing you with the ability to camp pretty much wherever you like. There are camping fees involved for those staying over night (including those accidently locked in after dark), these are $9.00 per night for adults and $6.00 for children (infants under 4 are free). As i said before the gate does lock at 5.30pm EST and 7.30pm (daylight savings time).
(0 km) Crosslands Carpark to Crosslands North Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - Bush Track
Distance = 0.5 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = -2 m
From the intersection the track follows the carpark all the way down to the end and continues along the gravel path north through the reserve to the intersection of the Great North Walk boardwalk at the far northern end of the reserve.
(0.48 km) Crosslands North to Int of Hawkesbury Lookout Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - duckboard
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 10 m
Descent = -8 m
From the northern end of Crosslads Reserve the track follows the Great North Walk sign along the boardwalk winding through the mangroves to a bushtrack which leads to another boardwalk that the track follows through to the 'Y' intersection of the Berowra Creek lookout.
Berowra Creek Lookout
Alt = 4
This lookout marks the end of a great wheelchair accessable walk starting from the northern end of the Crosslands Reserve, and looks out across Berowra Creek. There are also information signs about the local flaura and fauna at and around the lookout.
(0.7 km) Int of Hawkesbury Lookout to Int of Great North Walk and Mt Kuring-Gai Link tracks Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.8 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 39 m
Descent = -41 m
From the intersection the track heads south off the boardwalk and along the bushtrack winding up and down along side the creek until it turns up the side of the valley, and all the way up the steps to the intersection of the Great North Walk and the Somerville Ridge track. From the intersection the track follows the Great North Walk arrow down the hill, zigzagging down the wooden steps to the river where it crosses at the long bridge and comes to the intersection of the Mt Kuring-Gai Link track.
(1.48 km) Int of Great North Walk and Mt Kuring-Gai Link tracks to Int of Naa Badu Lookout Track: Hard - duckboard, servicetrail
Distance = 2 km
Time = 1 Hrs
Climb = 266 m
Descent = -127 m
From the intersection the track follows the berowra waters sign onto and all the way along the boardwalk running through a large flat plain of reeds and long grass to a bushtrack which it follows around the plain, winding back to the creek and following it around until it turns uphill and continues up and over the top, coming down the other side to a creek crossing. From the creek crossing the track winds up the other side, zigzagging all the way up the other side via both rock and wooden steps until the track comes to the intersection of the Berowra service trail. From the intersection the track follows the Berowra Waters sign north west down and along the service trail as it winds along the side of the valley to the Berowra Valley 'Naa Badu' lookout.
Naa Badu Lookout
Alt = 132
Naa Badu Lookout offers magnificent views over the southern aspect of Berowra Creek as far as Crosslands Reserve. Naa Badu means 'See water' in the Aboriginal Tribe the Dharug's language. It is named this as it is believed that Berowra Creek was the boundary between the Dharug and Guringai Aboriginal Peoples.
(3.44 km) Int of Naa Badu Lookout to Int of Great North Walk and Banggarai creek access track Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 12 m
Descent = -14 m
From the intersection the track follows the service trail north west along the side of the valley winding all the way around to the intersection of the Banggarai access track.
(3.76 km) Int of Great North Walk and Banggarai creek access track to Int of Great North Walk and Berkeley close service trail Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -12 m
From the intersection the track follows the service trail east around the side of the valley and down a short hill continuing to the intersection of the Great North Walk and the Berkeley service trail.
(4 km) Int of Great North Walk and Berkeley close service trail to Int of Great North Walk and Currawong road track Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.6 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 50 m
Descent = -13 m
From the intersection the track follows the Berowra Waters sign down the wooden steps and across Banggarai creek, continuing up the steps on the other side until the track flattens out winds around the side of the hill. After a short while, the track turns up hill and climbs up the side of the valley until it flattens out and comes to the intersection of the Currawong road track.
(4.61 km) Int of Great North Walk and Currawong road track to Washtub Gulley creek Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1.2 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 14 m
Descent = -179 m
From the intersection the track follows the Great North Walk arrow north west down the rocky track, winding down onto a ridge and around the base of some small cliffs, continuing all the way down to the end of the ridge and down a steep rocky track zigzagging all the way down both rock and wooden steps to the bottom of the valley, where it continues along side Berowra creek to the Washtub Gulley creek.
(5.8 km) Washtub Gulley creek to Berowra Waters track head Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 19 m
Descent = -14 m
From the intersetion the track crosses the creek and continues north following the bushtrack along side Berowra creek, undulating along until it comes down some concrete steps to the Berowra Waters track head.
Berowra Waters Garden House
Alt = 8
This picturesque little restaurant sits on the eastern side of Berowra creek and is just a hop, skip and a jump from the ferry. With a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, the Garden House Restaurant is a great spot for those looking to tap into the Berowra Valleys full potential. For information on bookings and opening hours phone (02)9456 2955.
The Fish Café
Alt = 5
This seafood restaurant located on the western side of the Berowra Waters Ferry, and offers a great menu and is open 7 days a weak for both breakfast and lunch with dinner on fridays, saterdays and sundays. The Fish Café's address is 199 Bay Road, Berowra Waters, and the phone number is (02)9456 4665.
Water View Cafe
Alt = 7
On the western side of Berowra Waters Ferry (free trip) and a short walk up the road is the Water View Cafe at the Marina. This offers a range of food in cafe or restaurant style dinning. Average price for lunch is $10-12 (cafe). Open from 9am everyday. Kayak Hire available Phone (02) 9456 2633 199 Bay Rd Berowra Waters, NSW 2082
Following the Berowra River the Berowra River National Park is located on the Hornsby Plateau and is made up of typical Hawkesbury Sandstone . Through this walking tracks stretch from Pennant Hills to Brooklyn with the main track, The Great North Walk spanning the entire park. The area has varied vegetation including many different sorts of Eucalyptus as well as native animals however these are largely nocturnal. There are several campsites within the Park with the main one being Crosslands Reserve, in northern Hornsby Heights.
Hiking near Sydney 
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