Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Hornsby Blue Gum Walk hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Hornsby Blue Gum Walk
Time
Distance
Climb
Style
3 Hrs
5.7 km
381 m
Circuit
0.4 km SSW of Hornsby
Berowra Valley Regional Park
Track: Hard
This delightful loop is one of the prettiest and most popular walks in the Hornsby area. Going from an environment of ferns and clear bushland to dry sandstone bush near Berowra Creek, this walk has a good complement of environments. The sidetrip out to Joes Mountain doesn't have the most fantastic views but is still a nice walk.
Bushwalking can be fun and interesting when you are well prepared. Please ensure you and your group are well prepared and equipped for all possible dangers. The authors, staff and owners of wildwalks take care in preparing these notes but do not accept responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained when using these notes. Please take care and feel free to provide feedback through our website. Please note that side trips and alternate routes mentioned in these notes are not included in the tracks overall rating, distance or time estimate. The notes also only describe the side trip and alternate routes in one direction.
You can promote your organisation on the web and in the bush by sponsoring a set of Wildwalks tracknotes. Sponsorship starts from $10 per/month. This program is unique and will offer a great return on your investment.
(0 km) Hornsby Train Station to Int of GNW and Quarry Rd Walk: Easy - road
Distance = 0.7 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 9 m
Descent = -35 m
From the west side of Hornsby Railway Station the track crosses Station St along the pedestrian crossing and immediately after crosses the Pacific Hwy at the traffic lights. Following the small Great North Walk Marker the track heads north alongside the Highway until turning left into Dural St. The track follows Dural until turning right into Quarry Rd, following this until coming to an intersection with a servicetrail going off to the right. This is signposted as the Old Man Valley From the intersection the track heads north-west along the asphalt road. This continues until coming to a small green sign saying 'Great North Walk' at an intersection with a bushtrack going off to the west.
(0.72 km) Int of GNW and Quarry Rd to Rosemead Rd Park Track: Hard - Service Trail
Distance = 0.5 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 14 m
Descent = -91 m
From the intersection the track goes west off Quarry Rd and onto the bushtrack following the 'Great North Walk' sign. This goes for a short while before coming to an intersection with a servicetrail marked by several small GNW signs. The track continues north-west following the smalll GNW marker along the bushtrackdown the stairs. This goes steadily and at times steeply down the hill along rock stairs until at the end breaking out into a large park at the end of Rosemead Rd. At the park the track follows the GNW marker across the park until reaching the large GNW sign and the start of another bushtrack.
Rosemead Rd Park
Alt = 82
This is a relatively small park surrounded by shady eucalyptus trees that would be a good spot to break along the walk. It has several small picnic tables and chairs as well as fresh water.
(1.17 km) Rosemead Rd Park to Int of GNW and Joes Mountain Servicetrail Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.9 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 40 m
Descent = -35 m
From the park at the bottom of Rosemead Rd the track heads west along the bushtrack which 10m after the start merges and changes to being a servicetrail. The servicetrail heads west and after passing the houses off to the left the track crosses a small creek and heads up to the north-east climbing steadily. Once reaching the top of the hill the track begins to slowly descend until coming to an intersection with a well-managed bushtrack going off to the right. This is one of the most beautiful sections of walking track in the area with the nice bushland surrounding a well-managed trail.
(2.05 km) Int of Blue Gum Walk and Joes Mountain Servicetrail to Joes Mountain Lookout Optional Side Trip: Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 0.6 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 21 m
Descent = -37 m
From the intersection the track heads north along the servicetrail. After a very short period this curves around to the west before coming to the end of the servicetrail. From here the track takes the bushtrack slightly further to the west (approximately 10m) and there is a good lookout over Berowra Creek.
(2.05 km) Int of Blue Gum Walk and Joes Mountain Servicetrail to Int of GNW and Blue Gum Walk (Nth) Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -25 m
From the intersection the track heads north downhill off the servicetrail until reaching tbe intersection at the large green GNW sign. From the intersection the track heads north. After approximately 75m the track descends steeply via carved rock stairs before flattening out. Approximately 75m before the end the track passes over a small bridge. This is just before coming to an intersection overlooking Berowra Creek. There are several large signs at the intersection.
(2.3 km) Int of GNW and Blue Gum Walk (Nth) to Int. of Blue Gum Walk (SW) and GNW Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.7 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 80 m
Descent = -35 m
From the intersection the track heads south-west along the bushtrack following the direction along the Blue Gum Walk. This goes downhill slightly and goes along at waterlevel. After passing over a small tributary of Berowra Creek the track begins to rise up the spur. Immediately on the top of this the track comes to an intersection signposted as part of the Blue Gum Walk.
(2.96 km) Int. of Blue Gum Walk (SW) and Great North Walk to Valley Rd Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1 km
Time = 30 mins
Climb = 83 m
Descent = -128 m
From the intersection of the Great North Walk and the Blue Gum Walk (SW) the track heads south along the narrow bushtrack following the Blue Gum Walk markers. This goes around the valley with occasional obstacles including fallen trees. Approximately halfway along this section of track there is a sharp trail that leads directly off the track to the left and goes straight down the hill. This goes to a makeshift set of dirt bike jumps. The main track however ignores this sidetrip and continues around the edge of the valley until descending a small set of stairs and coming to an intersection with a firetrail. From the intersection the track turns left and heads down the hill along the servicetrail. This continues with the track steadily going downhill until it crosses a small Stormwater Drain Creek and emerges onto Valley Rd next to the playground.
(3.93 km) Ginger Meggs Park to Hornsby Train Station Walk: Easy - road, servicetrail, road, road
Distance = 1.7 km
Time = 30 mins
Climb = 151 m
Descent = -38 m
From Ginger Meggs Park on Valley Rd at intersection of Valley Rd and the Blue Gum Walk the track heads north-east along Valley Rd until turning left into Rosemead Rd. Rosemead is followed further north-east until the bottom of the hill where there is a park and several bushtracks. From the park at the end of Rosemead Rd tbe track heads north-east across the park and onto the bushtrack going up the hill. This climbs steadily and sometimes steeply along rockstairs until coming to an intersection with a servicetrail signposted with several small GNW markers. From the intersection the track heads east along the bushtrack away from the servicetrail. This goes for a short while before comking to an intersection with an asphalt road. This is the end Quarry Rd and is signposted with several GNW signs From the intersection the track heads south-east along the aspalt road. This continues until coming to a large servicetrail going off to the left. This is signposted as the Old Man Valley Servicetrail.
From the intersection the track heads east along Quarry Rd, gradually turning to the south until coming to Dural St where the track turns left. Following the Great North Walk markers the track heads east until turning right at the Pacific Hwy. The trail turns left at the traffic lights and goes east across Station St and into the west side of Hornsby Railway Station.
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.
I did this as my first ever bushwalk. If you are not accustomed to bushwalking i would perhaps suggest finding your way straight to the rosemead park driving, as at the end of the walk going back up those stairs is like death. But then i am fairly unfit
Hiking near Sydney 
1 km
