Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Thornleigh to Galston Gorge hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Thornleigh to Galston Gorge
Time
Distance
Climb
Style
5 Hrs 30 mins
11.1 km
747 m
One way
0.5 km WNW of Thornleigh
Berowra Valley Regional Park
Track: Moderate
This track largely follows the ridgetop above Berowra Creek on bushtracks and servicetrails. The section just before Tunks Ridge Reserve is rather plain with a few views. The Baily Bridge is quite an interesting landmark of the area, as is Fishponds and a number of water holes along the way. This walk follows a section of the Great North 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.
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(0 km) Thornleigh Train Station to Morgan Rd Walk: Easy - road
Distance = 1 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 8 m
Descent = -50 m
From the western side of Thornleigh Station the track heads norht along The Esplanade for approximately 60m before turning left at the traffic lights and following the footpath along Eddy St. At the end of Eddy the track turns left onto Tillock St following the Great North Walk markers as they turn right into Morgan St. The track continues to the end of this street where there is a small Great North Walk Marker indicating the start of the bushtrack.
(1.01 km) Morgan Rd to Bridge Track: Moderate - bushtrack, servicetrail
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 9 m
Descent = -12 m
From the end of Morgan St the bushtrack follows the Great North Walk signs behind the houses. Once behind the houses the grass trail changes to a narrow bushtrack following Zig-Zag Creek heading west. This continues until reaching an intersection with a wide asphalt servicetrack. From the intersection the track heads north-west down the hill along the asphalt servicetrail until coming to an intersection with a small bushtrack. The intersection is just before a small bridge that crosses Zig-Zag Creek.
(1.3 km) Bridge to The Jungo Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1.4 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 35 m
Descent = -56 m
From the intersection the track heads along the bushtrack north-west. In this section the track is climbs slightly up and away from the Zig-Zag Creek however they remain parallel. The track continues until comeing to a reasonably large clearing signposted as 'The Jungo'. At the northern end of this clearing the track intersects with a wide servicetrail.
(2.72 km) The Jungo to Currong Rd Track Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 2.2 km
Time = 1 Hrs
Climb = 200 m
Descent = -154 m
From 'The Jungo' the track follows the Great North Walk signs north-east along the servicetrail downhill to the creek and then immediately up the other side. At the top of the small hill the servicetrail splits into two parts with this trail veering off to the right and heading steeply down once again to Zig-Zag Creek. Once across the creek the track flattens out and continues north-east around the hill with only minor ups and down until going steeply up to the ridge. Once on the ridge the track becomes a very flat bushtrack until coming to an intersection with the Quarter Sessions Rd Track. The ridgeline section of this walk is extremely pleasant with some very nice lookouts over Berowra Creek and the surrounding bushland. At the intersection the track heads north following the signs to 'Fishponds' along the ridge for approximately 50m. At this point the track begins to head down along a rough bushtrack and rockstairs. The track continue down the hill until coming to 'Fishponds'. Fishponds a very pretty series of waterholes in Berowra Creek (a series of small rockpools developed through the erosion of the rock). From 'Fishponds' the track crosses the creek using the stepping stones and follows the Great North Walk signs around the edge of the ponds and onto a narrow bushtrack. The section of track along the rock can be quite slippery after rain. Once on the bushtrack the trail continues further north-east for a short while before climbing up to the ridge. Just after climbing the ridge the track comes up to an intersection with a servicetrail that leads off to Currong Rd. From the ridge this trail offers some good views over Berowra Creek and the valley.
(4.92 km) Currong Rd Track to Int of GNW and Blue Gum Walk (Nth) Track: Moderate - servicetrail, bushtrack, bushtrack
Distance = 2 km
Time = 45 mins
Climb = 142 m
Descent = -221 m
From the intersection the track heads north along the ridgeline along a small service trail. Due to the fact that the vegetation along the ridge is quite sparse there are some excellent views in this section over the valley. This is particularly the case where the track goes out and along the clifftop. In these sections metal safety railings have been installed. This track continues until coming to the intersection to north track point on Quarter Sessions Rd. These are clearly signposted with directional arrows pointing along the Great North Walk and up to the Blue Gum Track. From the intersection of the Quarter Sessions Rd Track and the Great North Walk the track heads north-east along the side of the ridge. At this point there are some good views around the Berowra Valley. Navigation in this section is relatively easy due to there being one, well signposted continuous track. This continues until reaching an intersection with several signposts indicating that this intersection is part of the Hornsby Blue Gum Walk. This is indicated by the marker which is a small tree on a metal plaque. From the intersection of the Blue Gum Walk (SW) and the Great North Walk the track heads north-east down the spur until reaching waterlevel. The track crosses a small and extremely creek which is a tributary of the Berowra Creek. Continuing north-east the track goes along at waterlevel until in the last section rising slightly and coming up to an extremely well-singposted intersection with a bushtrack. Signs at this intersection point towards Tunks Ridge Reserve and up to Hornsby.
(6.92 km) Int of GNW and Blue Gum Walk (Nth) to Fishponds Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 17 m
Descent = -26 m
From the intersection the track heads north-west along the bushtrack for a short while before winding down the hill along a narrow bushtrack to Fishponds to a creek crossing of Berowra Creek. This is dones on small stepping stones that have been installed across the creek. On the northern side of the creek the track winds up to the top of the hill, following the Great North Walk markers. At the top of the hill it is possible to see down below you Fishponds. The track continues north, winding down the hill to Fishponds which is a set of waterholes and a small creek crossing.
Fishponds
Alt = 54
Fishponds is a very pretty series that has become a populour swimming spot for locals. The waterholes have developed through the erosion of the rock over time. Unfortunately, this area has also a dangerous reputation and has claimed the lives of many people who have used the place as a jumping rock. For more information follow the link. More info
(7.1 km) Fishponds to Baily Bridge Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1.8 km
Time = 35 mins
Climb = 76 m
Descent = -95 m
From Fishponds the track follows the Great North Walk markers and heads north-west alongside Berowra Creek offering some good views of the sandstone country in the Berowra Valley Regional Park. The creek becomes quite wide along sections of this track. Just before Baily Bridge the the track comes to a clearing and an intersection with a servicetrail (Baily Bridge is a large military steel bridge that crosses Berowra Creek).
(8.85 km) Baily Bridge to Tunks Ridge Reserve Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.4 km
Time = 40 mins
Climb = 156 m
Descent = -32 m
From the intersection the track crosses Berowra Creek via Bailey Bridge and from there begins to climb steadily north to the ridge along the servicetrail. In various points this track becomes quite steep however as the track reaches the ridge this flattens dramatically. Gradually the trail turns to the south-west and continues along the servicetrail until reaching Tunks Ridge Reserve which is a large clearing and toilet that is authorised for camping. At the northern end of the reserve there is another servicetrail.
(9.23 km) Tunks Ridge Reserve to Galston Gorge Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1.9 km
Time = 50 mins
Climb = 104 m
Descent = -220 m
From the intersection the track heads north along the ridgeline on a wide servicetrail until coming to a small clearing and the start of a narrow bushtrack. From the beginning of the bushtrack the track descends very steeply down an often unstable track. In various points along this track it is very steep and the council has therefore put in manufactured rockstairs as well as handrails in some sections. Once reaching the bridge across Galston Gorge Rd the track goes under the bridge and crosses the creek at the bottom of the valley via a set of stepping stones. Once on the northern bank of the creek the track follows the bushtrack up the logstairs to a small rest area on the side of the road. (it is possible to walk across the top of the bridge from the southern to the northern bank without descending down to the creek level.)
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 
1 km
