This walk enjoys some great views and quiet bushland in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. From Apple Tree Bay, the walk soon heads over the hill and loops down to Bobbin Head, with the option of a bite to eat at the kiosk before returning along a similar but different route to Apple Tree Bay. The walk has some steep sections but is well worth the effort.
Apple Tree Bay, in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase national park, has a popular boat ramp for accessing Cowan creek and plenty of parking. The area has electric BBQ's, plenty of picnic benches, toilets, drinking water, garbage facilities, and shade provided by trees. If you are after a quiet spot, head to the western end (away from the boat ramp, past the BBQ's), just beyond the car park, to a lovely clearing by the water. The area is closed between sunset and sunrise.
(0 km)
Apple Tree Bay
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Int of Apple Tree Bay Road and Apple Tree Flat bushtrack. Walk: Easy - road
Length = 251 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 7 m
Descent = -2 m
From the intersection, this walk heads away from the foot bridge, crossing the boat ramp and continuing along the road as it comes to the corner of the car park and bends to the left, leaving Apple Tree Bay and following the waterline around until it comes to the intersection with the Apple Tree Flat bush track signposted with a "Regional Office" arrow.
(0.25 km)
Int of Apple Tree Bay Road and Apple Tree Flat bushtrack.
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Apple Tree Flat Picnic Area Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 204 m
Time = 6 mins
Climb = 58 m
Descent = -1 m
From the intersection, the walk follows the regional office sign along the rocky bush track. The walk zigzags steeply up the long hill, coming to the signposted Apple Tree Flat picnic area.
Apple Tree Flat Picnic Area
Alt = 63 m
Apple Tree Flat Picnic Area is opposite the NPWS North Sydney Regional office on Bobbin Head Rd, in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase national park. The small picnic area should not be confused with the more popular Apple Tree Bay Picnic Area and boat ramp further down the hill. The picnic area provides three bench platforms for sitting and dining. There is also a small, open grassy area and some large trees providing shade.
(0.46 km)
Apple Tree Flat Picnic Area
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Apple Tree Flat Lookout Optional sidetrip: Walk: Easy - footpath
Length = 74 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -11 m
From the intersection, the walk follows the hardened footpath past the picnic tables and down a few rock steps, continuing along to the fenced off lookout above Cowan Creek.
Apple Tree Flat Lookout
Alt = 52 m
Apple Tree Flat Lookout is a small fenced lookout high up the hill overlooking Apple Tree Bay and Cowan creek. The view is filtered through the tall gum trees. Being perched on a rock platform, the views are great. The lookout is not far from Bobbin Head Rd, near the NPWS North Sydney Regional Office, in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
(0.46 km)
Apple Tree Flat Picnic Area
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National Parks Regional Office Walk: Easy - bushtrack
Length = 30 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = 0 m
From the picnic area, the walk goes up some stone steps and crosses Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Rd, coming to a car park and the National Parks Regional Office.
NPWS North Sydney Regional Office
Alt = 68 m
The NPWS North Sydney Regional Office is a lovely stone building on Bobbin Head Road at one of the trackheads for Birrawanna loop track. There is a car park and an open grassy area. On the opposite side of the road is the Apple Tree Flat Picnic Area with a few picnic tables. Other than this, there are no public facilities.
(0.49 km)
National Parks Regional Office
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Bobbin Head Kiosk Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 1.97 km
Time = 51 mins
Climb = 103 m
Descent = -161 m
From the Regional Office the walk heads into the car park and turns left, crossing the grassy clearing to the signposted intersection of the Birrawana Loop. From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Kalkari' arrow along the track which climbs up the ridge. The track winds steeply up the long, rocky hill until it climbs up through a cleft in a rock, then flattens out. A short distance later, the track again starts to climb up the ridge, winding up a long set of wooden steps. The track then flattens again and comes to an intersection and a sign pointing back towards 'Regional Office'. From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Bobbin Head' arrow along the track, winding down and along the side of the hill, keeping the valley to the left. After a while, the track comes to an intersection with the Birrawanna track, and a sign pointing back towards 'Regional Office'. From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Bobbin Head' arrow along the bush track, winding steeply down through the bush via both rock and wooden steps. In time, the track comes out at a clearing at Bobbin Head, then turns left and continues across the grass to the Bobbin Head Kiosk.
Bobbin Inn Cafe, Bobbin Head
Alt = 16 m
At the centre of Bobbin Head, this cafe offers inside and outdoor dining, and a range of foods and drinks. Food includes fish and chips, wraps, focaccia, sandwiches and snack foods. Tea, coffee and cold drinks are also on offer. The old sandstone building is also home to the information centre and was once the Bobbin Inn. Opening hours are 9am - 4.30 Monday to Friday and 8am - 5pm on weekends. For more information, phone the cafe on 9457 7170.
Bobbin Inn Cafe, Bobbin Head
Alt = 16 m
At the centre of Bobbin Head, this cafe offers inside and outdoor dining, and a range of foods and drinks. Food includes fish and chips, wraps, focaccia, sandwiches and snack foods. Tea, coffee and cold drinks are also on offer. The old sandstone building is also home to the information centre and was once the Bobbin Inn. Opening hours are 9am - 4.30 Monday to Friday and 8am - 5pm on weekends. For more information, phone the cafe on 9457 7170.
Bobbin Head
Alt = 9 m
Bobbin Head is a historic recreation area which is still popular today, suiting the needs of many people. At the center of the Bobbin Head area is the old "Bobbin Inn", built in the 1930s - it is now the park information center and kiosk. The area is popular with picnickers, boaters, walkers, canoeists, family groups and people who like to fish. Bobbin Head is roughly divided into three sections (north, south and east).
Southern Bobbin Head is a popular picnic area for families and large groups. The area is surrounded by a car park and dotted with picnic tables, electric BBQs, shelters and children's play equipment. There are toilets nearby, and two large shelters can be booked through the NPWS.
The northern Bobbin Head (Orchard Park) area is a more formal picnic area. There is a large picnic shelter, surrounded by 14 smaller octagonal shelters, each of these divided into 4 walled-off compartments, ideal for small groups. The eastern side of Bobbin head is dominated by the Empire Marina and public wharf. The marina is home to a nice restaurant and public toilets. More info
(2.46 km)
Bobbin Head Kiosk
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Int of Birrawana and Cockle Creek Lookout tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 500 m
Time = 12 mins
Climb = 72 m
Descent = -15 m
From the kiosk, this walk follows the side of the road, heading away from the vehicle bridge and the picnic areas, passing an information sign about the local bushwalks and continuing past two small round tables. The walk then comes to the signposted intersection of the Birrawana Track. From the intersection, this walk heads across the small concrete bridge, passing the 'Birrawana Track' sign and climbing up the steep wooden steps, winding up and around to the base of a large rock wall. From here, the walk continues up the rocky bush track, climbing wooden and rock steps as it winds up and along the ridge to the intersection of the Cockle Creek Lookout track.
(2.96 km)
Int of Birrawana and Cockle Creek Lookout tracks
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Cockle Creek Lookout Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 112 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -15 m
From the intersection, this walk follows the rocky bush track, with the rock outcrop on the right, and winds through the bush for a short while before the track passes through a gap between two large rock outcrops, then around another, winding down the hill until it comes to the rock ledge overlooking Cockle Creek.
Cockle Creek Lookout
Alt = 54 m
Cockle Creek Lookout is an informal lookout with no facilities, on the Birrawanna track in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. The lookout provides Glimpses of Cockle and Cowan Creeks. The area is surrounded by some beautiful gum trees and rock boulders, making it a nice place to sit and reflect on the surroundings.
(2.96 km)
Int of Birrawana and Cockle Creek Lookout tracks
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Int of Apple Tree Bay Road and Apple Tree Flat bushtrack. Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 648 m
Time = 17 mins
Climb = 28 m
Descent = -89 m
From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track past the track marker and down along the side of the ridge, following the side of the hill and keeping the road down to the right. The track climbs up to the signposted intersection of the 'Birrawana Loop Track' at a grassy clearing. From the intersection, the walk heads away from the bush track, crossing the grassy clearing to the National Parks Regional Office. From the NPWS Regional office, the walk heads out of the car park and crosses Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Road to a small clearing. From the clearing, the walk goes down some stone steps to the signposted Apple Tree Flat picnic area. From the intersection, the walk follows the Apple Tree Bay arrow along the hardened footpath (that quickly becomes a bush track). The walk zigzags down to the bottom of the ridge where it comes to the intersection with the Apple Tree Bay Road.
(3.61 km)
Int of Apple Tree Bay Road and Apple Tree Flat bushtrack.
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Apple Tree Bay Walk: Easy - road
Length = 251 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = -7 m
From the intersection, this walk follows the road heading down the hill, keeping the bay down to the right as it winds down to the entrance to Apple Tree Bay. Here it turns right and continues along the road, passing the boat ramp and coming to the Apple Tree Bay information sign.
Fire Danger This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a LOW-MODERATE rating and No Ban in place. (Checked 5 minutes ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban status, this rating is based on information from the RFS and BOM.
A largely untouched wilderness on the northern boundary of Sydney, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP is one of Australia's oldest national parks. Here at the head of the Hawkesbury River, you'll find Aboriginal engravings and sites, as well as sandstone escarpments,
Hiking near Sydney 
1 km
not too much longer now :)