Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Mackerel Beach Community hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Mackerel Beach Community
Time
Distance
Climb
Style
45 mins
1.4 km
39 m
Circuit
12.1 km NNE of Terrey Hills
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Track: Moderate
This short walk is a great way to see the beatiful Mackerel Beach and its community. After a short ferry ride from Palm Beach the track heads up the grassed streets Mackerel to lead to the lagoon. The track is mainly sandy beach or grassed stretches with the area behind the lagoon winding through a bushed area to return the track to the beautiful Mackerel Beach. This loop of Mackerel Beach is a great short walk which is only a hop, skip and a jump away from Palm Beach.
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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Catch the ferry to Mackerel
Palm Beach Ferry service opertates hourly from 9am to about 8pm check their timetable for more info. The ferry starts at Palm Beach and goes via Benntt's, Bonnie Doon, The basin, Currawong before arriving at Mackerel. Please check with the ferry operator for latest info on services --> Link to timetable
Mackerel Beach
Alt = 2
Mackerel Beach, also known as Great Mackerel Beach, is a 600m stretch of sand facing east over Pittwater. The beach is backed by a lagoon and a small community of houses. Mackerel Beach has a wharf with public ferry access. Mackerel Beach and its southern neighbour Little Mackerel or Currawong Beach was originally purchased for farming in 1823 by John Clarke. The land was then subdivided and more than a hundred houses were built, many of which still stand today.
(0 km) Mackerel Beach Wharf to Digger Crescent Bridge Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.4 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -1 m
From the wharf the track heads south following the tarmac pavement to the the corner beneath a 'Submarine Cable' sign. The track then turns right heading west along a grassy pathway, Monash Ave. The track continues along this for approximately 300m to a bridge.
(0.39 km) Digger Crescent Bridge to Mackerel Beach Bush Fire Brigade Shed Walk: Easy - Service Trail
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 10 m
Descent = -2 m
The track crosses the bridge and leads along the grassy path of Diggers Crescent. The track turns right after approximately 100m to continue another 100m to a large shed, the Mackerel Beach Bush Fire Brigade shed.
(0.6 km) Mackerel Beach Bush Fire Brigade Shed to Mackerel Beach Wharf Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.8 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 25 m
Descent = -35 m
From the shed the track passes along the left side of the shed to a small grassy clearing near a lagoon. The track passes through the lagoon to continue along the waters edge or near to the edge. The track leads for approximately 300m tending right with the lagoon to open onto a sandy creek bed behind the beach. The track then continues to the right side of the creek, to continue north east to the two palm trees on the northern end of Mackerel Beach. A boulder below the two trees is painted with a black arrow. From the boulder the track heads south, water on the left, along the beach for approximately 300m to the wharf in the middle of the beach.
Catch the ferry from Mackerel
Palm Beach Ferry service opertates hourly from 9am to about 8pm check their timetable for more info. From Mackerel ferry warf the boat head straight for Palm Beach. Please check with the ferry operator for latest info on services --> Link to timetable
Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk
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 
500 meters
