Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Mackerel Beach hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Mackerel Beach Loop
Time
Distance
Climb
Style
3 Hrs
8.2 km
310 m
Return
11.4 km NNE of Terrey Hills
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Track: Hard
This track is one of two main tracks down to Mackerel Beach. The track leaves West Head Rd to pass Aboriginal engravings before descending to the beach. The track loops around the small community of Mackerel Beach to come back down the beach to return to West Head Rd. A nice side trip is to Currawong 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.
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 Mackerel Beach bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Mackerel Beach bushwalking track
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(0 km) Int. Basin Trk and West Head Rd to Int. Basin Trk and Aboriginal Engraving Trk Entry Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 0.4 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 14 m
Descent = -2 m
From the carpark the track heads south for approximately 100m. The track then rounds left as it continues for approximately 200m east, to a sign marked 'Aboriginal Engrvaings'.
(0.41 km) Int. Basin Trk and Aboriginal Engraving Trk Entry to Int. Basin Trk and Aboriginal Engraving Trk Exit Optional Side Trip: Walk: Easy - Bush Track
Distance = 0.1 km
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = -1 m
From the intersection the track heads south west tending left. The track leads to a ramp after approximately 10m. The track follows the wooden edging over the rock surface, between the engravings heading south, left, to the intersection.
The Basin Track Aboriginal Engravings
Alt = 163
The Basin Track Aboriginal Engravings, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a large rock surface scattered with Aboriginal engravings. The engravings depict men, fish, hopping wallabies and a club. The engravings are marked with interpretive signs which outline where on the rocks the engravings are and how they were made.
(0.41 km) Int. Basin Trk and Aboriginal Engraving Trk Entry to Mackerel Trk Clearing Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 1.8 km
Time = 30 mins
Climb = 16 m
Descent = -96 m
From the intersection the track heads south up the slight hill for approximately 40m to a metal sign. From the intersection the track heads east winding slightly up hill for approximately 150m to the sign marked intersection. From the intersection the track heads east to the sea with burnt bush on the right and unburnt heath on the left. The track meanders down the wide spur for approximately 1km. The track then leads along a narrower area of the spur and into a saddle. The track then continues to undulate south east to the a clearing with a view of Mackerel Beach.
(2.19 km) Mackerel Trk Clearing to Mackerel South Gate Track: Hard - Bush Track
Distance = 0.4 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -59 m
From the intersection the track follows the spur east out to sea. The track winds down the spur passing numerous large green water tanks to the left of the track as it continues for approximately 50m to a lookout on a large boulder. The track heads down the left side of the boulder winding steeply down the hillside to houses. The track then leads to a small gate on the track before a brown wooden house.
(2.63 km) Mackerel South Gate to Currawong Beach Optional Side Trip: Track: Hard - Bush Track
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 19 m
Descent = -33 m
From the gate the track heads south heading around and down the headland. The track drops down some small rock slopes to continues down the hill side for approximately 200m to the Currawong Beach.
Currawong Beach
Alt = 3
Currawong Beach, Ku-ring-gai National Park, is a 400m stretch of sand looking east over Pittwater. The beach is situated between The Basin and Mackerel Beach. Currawong Beach has a wharf which allows for its only transport via the water. Backing the beach is Currawong Beach Cottages and steep hills. Little Mackerel Beach was purchased in 1949 by the NSW Labour Council for their members. The resort was called Currawong, which is now the common name for the beach.
(2.63 km) Mackerel South Gate to Mackerel North Gate Track: Hard - Bush Track
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 8 m
Descent = -20 m
From the gate the track heads south through houses contouring with the hillside. The track winds through and under some houses for for approximately 200m to a gate befroe the beach.
(2.8 km) Mackerel North Gate to Mackerel Beach Wharf Walk: Easy - beach
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = -17 m
From the track heads onto the beach and continues north for approximately 300m to the wharf in the middle of the beach.
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.
(3.09 km) Mackerel Beach Wharf to Palm Trees North end of Mackerel Beach Alternative ROUTE: Walk: Easy - Bush Track ( Show detail)
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -1 m
From the wharf the track heads north along the beach for approximately 300m to the the only palm trees on the north end of the beach. Below the palm trees is a boulder with a black arrow painted on it.
(3.09 km) Mackerel Beach Wharf to Palm Trees North end of Mackerel Beach Track: Moderate - bushtrack, servicetrail, bushtrack
Distance = 1.1 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 38 m
Descent = -33 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. 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. 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.
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
