Map of Walk

Location

               
Map of Fiddens Wharf walking track
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Base maps are used under licence and is © Department of lands   Panorama Avenue Bathurst 2795   www.lands.nsw.gov.au

Maps that cover the walk area (please always carry maps of the area)

Print a map and track notes here

Parramatta River

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-91303N

Sydney

1:100 000 Map Series

9130

Photo Gallery

Terrain

Cross sectional view of the Fiddens Wharf walking track bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Fiddens Wharf walking track bushwalking track

Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

		Length	4.3km
		Time	1 hr 27 mins
		.
Grade 3/6 Track: Moderate	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
		Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing

Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk.
Gradient
2.2km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1.3km is flat with no steps. The remaining (840m) has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track
2.7km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 1.3km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (250m) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs
Around 3.8km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 420m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required
This whole walk, 4.3km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

Weather
This whole walk, 4.3km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
Around 2.3km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 1.9km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Track Notes

Wildwalks
The State Goverment is allowing Recreational Hunting in our National Parks This poses a serious threat to the environement and visitor safety Help stop the madness by writing a quick letter. Thanks for your help

Catch the bus to Max Allen Drive Bridge
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip to the end of this walk. (Links currently not working sorry) Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

Drive to Max Allen Drive Bridge
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park. You can drive or ride to the start of this walk Use these links to plan your trip to the start of this walk. Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

(0 km) Max Allen Drive Bridge to Int. Great North Walk near Naamaroo Walk: Easy - road	Length = 220 m	Time = 5 mins
	Climb = 14 m	Descent = 0 m
From the bridge, this walk heads gently uphill along the road[1] to the intersection with the visible concrete stairs just below the National Parks Office[2]. Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the road uphill, keeping the short sandstone wall and National Parks office on your left[3]. The road soon bends left and leads up past the staff parking[4], to an intersection (with a track on your right) marked with a large 'Great North Walk' sign[5].

(0.22 km) Int. Great North Walk near Naamaroo to Int. Great North Walk and Naamaroo Service Trail Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 16 m	Time =
	Climb = 1 m	Descent = 0 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[6] up the timber steps away from the road. The track passes a 'Caution - Swimming in Lane Cover River is not advisable...' sign[7] and then comes to an intersection with a wider management trail[8].

(0.24 km) Int. Great North Walk and Naamaroo Service Trail to Int. Great North Walk and Bradfield Rd Access Trk Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 295 m	Time = 8 mins
	Climb = 31 m	Descent = -1 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the wide trail uphill[9], initially keeping the cliff line to your right[10]. The trail bends right then leads uphill for about 130m, coming to an intersection (just below the power lines) where a 'Park Visitors Centre' sign[11] points back down the hill. Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follow the 'Blue Hole - Fiddens Wharf' sign[12] and power line[13] up along the wide management trail. Just as the trail flattens out, this walk comes to an signposted intersection with a narrower track[14] (on your left).

(0.53 km) Int. Great North Walk and Bradfield Rd Access Trk to Northern Int. Bradfield Rd and Great North Walk Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 111 m	Time = 2 mins
	Climb = 4 m	Descent = -1 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow posts[15] down the timber steps. The track gently meanders through the open forest[16] for a short time then heads up a few steps to come to a T-intersection[17] with a sealed road.

(0.64 km) Northern Int. Bradfield Rd and Great North Walk to Southern Int. Bradfield Rd and Great North Walk Walk: Easy - road	Length = 30 m	Time =
	Climb = 0 m	Descent = -1 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow[18] down along the road for a short distance and comes to another signposted intersection[19] with a track (on your right).

(0.67 km) Southern Int. Bradfield Rd and Great North Walk to Int. Great North Walk and Thistlethwaytes Picnic Area Trk Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 428 m	Time = 9 mins
	Climb = 8 m	Descent = -28 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the NPWS arrow[20] up the timber steps, away from the road. The track soon leads down[21] a longer set of timber steps where the track meanders[22] through the bush, passing a few rocky outcrops[23][24] before heading down the another series of timber stairs. Just beyond these steps, the track leads to a T-intersection[25] with a wide management trail, marked with a 'Sandstone Hillslope Community' information sign[26][27].

(1.1 km) Int. Great North Walk and Thistlethwaytes Picnic Area Trk to Bottom of Fiddens Wharf Oval Trk Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 798 m	Time = 16 mins
	Climb = 23 m	Descent = -44 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the upper arrow on the historic walk sign post[28], gently uphill along the wide trail. The trail leads through the casuarina forest[29] for about 30m then passes the 'Scribbly Gum' information sign[30]. The trail then bends left and leads downhill, narrowing significantly[31]. Here the track heads down a series of timber steps[32] to pass a 'Sydney Red Gum' information sign[33]. The track then crosses the ferny gully and passes the 'Sandstone Gully Community'[34] and then the 'Sydney Peppermint'[35] information signs. From here, the track leads across another gully[36] then up and along the side of a steep hill (with an unfenced cliff to your left[37]) for about 70m, coming to a rock platform with a 'Blackbutts' information sign[38]. Here the walk leads down the staircase[39] and stone path for a short time and crosses the 'weedy'[40][41] creek on a short timber boardwalk[42]. The now flat track leads for another 50m to a signposted intersection (with some steps on your right), where a 'Visitor Centre Loop' sign[43] points back along the track.

(1.9 km) Bottom of Fiddens Wharf Oval Trk to Thistlethwaytes Picnic Area Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail	Length = 1.15 km	Time = 23 mins
	Climb = 49 m	Descent = -51 m
Turn around: From the intersection, the track follows the 'Visitors Centre Loop' arrow[44][45] along the track, keeping the river to your right. After about 50m, this walk heads over a short timber boardwalk[46] and crosses the 'weedy'[47][48] creek. The walk then heads up some steps and a staircase to the top of a rock platform, where there is a 'Blackbutts' information sign[49]. The track leads gently up along the side of hill for about 70m, passing an unfenced cliff to your right[50], where the track bends left to lead across a rock gully[51]. The track then leads past the 'Sydney Peppermint'[52] and 'Sandstone Gully Community'[53] information signs and across a ferny gully to find a 'Sydney Red Gum' information sign[54]. From here, the walk heads up a series of timber steps[55] to where the track suddenly widens into a mostly flat trail. This trail soon bends right and leads through the casuarina forest, past the 'Scribbly Gum' information sign[56] to an intersection (with a narrower track on your left), just before the 'Sandstone Hillslope Community' information sign[57][58]. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads around the hillside, with the river below on the right. The walk tends left as it contours around the hill. It then descends over speed bumps for approximately 50m to the car park of Thistlethwaytes picnic area.

(3.05 km) Thistlethwaytes Picnic Area to Schwartz Homestead Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road	Length = 257 m	Time = 5 mins
	Climb = 4 m	Descent = -6 m
Continue straight: From the picnic area, this walk heads down the road, with the water to the right. The walk continues down the road for a short time, to the intersection with the entrance of the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Depot on the left, and the Schwartz Homestead a short distance up the hill.

Schwartz Homestead	Alt = 5 m
The Schwartz Homestead is a neat little white and green 1920's timber cottage with a balcony on three sides. It was probably built by orchardist George Warr, who leased the land from 1917.[59] More info

(3.3 km) Schwartz Homestead to Int. Opposite Bakers Flat Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road	Length = 366 m	Time = 7 mins
	Climb = 9 m	Descent = -7 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the road, with the water on the right. The walk tends left, continuing up the road to pass a brick building on the right, before coming to the signposted intersection, opposite Baker's Flat.

(3.67 km) Int. Opposite Bakers Flat to Baker's Cottage Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 120 m	Time = 3 mins
	Climb = 10 m	Descent = -1 m
Turn left : From the intersection, the walk heads up the stairs tending right, up the hill. The walk passes a sign about native grasses before continuing right, to Baker's Cottage. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn left to continue along this walk.)

Baker's Cottage	Alt = 13 m
Baker's Cottage was built in 1865 as the residence of William Baker and his family. The cottage once stood in the middle of a well-kept garden and orchard. The cottage itself was once larger, with more rooms and a verandah surrounding it. The residence changed hands only twice, and was then appropriated by the Minister of Lands in 1938.

(3.67 km) Int. Opposite Bakers Flat to Int. Max Allen Dr and Jenkins Hill Trk Walk: Easy - road	Length = 331 m	Time = 7 mins
	Climb = 15 m	Descent = -10 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the road towards the car park at '29 Bakers Flat'. The walk continues along the road to pass the clearing and tend right, up the hill, to an intersection with a bush track on the right.

(4 km) Int. Max Allen Dr and Jenkins Hill Trk to Int. National Parks Office Trk and Max Allen Dr Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath	Length = 213 m	Time = 5 mins
	Climb = 1 m	Descent = -7 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the path for approximately 50m to pass a toilet block on the left of the track. The track continues to an intersection with a railed footpath. Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the slight gradient, away from the toilet block to the large concreted area above the weir. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the footpath to the road.

(4.21 km) Int. National Parks Office Trk and Max Allen Dr to Max Allen Drive Bridge Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road	Length = 50 m	Time = 1 mins
	Climb = 0 m	Descent = -2 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads gently down along the road[60] to an intersection just before the bridge[61], marked with the 'Great North Walk' track head signs[62][63].

Catch the bus from Max Allen Drive Bridge
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip from the end of this walk. (Links currently not working sorry) Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

Drive from Max Allen Drive Bridge
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park. You can drive or ride from the end of this walk Use these links to plan your trip from the end of this walk. Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

Getting there

Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk

Public Transport links currently not working, sorry

Public Transport Timetables
	To the start of the walk From Castle Hill Chatswood Dural Epping Gosford Hornsby Katoomba Manly Parramatta Penrith Strathfield Sutherland Sydney		From the end of the walk To Castle Hill Chatswood Dural Epping Gosford Hornsby Katoomba Manly Parramatta Penrith Strathfield Sutherland Sydney
Driving Directions
	To the start of the walk                  Castle HillChatswoodDuralEppingGosfordHornsbyKatoombaManlyParramattaPenrithStrathfieldSutherlandSydney Drive from:		From the end of the walk                  Castle HillChatswoodDuralEppingGosfordHornsbyKatoombaManlyParramattaPenrithStrathfieldSutherlandSydney Drive to:

Near by

Campsites in the park
Lane Cove River tourist park


Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk

Store	Address	Phone	Distance (straight line)
Mountain Equipment	72 Archer St , Chatswood	(02) 9419 6955	2.8 km
Larry Adler Ski & Outdoor	77 Archer St , Chatswood	(02) 9412 4777	2.8 km
Mountain Designs	Shop 16/ 9 Spring St , Chatswood	(02) 9415 4566	2.8 km
Kangaroo Tent City & BBQs	165-167 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood	(02) 9884 9199	3.6 km
One Stop Adventure Shop	1045 Victoria Rd , West Ryde	(02) 9858 5844	6.8 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Fiddens Wharf walking track.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Fiddens Wharf walking track Click to re-center search
5	SYD05	Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA Emergency use only	8 km (to the NW)
6	VMB7	CB Repeater Site 16 Alan Rd BEROWRA HEIGHTS	20 km (to the N)
1	SYD01	12/14 Ormonde Parade HURSTVILLE	21 km (to the SSW)
7	SYD07	7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN	23 km (to the W)
8	MDC08	Gencom Site Lot 6 Wakefield Close KARIONG	41 km (to the NNE)

Weather and Park info

Fire Danger
This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a NONE rating and No Ban in place. (Downloaded 42 minutes ago)
Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban status, this rating is based on information from the RFS and BOM.

Weather and Climate
Weather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here

A few morning showers. 12.2°C (feels like 11.2°) 9 km/h from the WSW 100% humidity     (as at 24/09:00am)

Lane Cove National Park Link to official closures and fire bans page
This small but picturesque city park is a haven of peaceful bushland along the winding Lane Cove River. Home to the Kukundi Wildlife Shelter and 27 km of the Great North Walk, you can also hire a boat, take a stroll or enjoy a picnic by the weir.
Region: Sydney & Surrounds
Park fees Camping Facilities I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.

Walker Feedback