Currie Rd to Davidson Park

Download & Print Map and Notes

Tap again to allow map panning

Time 3 hrs
One way 7.2 km One way
Climb 280 m
Grade 3 Moderate track
Bus Car
no_pets
Starting at Currie Rd in Forestville, this walk follows Middle Harbour to Davidson Park, under Roseville Bridge. There are two optional side trips, one to Natural Bridge and the other short one to Flat rock beach. The walk starts on a service trail, but mostly follows bush tracks, providing great views of Bantry Bay and Middle Harbour. There are plenty of spots to stop for a snack and enjoy the view. Davidson Park has great facilities for a picnic at the end of the walk.

(0km) Start of Currie Road service trail → Int of Natural Bridge and Currie Road Tracks

distance 910 m time 16 mins climb 15m descent -28m Moderate track
From the intersection, this walk heads through the metal gate and along the service trail for a short distance before coming to some power lines. This trail follows the power lines through the bush, winding along beside the telegraph poles for a little while before coming to the intersection with the service trail that heads up the hill to the right.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the flat service trail heading south, in the opposite direction of the closest telegraph pole, winding alongside the power lines for a little while. The trail then breaks away from the power lines, heading through thicker vegetation until it comes to the signposted intersection of the Natural Bridge Track.

(1km) Int of Natural Bridge and Currie Road Tracks → Natural Bridge

distance 250 m time 6 mins climb 0m descent -39m Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Natural Bridge' sign along the bush track, heading down the rocky hill which steepens as it winds down a few sets of wooden steps. The track then flattens out to a gentle descent, and winds down through the bush until coming to a wide stone arch referred to as the Natural Bridge, crossing a creek that feeds into Bantry Bay. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.

Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge
The Natural Bridge is a sandstone arch in Garigal National Park. The arch spans an unnamed creek feeding into Bantry Bay. The Natural Bridge track uses this arch to cross the creek, and is not always noticed by walkers as the surrounding vegetation hides the full view of the feature from the track. The arch has formed the eroding forces of water flowing down the creek. The arch provides an interesting natural feature to explore and enjoy.

(1km) Int of Natural Bridge and Currie Road Tracks → Int of Bates Creek and Currie Rd tracks

distance 180 m time 3 mins climb 5m descent -1m Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the H/H walker on the 'Currie Road Track' sign south, along the service trail. The track soon comes to a four-way intersection with a large gum tree in the centre.

(1km) Int of Bates Creek and Currie Rd tracks → Back of Magazine Buildings

distance 1.9 km time 40 mins climb 50m descent -114m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track, heading through the dense vegetation. After a little while, the track starts to zigzag down the rocky hill and through the bush until it flattens out and crosses Bates Creek. The walk then turns left and continues through the bush, meandering along the flat bush track until coming to the signposted intersection with the Magazine Track.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Magazine Track' sign along the wide, flat trail which winds around behind some houses (on the right). The track continues along a narrower, rocky bush track which steadily winds down a long hill to the bottom of the valley, where it flattens out just above the water. From here, the walk continues along the bush track, winding up and down along the side of the hill until it follows a track marker up to the magazine buildings' fence line. The track runs parallel to this fence as it heads along to an open, square concrete tank just off to the left of the track, from which the roofs of the magazine buildings and Middle Harbour Creek are both visible.

Bantry Bay Explosives Magazine complex

Bantry Bay Explosives Magazine complex
The Magazine Buildings were the premier storage facility for merchants' explosives between 1915 and 1974. During this time, the carefully constructed building where crucial for the safe storage of explosives used for building public works such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and additionally used by the Australian Navy during World War II. There is currently no public access to the site, and the buildings are best viewed from across the water at Bantry Bay Picnic Area, or anywhere on the other side of Bantry Bay. More info.

(3km) Back of Magazine Buildings → Int of Magazine and Flat Rock Beach Tracks

distance 1.1 km time 23 mins climb 44m descent -53m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the open concrete tank, this walk follows the bush track, with the ground sloping up to the right, as it heads down a short rocky hill. The track flattens out and follows the fence line to the end, where it turns left and continues down the rocky hill, along the bush track running parallel to a shorter fence. Soon, the track turns right and leaves the fence line. The walk follows the bush track heading away from the buildings and down the rocky hill, to the waters edge where it continues along the side of the hill, following Middle Harbour Creek for a long while. In time, the track winds around behind a small beach to the intersection of a narrow bush track heading down a short hill on the left.

(4km) Int of Magazine and Flat Rock Beach Tracks → Flat Rock Beach

distance 30 m time 1 mins climb 0m descent -6m Moderate track
Turn sharp left: From the intersection, this walk follows the narrow bush track heading down the hill to the small beach at the bottom. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer left.

Flat Rock Beach

Flat Rock Beach
Flat Rock Beach is a small, south-facing beach on Middle Harbour, in Garigal National Park. The sand is deposited on a rock shelf that pokes through in places, forming interesting sculptures. The beach is frequented by walkers and boaters enjoying their day by the water. The beach can be accessed by a bush track from the end of Killarney Drive, Killarney Heights. Historically, the beach was a popular picnic area and serviced by a ferry in the early 1900's. Today, there are no facilities, but some shade is provided by the trees at the back of the beach.

(4km) Int of Magazine and Flat Rock Beach Tracks → Int of Flat Rock and Magazine Tracks

distance 190 m time 5 mins climb 36m descent 0m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track with the ground sloping up to the right, heading up the wooden steps. The track flattens out and turns right, following the track marker through the bush and up the rocky hill, using the spread-out sets of wooden steps. The walk comes to an intersection and a signpost for the 'Magazine Track'[1].

(4km) Int of Flat Rock and Magazine Tracks → Int of Downpatrick Road Servicetrail and Flat Rock Track

distance 1.5 km time 39 mins climb 86m descent -116m Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Flat Rock Track' sign along the bush track heading down the side of the hill, with the ground sloping up to the right. The walk winds down the rocky track for a little while, before flattening out as it passes by a small pipeline and then continues along the side of the hill. The track meanders through the bush for a while before coming to the four-way intersection with a bush track (which heads up the rocky hill to the right, and down to a private property at the bottom of the hill on the left).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track along the side of the hill, with the ground sloping up to the right. The track meanders through the dense bushland, occasionally catching a nice view over Middle Harbour Creek down to the left, and continues to the intersection of a rough service trail on the right, which heads uphill.

(6km) Int of Downpatrick Road Servicetrail and Flat Rock Track → Int of Davidson Park driveway and Flat Rock Track

distance 690 m time 16 mins climb 32m descent -41m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track along the side of the hill, with the ground sloping up to the right as it heads through the bush. The walk stays above Middle Harbour Creek for a while before it drops down a steep set of wooden steps to the intersection with the Davidson Park driveway, at a wooden picnic seat.

(6km) Int of Davidson Park driveway and Flat Rock Track → Rotary Rotunda

distance 800 m time 14 mins climb 12m descent -13m Easy track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the flat driveway towards the Roseville Bridge, heading under a pipe bridge and coming to the intersection with the driveway to Davidson Park.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the Davidson Park driveway, crossing under Roseville Bridge with Middle Harbour Creek on the left. The walk passes a small car park and bends to the right, winding around the large picnic areas (on the left), passing a building with some toilets (also on the left), and continuing along for a little while before coming to the signposted intersection of the Rotary Rotunda footpath.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads through the 'Rotary Rotunda' arch[2] and along the concrete footpath to the rotunda in the picnic area nearby.

Davidson picnic area

Davidson picnic area
Davidson Picnic Area is in Garigal National Park, under Roseville Bridge (access via Warringah Road, south bound lanes, or via many walking tracks in the area). The picnic area has a boat ramp, wheelchair-accessible toilets, large open grassy areas, picnic tables, free electric BBQ's, and a large rotunda. There are plenty of shady spots provided by the trees. The northern section of the picnic area has a small beach swimming area, and the southern section boasts a boat ramp. The park is open 6am to 8pm (6:30pm outside daylight savings time). Ticket machines are provided to pay the car access fee.

Maps for the Currie Rd to Davidson Park walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Parramatta River1:25 000 Map Series91303N PARRAMATTA RIVERNSW-91303N
Sydney1:100 000 Map Series9130 SYDNEY9130

Cross sectional view of the Currie Rd to Davidson Park bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Currie Rd to Davidson Park

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Currie Rd to Davidson Park

Altitude analysis for Currie Rd to Davidson Park

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

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

Length7.2 km
Time3 hrs
.




Grade 3/6



Moderate track
AS 2156.1GradientShort steep hills (3/6)
Quality of trackFormed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
SignsDirectional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience RequiredSome bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
WeatherWeather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
InfrastructureLimited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

4.6km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1.9km is flat with no steps. The remaining (770m) has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

5km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 1.1km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (770m) follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs

Around 4.6km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 2.6km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

Around 4.6km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 2.7km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 7km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 4.2km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 3km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Currie Rd to Davidson Park walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Currie Rd to Davidson Park walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Currie Rd to Davidson Park walk starts at the Start of Currie Road service trail (gps: -33.760107, 151.22467)

The Currie Rd to Davidson Park ends at the Rotary Rotunda (gps: -33.768254, 151.20296)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Metropolitan weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Garigal National Park

Largely following Middle Harbour Creek and stretching from Seaforth in the south to St Ives in the north Garigal National Park is hidden through Sydney's Northern suburbs. Despite how close it is to large urban centres Garigal is quite beautiful with lots of different walking and cycling tracks. For those just wishing to picnic Davidson Reserve is a great spot just next to Middle Harbour Creek, under the Roseville Bridge.

Comments