Davidson Track

Download & Print Map and Notes

1 hr 15 mins

2 km Return

132 m

Hard track

This walk starts at John Oxley Drive, and is popular with people working on their fitness. The walk follows a service trail which is initially dirt, but is sealed for most of the way, as it follows the pipeline steeply down to Middle Harbour Creek. Enjoy the view from the bank of the creek before the climb back up.

Davidson Track trackhead at John Oxley Drive

Pumping station on Davidson service trail

Pipeline leaves the service trail for a little while

The pipeline crossing Middle Harbour Crk

Middle Harbour Creek and the pipe bridge

(0km) John Oxley Drive (Sth of Prahran Ave) → Int of Davidson and Governor Phillip tracks

1 km

27 mins

11m

-121m Hard track

From John Oxley Drive, just a little way south of Prahran Ave, this walk follows the dirt management trail and the 'Davidson Track' sign around the gate, keeping the pipe on the left of the track. The track soon passes a brick pump house, as the track becomes asphalt and starts to steeply head downhill. Partway down the hill, there is a lookout point on the pipe, then at the bottom of the first hill is a creek-crossing and sign welcoming people to 'Garigal National Park'. Past the sign, the track starts to head downhill again, as it winds down to the creek and the signposted intersection with Governor Phillip track, just near the pipe bridge.

Pipeline

This pipeline is unearthed at Hunter Street, St Ives, and travels through Garigal National Park, across Middle Harbour Creek to John Oxley Drive, Sorlie. The pipe carries water under pressure From Ryde to Pymble to the reservoir at Beacon Hill. The old smaller-capacity pipe can still be seen running parallel to the larger pipe.

Maps for the Davidson Track 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.

Hornsby	1:25 000 Map Series	91304S HORNSBY	NSW-91304S
Sydney	1:100 000 Map Series	9130 SYDNEY	9130

Cross sectional view of the Davidson Track bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Davidson Track

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.

		Length	2 km
		Time	1 hr 15 mins
		.
Grade 4/6 Hard track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
		Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited 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

This whole walk, 1000m is very steep.

Quality of track

This whole walk, 1000m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

This whole walk, 1000m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 1000m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 1000m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

This whole walk, 1000m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Davidson Track walk.

Davidson Track to Carroll Creek and Ferguson St

3.8 km One way, 1 hr 30 mins

Starting from John Oxley Drive, Davidson, this walk descends steeply into Garigal National Park, along a wide asphalt service trail. The walk follows a lovely bush track along the eastern bank of Middle Harbour creek before following Carroll Creek up to the end of Ferguson St, Forestville. There are

Total climbing: 128m

Hard track

The Pipeline Way

4.7 km One way, 2 hrs 15 mins

This pleasant walk follows the pipeline, from Hunter Avenue in St Ives, to John Oxley Drive, Davidson. The walk follows the pipeline down into the valley and crosses Middle Harbour Creek (via a quick upstream detour to the Bungaroo Track crossing) before climbing out of the valley to John Oxley Driv

Total climbing: 213m

Hard track

Davidson Exploration

5.8 km One way, 2 hrs 30 mins

This walk partially circumnavigates the suburb of Davidson. Starting on Stone Pde, the walk follows the cascades track down to Middle Harbour Creek and follows the creek downstream to the pipeline. The walk finishes with an uphill slog, following the pipeline, to John Oxley Drive.

Total climbing: 243m

Hard track

Governor Phillip Walk

7 km Return, 3 hrs 45 mins

Named in honour of NSW's first Governor, this walk follows in the footsteps of his 1788 expedition to find farm land. The walk starts at the end of Ferguson St, Forestville. Passing the NPWS office and depot, the walk then follows Carroll Creek down to the official start of the Governor Phillip Wa

Total climbing: 222m

Moderate track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Davidson Track walk.

East Killara Bushtrack

2.6 km One way, 1 hr 15 mins

This walk explores a section of Middle Harbour and Gordon Creek following a narrow bush track. The walk provides some great views across Middle Harbour Creek and the bushland of the area. This walk also gets close to the mangroves along Middle Harbour creek. With the right tide, these mangroves can

Total climbing: 133m

Hard track

Cascades Track (from Davidson)

3 km Return, 1 hr 15 mins

This pleasant, return walk starts in Davidson and follows the Cascades Track along the management trails as it winds down into the valley. In the main valley, the walk comes to the Cascades just upstream of the Frenchs and Middle Harbour Creeks junction. The Cascades are surrounded by rock platform

Total climbing: 119m

Moderate track

Bungaroo Track

3.6 km Return, 1 hr 30 mins

This walk explores a section of bush between Hunter Ave, St Ives, and Middle Harbour Creek. The walk follows a reasonably well defined bush track, passing several rocky outcrops with views across the valley. The walk is named after Bungaroo, a spot of Middle Harbour creek which was described by th

Total climbing: 237m

Hard track

Founders Way

3 km Return, 1 hr 30 mins

This return walk starts at the Founders Way track head, in St Ives, and follows the pipeline through the National Park. The walk heads down into the valley where it comes to the Middle Harbour Creek pipe bridge. There is a short, optional side trip along the Bungaroo Track to the stepping stones cr

Total climbing: 137m

Moderate track

Bungaroo and Founders Way Loop

3.5 km Circuit, 1 hr 30 mins

This circuit walk starts at Founders Way and follows the Bungaroo bush track through the national park to Middle Harbour Creek. There is an optional side trip to the creek crossing before returning, via the pipe bridge and the Pipeline Track. Along the Bungaroo Track there are plenty of opportuniti

Total climbing: 190m

Hard track

East Killara Track

6 km One way, 2 hrs 45 mins

This walk starts and finishes at different points on Eastern Arterial Road. The walk follows a mixture of service trails and bush tracks through Garigal National Park, along Middle Harbour Creek, then heads back out to Eastern Arterial Road, on the other side of Killara.

Total climbing: 296m

Hard track

Killara to St Ives via Rocky Creek

6.8 km One way, 3 hrs

This pleasant walk starts at the bottom of Eastern Arterial Road (near the speed camera) and follows the service trails and bush tracks into Garigal National Park and down the side of the valley to Middle Harbour Creek. From here the track follows Middle Harbour Creek north to the pipe bridge, and a

Total climbing: 400m

Experienced only

Middle Harbour Creek Loop

15.1 km Circuit, 5 hrs 45 mins

This walk explores the upper reaches of Middle Harbour Creek, starting and ending at the great parklands at Davidson Park, in Garigal National Park. There are plenty of nice spots along the way to rest and enjoy the views. There are several sandstone overhangs, plenty of water views and most of the

Total climbing: 570m

Experienced only

The Lyrebird Track

5.3 km Return, 2 hrs

This pleasant return walk starts from the end of the Davidson Reserve picnic area and follows the Lyrebird Track through the bush, along the edge of Middle Harbour Creek, to the stepping stone crossing on Carroll Creek. The stepping stones are a great place to take a break before returning along th

Total climbing: 100m

Moderate track

St Ives to Davidson Park via Casuarina Track

9 km One way, 4 hrs

This walk starts in St Ives and follows the Pipeline and Bungaroo tracks down to Middle Harbour Creek, crossing the creek at the stepping stones and continuing to Davidson Picnic area. Much of this walk follows Middle Harbour Creek, providing great water views and passing some interesting sandstone

Total climbing: 399m

Hard track

The Pipeline Track

4.7 km Return, 2 hrs

This walk explores the bush from St Ives, and follows the pipeline down the the banks of Middle Harbour. There are a few steep sections in the second half of the walk. This walk is an interesting way to get into the heart of Garigal National Park following the Founders track.

Total climbing: 206m

Moderate track

Casuarina Track (Davidson Park to Ferguson St)

3.8 km One way, 1 hr 45 mins

Starting at Davidson Picnic area, this walk follows the ridge above Middle Harbour Creek, giving some great views along the way. The walk explores the sandstone formations, and passes an aboriginal midden along the way. Soon after passing the national park office, the walk finishes at the end of F

Total climbing: 293m

Hard track

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Davidson Track walk starts and ends at the John Oxley Drive (Sth of Prahran Ave) (gps: -33.747029, 151.19987)

Bus. (get details)

Car. There is free parking available.<br /> (get details)

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.

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