Bob suggested this walk, part of the Harbour to Hawkesbury Track, and it featured tracks that neither of us had visited before. Earlier we had walked from St Ives to Roseville Bridge along Middle Harbour Creek. This time we would be going in the opposite direction, mainly following Cowan Creek. Most of the walk is within Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
Like the earlier trip, we caught the 197 bus (I got on at Gordon Station) to Kitchener Street, St Ives. From the north end of Kitchener St, our walk started. The first section of just over 1 km was along a fire road that went down to a gully and then up the other side to Phillip Avenue, St Ives Chase.
From there, a short walk along streets led to the Warrimoo Trail. The first part of this was also a fire road. It turns into a walking track as it descend into the valley of Cowan Creek. It was easy, attractive walking with nice wildflowers and quite a few birds.
Once at Cowan Creek, which at the point is really an estuary, part of Broken Bay, the rack soon joins up with another track – the one that comes from The Sphinx. From there it is easy walking around the shoreline to Bobbin Head.
Along the way, we could not help notice a lot of middens. We searched in nearby caves for any Aboriginal Art – but without success.
At Bobbin Head, we visited the NPWS Shop, and then had lunch in one of the picnic shelters.
The next part of the walk, was along the road to the next picnic area at Apple Tree Bay. Then back to more shoreline walking. I had earlier walked this section on a solo walk from The Sphinx to Berowra, and later on a trip with Bob from Berowra to Wahroonga and out from Bobbin Head via the Gibberagong Track. This time we would take the much shorter option of walking out to Mt Kuring-gai.
The turn-off to the Mt During-gai Track starts a short walk along Cowan Creek. Not far before this we observed a lot of old stone work – it looked like there may have been buildings and terraces here long ago.
The walk to Mt During-gai was easy and pleasant and brought us right to the Station.
More photos from this walk are online here on my website.