Mt Kuringai to Berowra via Benowie Track, Berowra Valley NP Sydney

A very picturesque and varied walk in Sydney’s north. There’s a variety of attractive forest, water views, and other environments like salt marsh.

Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney

Our first time doing this walk from Mt Kuringai to Berowra via the Benowie Track in Berowra Valley National Park. I tend to think I’ve already done the good walks around Sydney so I didn’t expect all that much, but it exceeded expectations. There’s very picturesque scenery along Calna Creek and Berowra Creek, a variety of forest types, water views including dark reflective pools, and other environments like salt marsh and mangroves. There are also steep sided hills along the creeks, which I like. Track notes at the end.

Mt Kuringai to Berowra via Benowie Track: The Scenery

Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
There were some wildflowers out on the higher and dryer sections of the walk near the start. Pictured is some kind of Styphelia (Five Corners).
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Wildflowers near the start.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Some rock overhangs in the first section of the walk.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Contrasts of form and colour.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Some old bushfire damage.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Lots of green rocky creek crossings once the tracks drops down.

Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney

Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
This grass tree looked like it had been to the hairdressers.

Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney

Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
The first of a number of dark and reflective pools.

Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney

Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Calna Creek begins to widen here.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Calna Creek
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Attractive forest on the banks of Calna Creek.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Calna Creek
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
A camping area on the banks of Calna Creek as it nears Berowra Creek.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Sophia standing amongst salt marsh. There’s a steep climb up the hill behind
her.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Salt marsh.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Salt marsh. It’s becoming rarer apparently.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Grass trees in front of Berowra Creek.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Grass Trees in front of Berowra Creek.

Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney

Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
The view of Berowra Creek from Naa Badu Lookout, just a short side trip off the main track when you have completed the climb out from the area of salt marsh.
Mt Kuring-gai to Berowra, Sydney
Some sections towards Berowra had been burnt out.

Track Notes

We used track notes in A Day in the Bush, but there are also track notes online at Wildwalks. There are sign posts which help decide where to go at track junctions. The start of the walk is a short walk from Mt Kuring-gai Station. You take the Benowie Track for much of the walk, and also a section of the 250km Great North Walk. It’s of moderate difficulty with a steep descent at the start and a steep ascent near the end. Worth taking the short side trip to Naa Badu Lookout when you meet a fire trail after the steep climb up from Sams Creek. You’ll need to take the train back to the start (unless you want to walk back again).

Author: Edward Hathway

I'm a clinical psychologist and keen hiker.

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