This was a pleasant daywalk in the northern suburbs. The weather forecast was not good and Bob and myself decided on a walk that was relatively sheltered. As it turned out, the weather was not too bad while we were walking.
Waratah Bay
We started from Berowra Station, and walked down the track to Waratah Bay on Cowan Creek. This track seems to follow an old road formation that was probably used a long time ago for access to the bay for boating. At the bay, is the wreck of an old houseboat.
Then there is very pleasant walking along the shore to Bobbin Head. On the way you need to cross three small bays – each of which has a short section of rainforest at the head. There is also a short section of wooden platform that you traverse.
Soo, we arrived at a larger bay – Apple Tree Bay. Here there are a lot of moored boats, a carpark and a kiosk. We continued on by walking along the road the short distance to Bobbin Head.
This was a good place to stop for lunch. We grabbed a coffee from the cafe and found a shelter sunny table in the large picnic area. It was school holidays but it was not busy. Perhaps the forecast had kept a lot of people away?
After our break, we left Bobbin Head and walked up the Gibberagong Track. This follows along Cockle Creek for a long way. It starts by crossing the creek via an impressive suspension bridge and then along a section of boardwalk through mangroves. Then it climbs a low ridge to where there is a turnoff to a nearby rock platform with aboriginal axe sharpening grooves.
There was another side track to a rainforest area in another creek. It was not far, but next time I would not bother with this side trip – as there is better rainforest as you walk up Cockle Creek.
It is peasant walking up the track as it follows up Cockle Creek. The creek itself would have been very attractive but the water looks very polluted and the banks were strewn with litter – plastic bottles and other rubbish. A shame!
Upstream are the Gibberagong Pools. If they were not so polluted they would be great swimming holes.
Then the track climbed up to a ridge and short way to a fire road. Then it was not far walking through attractive stringy bark forest to Grosvenor St, Wahroonga. Then 30 minutes more walking to the station.
More photos from the walk are online on my website here.
Berowra to Bobbin Head (or reverse) is one of my favourite walks in this area. So scenic around the shores of the creek and in the week, you can see almost no-one. I agree with you, the section on to Wahroonga is disappointing due to the water quality and increasing weeds. Bit of a road bash to the station too!