Bairne Track

The Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park sits on the scenic Hawkesbury River and Pittwater, just a 30-minute drive away from the impressive city of Sydney, New South Wales. It provides that all-important escape to nature for locals and visitors alike, and an ideal spot to take to the water, enjoy a family picnic or cycle and hike around the park. The Bairne Walking Track is a 6 mi out-and-back trail that starts and ends on West Head Road and is the perfect hike for those looking for a leisurely stroll and the national park’s best views. The trail is graded as Medium difficulty and is usually completed in around 3 hours. For information on how we grade trails, please click here. And Caution is advised on trail times as this depends on multiple variables. For more info, click here.Follow the gently undulating stony, sandy fire track, past native bush and wildflowers, spotting wildlife like goannas and wallabies on the way, to reach a junction with paths leading to two lookouts; Towlers Bay, for stunning coastal vistas over sparkling blue bays and Soldiers Point, its path offering far more shade from the forest path and partial views through the tree of Lion Island and Currawong Beach. From here you can make your way down to the water or retrace your steps back the way you came. A wonderful trail for families, with picnic spots and plenty of wildlife to spot; it can be shorted by taking in just one of the lookouts, the Towlers Bay lookout being a favourite for the far-reaching views, otherwise head down to the Soldiers Point lookout if the shade is vital for young explorers. A $12 AUD park entry fee applies per vehicle, per day and dogs are not allowed in NSW national parks and reserves for the protection and conservation of the park and its wildlife. Photo Credit :Poyt448 Peter Woodard