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 crossing the creek. Let us begin by acknowledging the Darug people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Founders Way. | Photo by admin, 2009.Founders Way. | Photo by admin, 2009.Intersection near the lower entrance from Hunter St. | Photo by admin, 2009.Welcome to Garigal National Park. | Photo by admin, 2009.Service trail along pipeline track. | Photo by admin, 2009.Continuing through the bush. | Photo by admin, 2009.Looking up the hill. | Photo by admin, 2009.Continuing through the bush. | Photo by admin, 2009.Heading through the bush. | Photo by admin, 2009.The pipeline crossing Middle Harbour Crk. | Photo by admin, 2007.Following the bushtrack. | Photo by admin, 2009.Through the bush beside the creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Crossing over a fallen tree. | Photo by admin, 2009.Intersection at the bottom of the Bungaroo Track. | Photo by admin, 2009.Middle Harbour Creek crossing. | Photo by admin, 2007.
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
Getting started From the intersection, this walk follows the Founders Way service trail, heading away from the road and past a picnic seat, continuing along to the 'T' intersection with the pipeline track.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After another 70 m turn left.
After another 115 m continue straight.
After another 840 m continue straight.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Int of Gov. Phillip and Bungaroo tracks. To start this optional side trip turn sharp left here. On returning from this side trip turn sharp right when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
Continue another 470 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 1.5 km to get back to the start.
An optional side trip to Int of Gov. Phillip and Bungaroo tracks.
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After 50 m find the "Pipeline" (on your left).
Pipeline
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.
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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.
After another 390 m continue straight.
After another 200 m cross the stepping stones
After another 30 m come to the end.
About 20 m past the end is "Bungaroo".
Bungaroo
Bungaroo
Governor Arthur Phillip (first governor of NSW) described this section of the river as where "the flowing of the tide ceased". Phillip and his party of nine camped here in 1788 whilst looking for land suitable for farming. John White (Surgeon General) described the the area as "the most desert, wild and solitary seclusion that the imagination can form any idea of". Over the past 200 years the river has changed, but somewhere not far upstream of the stepping stone is Bungaroo.
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Governor Arthur Phillip (first governor of NSW) described this section of the river as where "the flowing of the tide ceased". Phillip and his party of nine camped here in 1788 whilst looking for land suitable for farming. John White (Surgeon General) described the the area as "the most desert, wild and solitary seclusion that the imagination can form any idea of". Over the past 200 years the river has changed, but somewhere not far upstream of the stepping stone is Bungaroo.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 670 m to the main route.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities
Founders Way
Grading
Class 3/6
Moderate track
Length
3 km
Time
1 h 15 min to 1 h 30 min
Quality of track
Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure
Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required
No experience required (1/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
Bushwalk
1 h 15 min to 1 h 30 min
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After 50 m find the "Pipeline" (on your left).
After another 200 m cross the stepping stones
About 20 m past the end is "Bungaroo".
