This pleasant walk follows the pipeline, from Hunter Avenue in St Ives, to John Oxley Drive, Davidson. The walk follows the pipeline down into the valley and crosses Middle Harbour Creek (via a quick upstream detour to the Bungaroo Track crossing) before climbing out of the valley to John Oxley Drive. Let us begin by acknowledging the Guringai people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
top of the pipeline. | Photo by admin, 2009.following the pipeline near scout hall. | Photo by admin, 2009.Walking behind some houses. | Photo by admin, 2009.Pipeline at top of Founders way track. | 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.Following the Pipeline Track. | 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.Following the creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Steps at the bottom of the Bungaroo track. | Photo by admin, 2009.continuing through the bush. | Photo by admin, 2009.Int of Gov. Phillip and Bungaroo tracks. | Photo by admin, 2009.Stepping stones across Middle Harbour Creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Int of Gov. Phillip and Bungaroo tracks. | Photo by admin, 2009.Cave on Governor Phillip track. | Photo by admin, 2009.Following the creek to the pipebridge. | Photo by admin, 2009.Bottom of Davidson track. | Photo by admin, 2009.Climbing up the management trail. | Photo by admin, 2009.Davidson service trail. | Photo by admin, 2009.Continuing through the bush. | Photo by admin, 2007.Garigal national park boundary. | Photo by admin, 2009.Steep section on Davidson service trail. | Photo by admin, 2009.Coming up to John Oxley Drive. | Photo by admin, 2009.Davidson Track trackhead at John Oxley Drive. | Photo by admin, 2009.
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 heads through the metal gate and follows the service trail down the hill, keeping the pipeline on the right, as it heads through the bush and behind the houses to the intersection of the wide service trail on the left.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After 30 m head through/around the gate.
After another 35 m pass the "Barra Brui Reserve" (9 m on your right).
After another 870 m continue straight, to head along Pipeline track.
After another 115 m continue straight, to head along Pipeline track.
After another 840 m continue straight, to head along Pipeline track.
After another 470 m turn sharp left.
After another 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, to head along Bungaroo Track.
After another 200 m cross the stepping stones (about 30 m long)
At the intersection of Governor Philip Track & Bungaroo Crossing turn right, to head along Governor Philip Track (a walking track).
After another 20 m find the "Bungaroo" (20 m on your left).
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.
After another 670 m (at the intersection of Governor Philip Track & Pipeline track) turn sharp left, to head along Pipeline track (a vehicle track).
After another 500 m continue straight, to head along Pipeline track.
After another 460 m come to "Richard Healy Reserve".
The end.
About 80 m past the end is a playground .
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities
The Pipeline Way
Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length
4.7 km
Time
2 h to 2 h 15 min
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient
Very steep (4/6)
Signage
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)