Cowan to Crosslands Reserve along Great North Walk

Nearby Destinations

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Other guides in Australia's Great North Walk: Lower End From Sydney Harbour to Woy Woy

view the Australia's Great North Walk: Lower End From Sydney Harbour to Woy Woy guide bundle

Nearby Guides

Cowan to Crosslands Reserve along Great North Walk

Viewed 6316 times

(1 vote)

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 9.4 miles / 15.1 km
Duration: Full day

Family Friendly

Download to Phone

View Large Map

View Photos

Overview: COWAN TO CROSSLANDS: 14.1 km (moderate)

Walking west from Cowan station down a steep trail eventually coming to the Hawkesbury River at Berowra Waters and then south along Berowra Creek through the relatively undisturbed bushland of Berowra Valley Regional Park; Crosslands Reserve, as far as the trail turn-off to Sommerville Road.

Berowra Waters Inn: on a sea-plane, fly in from Rose Bay or Palm Beach with a spectacular 30-minute flight over Sydney Harbour and the bushland of the national parks on the way to Berowra Waters, which is on the Great North Walk.

Full details about the Great North Walk can be found at http://www.thegreatnorthwalk.com
We also recommend accessing e-trails and guides at Great North Walk books - http://tiny.cc/Buy2GNWbooks

Watch a hike movie http://vimeo.com/10912042

Download EZ Guide to Great North Walk and downloadable e-trails http://tiny.cc/EZguideGNW

Tips: DON'T MISS
Berowa Car Ferry -- takes foot passengers too -- runs 24 hours a day 7 days a week and is well worth the ride. Great Deal –buy both Great North Walk books -http://tiny.cc/Buy2GNWbooks

Berowra Waters Engraving: just 200 m from an easy-to-reach car park and on the Great North Walk track itself, this rock is often overlooked

PLACES TO STAY
A useful website for accommodation on the Hawkesbury at Berowra Waters (some accessible only by boat). Although not offering accommodation, the Berowra Waters Inn has a renowned (and high class) restaurant and there are other restaurants in the vicinity. A link track to the GNW takes you to Berowra and access to the railway line. In Berowra, there is accommodation at Berowra Village Tavern.

Points of Interest

map

Great North Walk - Get on Track

From Cowan Station (arriving by train is best but there is car parking here) carefully cross the Pacific Highway and walk south to the signpost leading west. Cowan offers cafes and toilet facilities. Make sure you have enough water with you.

map

GNW Signs

The descent into Berowra Creek's valley starts on easy trails and becomes steeper as you descend. Keep an eye out for Great North Walk trail signs.

map

Berowra Waters Aboriginal Engraving

Berowra Waters Engraving: just 200 m from an easy-to-reach car park and on the Great North Walk track itself, this rock is often overlooked even by those who know this trail well. From the F3 Freeway take the Berowra turning and go down Berowra Waters Road to the ferry. Walk north along the track by the side of the creek past the car park and look for a large rock next to the path on your right. The engravings are a little tricky to decipher but include a man in a head-dress, an animal (perhaps a koala) and another figure.
As you walk beside the river, notice that the trail is built on piles and piles of shells. These middens are evidence of the hundreds of indigenous families that lived here exploiting the abundant shellfish as a staple food.

map

Berowra Car and Foot-passenger Ferry

Berowra Waters offers a couple of small cafes one each side of the creek -- cross by the Car & Foot Ferry which runs 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The ride is worth the trip -- just for fun!
For a more up-market experience there is the Berowra Waters Inn [Great North Walk Heritage Dinners]: (33° 35′ 44″S, 151° 7′ 18″E). You can even arrive on a sea-plane, fly in from Rose Bay or Palm Beach with a spectacular 30-minute flight over Sydney Harbour and the bushland of the national parks on the way to Berowra Waters, which is on the Great North Walk.

map

Track by Berwora Creek

Grass trees about along the side of this creek and there are also a few small campsites. These offer only space for tent and abundant wood for fires (check the status of fire bans in the summertime). There is water in the creek but this MUST be treated before drinking.

map

Footbridge

As you walk beside Berwora Creek there are many crossing places where tiny tributaries join the creek. Some of these are forded with stepping stones and a few have footbridges.

map

Berowra Creek

This part of the Great North Walk runs very close to the edge of Berowra Creek. You are best advised to check on tides since this part is tidal and, after very wet weather can submerge the trail.

map

Saltmarsh Information Board

There are quite a few signs along this part of the trail with information about local Aboriginal people, flora and fauna and particularly explaining about the salt-marsh ecosystems that you will see.

map

Rock Shelter

Along the side of the creek there are many places where middens (old shell piles) can be seen -- look especially near Berowra Waters and also rock shelters which show evidence of long occupation prior to European settlement of Australia.

map

Grass Trees

You will admire the Grass trees — Xanthorrhoea — that grow along this part of the Great North Walk's path. These impressive plants can live 900 years; have flower spikes that can grow at a rate of 7 cm per day. They were used as food by Aborigines; used by European settlers for explosives, glue, medicine and perfume.

map

Indigenous Information

Stop here to learn more about Australia's earliest settlers - Darug Aboriginal People.

map

Crosslands Park

Crosslands Reserve is a popular Park and quite heavily used in holiday periods and at weekends. There are toilet facilities, self-guided walks, barbecue places and loads of picnic tables. There is also a keen boating, canoeing and kayaking community. Although the sign-posting and play areas make this very family-friendly, the traffic around the car park can be busy -- take care with children and pets.

map

Darug People

More details of the Darug People (this region's original inhabitants) can be found at the Hawkesbury Regional Museum. This museum offers guided heritage walks and exhibits on indigenous heritage of the Darug people and the European built environment dating back to the earliest days of British coloisation. Located at 8 Baker Street, Windsor, NSW (+61 2 4560 4655). Windsor is about 27 km due west of the Great North Walk.