great north walk
sydney to the hawkesbury river and the coast
It’s close to Sydney but you’ll feel like you’re a million miles away from the hustle and bustle. The Great North Walk is a popular 250km track linking Sydney to Newcastle in the north. We are offering the first section. It passes through some of the region’s most outstanding natural scenery, commencing with a ride on one of Sydney’s quaint harbour ferries.
Stroll through historic Hunters Hill admiring fine architecture dating back to the 1850s. Follow the Lane Cove River northwards through parkland that changes to steep sided gorges with dense forests and a chorus of bird song. This sandstone country is where walkers will find smooth barked apple trees (angophoras), notable for their fantastically twisted limbs and pink hues that are a photographer’s delight.
Continuing through Galston Gorge you’ll hike to Berowra Waters, a sleepy village in an idyllic location. Nestled deep in the gorges of Berowra Creek and accessed by a small ferry, Berowra Waters provides a handful of lucky residents with a magnificent hideaway, their houses only accessible by boat.
Further north the rivers become progressively wider until meeting the mighty Hawkesbury River itself. Mangroves lining the banks of the river provide soil stabilisation, a valuable natural water purification system and a rich breeding ground for aquatic animals. At the picturesque village of Brooklyn, make sure you try the local oysters for a real taste treat!
Spend two nights staying on Milson Island, a picturesque place located in the middle of the Hawkesbury River. Then travel by boat to Patonga and continue walking along coastal tracks to Umina Beach and Ettalong Beach. This holiday is a great choice for those who like hiking beside rivers and creeks and have a sense of adventure.
NOTE: The Great North Walk is also available as a self guided walking holiday
location
This holiday starts and finishes in the Sydney CBD.
travel
Air conditioned mini bus, ferries and train.
grading
You should be in reasonable shape, but there’s certainly no need to be an iron man!
Those doing the full route will walk 15-24km per day. Each day has at least one access point where you can finish early if you wish. The track is mostly narrow foot track alongside creeks and rivers. Some sections are rough underfoot and include creek crossings.
accommodation
On the first two nights we'll stay in comfortable cabins in the Lane Cove National Park. The next night will be in a three star hotel in Thornleigh. The next two nights will be in delighful cottages on Milson Island, an island in the Hawkesbury River that is only accessible by ferry boat (see the Fact Sheet). The final night is at comfortable beach cottages at Umina Beach.
what's included
Guiding, all transport from Sydney, 6 nights accommodation, 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners, Sydney Harbour ferry trip, several Hawkesbury River ferry trips, train ride, National Park fees, insulated lunch bag, maps, map case & a pack of information about the area.
not included
Alcohol, additional meals.
Departure dates
Please see our Departure Dates section of the website
prices
Please see our Prices section of the website
itinerary guide - 7 days
Day 1: 9am start in downtown Sydney. Walk down to Circular Quay and board the ferry for Woolwich. Begin by strolling through affluent Hunters Hill, admiring the fine 1850s architecture. Hike the first section of the Great North Walk through Lane Cove Valley. The terrain here features steep sided valleys that are characteristic of the sandstone that Sydney is built on. Accommodation: Lane Cove
Day 2: The track continues along the historic Benowie section, criss crossing pretty streams as it winds its way closer and closer to join the Hawkesbury. You’ll feel like you’re many miles away from the hustle and bustle of the nearby towns. Accommodation: Lane Cove
 Day 3: Galston Gorge is a major highlight today with its steep sided sandstone walls. The track hugs the river along this section, finishing at Crosslands Reserve. Accommodation: Thornleigh
Day 4: The track continues through sandstone bushland to eventually emerge at the idyllically located Berowra Waters. You’ll cross the river by ferry and experience a touch of river life as you enjoy lunch at one of the waterside cafes. After lunch the track continues uphill via picturesque streams to Cowan. Then it's a short trip by boat to a secluded island in the middle of the Hawkesbury River. Accommodation: Milson Island
Day 5: Descend through the forest to spectacular Jerusalem Bay. The track continues through sandstone country all the way to Brooklyn, home for retirees, fishermen and probably a few hermits as well. Accommodation: Milson Island
Day 6: After breakfast, board the River Postman ferry for the ride across to Patonga, another sleepy waterside village. From here we'll take the coastal route via Pearl Beach to Umina Beach. Accommodation: Umina Beach
Day 7: A morning beach walk brings us to Ettalong Beach and decision time. You can enjoy the famous Ettalong Markets for a couple of hours or take a cruise over to Palm Beach and back (extra cost, around $20). After lunch, board a train for a very scenic ride before rejoining the bus and heading back to Sydney. We expect to arrive in Sydney at around 3.00pm.
fact sheet
Would you like more detailed information about this trip?
Download our Great North Walk Group Guided Walking Holiday Fact Sheet. It contains a detailed itinerary with walking times and distances and more information on accommodations including photos of places you will stay at.
Note: If you are having trouble opening this Fact Sheet, please click on the link to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.
prices
See the prices section
how to book
See the booking section
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Auswalk Pty Ltd |
4 Red Gum Lease Track |
Halls Gap Victoria 3381 | Australia
Phone +61 (0)3 5356 4971 |
Fax +61 (0)3 5356 4970 | Email info@auswalk.com.au |
