Mount Kuring-gai, NSW
10.3 km (4 hrs )
★★★☆☆

This section of the Great North Walk (a 250 km track linking Sydney to Newcastle) explores the valleys and creeks of Berowra Valley National Park.

The track from Mount Kuring-gai Station descends steadily through Lyrebird Gully, from the drier sandstone plateaus at the top, through the rainforest that borders Lyrebird Gully Creek. There were plenty of wildflowers in bloom on the early spring day that I visited, especially the bright pink boronias. I am thankful that it had not rained for a while, since the track involved crossing and re-crossing Lyrebird Gully Creek numerous times, often by scrambling over boulders.

Two highlights of the walk are the salt marsh at Calna Creek and the Naa Badu Lookout (Aboriginal for see the water). It was a great day out and being able to get to and from the walk by train was a bonus.