The Darri Track is a local bushwalk that’s never been particularly appealing, as it follows a fairly thin “finger” of bushland reserve that juts out into suburban St Ives, eventually meeting the Warrimoo Track. (The word ‘Darri’ means ‘track’ or ‘foot’ in the local Aborginal dialect; ‘Warrimoo’ translates as ‘eagle’).
As I’m putting together a guide to all the trail in Ku-ring-gai Chase, I need to see what this bushwalk is really like. I’m starting the bushwalk near the end of Toolang Road, rather than the very start of the Darri Track at the end of Bedford Avenue, as this makes a more convenient start and end point for a loop walk. I join the Darri Track just after crossing Cowan Creek.
The track is a wide fire trail here as it rises above Cowan Creek.
The Darri Track then descends again to follow the creek, before crossing it and continuing along the other side.
After the junction with a side-track up to Glengarry Avenue, the Darri Track splits into two, with a narrow bushwalking trail to the left, and wider trail to the right. You can take either route, but the bushwalking track to the left is a bit more interesting.
The track runs parallel to the fire trail, passing through ferns and across a creek; no houses are visible but from time to time there’s pockets of weed and non-native plants.
Eventually the bushwalking track re-joins the fire trail, and starts ascending up the valley. Initially a paved path with a metal handrail, the path soon reverts to being a bushwalking track.
The track continues ascending, up a few stone steps and past some some sandstone formations and a rather sad-looking Kuringai Chase National Park sign. There’s a few side-tracks that are a bit misleading; the Darri Track is marked in a few spots by pink ribbons.
After an un-signed track that goes to Timbarra Road, the Darri Track passes a wide sandstone platform before reaching the Warrimoo Track.
From the end of the Warrimoo Track, it’s back along Warrimoo Avenue to close the loop. A mix of fire trail and bushwalking trails, the Darri Track has been more interesting than I expected – and for most the route you’re not aware that houses are never too far away.
0.0km End of Toolang Road (St Ives) 0.2km Darri Track 1.1km Track crosses Cowan Creek 1.7km Junction with track up to Glengarry Avenue 4.1km Junction with track to Timburra Road 4.7km Darri Track reaches Warrimoo Track 5.2km End of Warrimoo Track (Timburra Road) 7.3km Turn right onto Toolang Road 7.7km End of Toolang Road
More information on the Darri Track
The Ku-ring-gai Council has a Darri Track Guide [PDF] – which is useful, but doesn’t explain the various trail markers (posts with symbols on them) that you see along the trail. An older Darri Track flyer explains what you can hear, touch and see along the track.
For more bushwalks (as well as swimming spots and other activities) visit the Guide to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
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