Summary: The Willunga Trig Track takes you to the highest point in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. It's a short walk to the old trig point - but continue a bit further for the best views.

The Willunga Trig Track is one of the shortest bushwalks at West Head – but has a great view at the end. Although there is a bit of a trick to get the best views from this walk…

The signposted bushwalking track starts at a locked gate on West Head Road, opposite the Towlers Bay Trail. It climbs almost immediately through dry heathland of banksia and grevillea, with some views to the east over West Head. (This is one of the few walks at West Head that goes up to a “peak”, rather than descending from the ridge).

View from Willunga Trig Track

After an initial, short ascent the track levels out a little as it crosses a section of very low heathland.

AWAT2426 LR Sunset from the end of the Willunga Trig Track

Towards the end of the Willunga Trig Track, it ascends agains and enters taller scribbly gum and red bloodwood forest. The end of the trail is the Willunga Trig, the highest point in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park at an eyewatering 233m above sea level. The trig station (a metal pole) is not so impressive, but the view from here is pretty good. In the distance you can see Pittwater and the Pacific Ocean.

There are some nice flowers around the Willunga summit, including boronias and grevillea.

For the best views, you need to continue about a hundred metres to the west, beyond the trig point and the end of the Willunga Trig Track. It’s off-track and there’s a bit of a scramble down a few rocks, but it’s not too difficult. The destination is a rock platform at the western end of the ridge.

AWAT2359 LR Sunset from the end of the Willunga Trig Track

There’s a steep drop beyond the rock platform and sweeping views above the tree canopy.

Willunga panorama Sunset from the end of the Willunga Trig Track

Almost directly east is Pittwater, Clareville and and Barrenjoey Peninsula.

AWAT2367 LR Sunset from the end of the Willunga Trig Track

To the south is the Chatswood skyline and the Baháʼí House of Worship (Bahai temple) in Ingleside.

AWAT2368 LR Sunset from the end of the Willunga Trig Track

To the west is Cowan Creek and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park; the smoke is from hazard reduction burning around Berowra.

AWAT2378 LR Sunset from the end of the Willunga Trig Track
AWAT2395 LR Sunset from the end of the Willunga Trig Track

Once the sun has set, I head back down the Willunga Trig Track while there is still some daylight.

More information on the Willunga Trig Track

The track to the trig point is a formal bushwalking track. The last hundred metres to the end of the ridge is off-track with some easy rock scrambling.

Guide to West Head

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2 Comments

Katrina Hemingway (D2) · August 27, 2021 at 3:58 pm

Love the flowers, Oliver. Nice story.

    oliverd :-) · August 27, 2021 at 5:51 pm

    Ha! Thanks – thought you might appreciate these 🙂

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