Exploring Golf Ball Creek in Dundundra Reserve

I’m joining Phil and the “Old Desperates Walking Group” for another bushwalk that explores some of the less-visited corners of northern Sydney. The off-track route we’re taking descends to the top of Dundundra Falls, then continues along Kieran Creek before looping back up via “Golf Ball Creek”. Starting from Aumuna Road in Terrey Hills, we skirt around the edge of a large property before heading into the bush.

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We soon reach Neverfail Creek, near a small cascade. (The creek starts a relatively short distance upstream in the lighty populated edge of Terrey Hills.)

There’s a few more small pools and cascades, along the picturesque creek.

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It doesn’t take long before we reach the top of Dundundra Falls; a small waterfall that is normally reached via a walking trail from Larool Road.

The waterfall is about 15m high, and it doesn’t seem that there’s a way down to from the top… but Phil picks out a route that skirts around the eastern side of the falls, and down a small gap in the cliffs near the top half of the waterfall.

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We meet the falls again near the middle. where water cascades over a few tiers of sandstone.

A bit more clambering takes us to the bottom of the waterfall – and the confluence of Neverfail Creek and Kierans Creek. Passing the bushwalking track that goes up to the Larool Trail, we now continue down Kierans Creek. This next section is one of the (many) beautiful sections of Kierans Creek: relatively easy walking even though there’s no track, we pass some small pools and deep overhangs.

There is a bit more water flowing down Kierans Creek since last time I did this section, so the many small cascades along the creek are quite picturesque.

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The creek gets a bit rockier and our pace slows a little as we continue downstream, carefully picking the easiest way alnong the creek.

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Fallen trees and thick scrub impedes our progress as we near the junction with Golf Ball Creek, and the last hundred metres or so requires some serious bush-bashing.

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Finally we reach the confluence of a small side creek. Kierans Creek opens up again here, and there’s another small cascade where the creek flows over a rocky ledge.

We leave Kierans Creek here, and head up “Golf Ball Creek”. A small, natural pool near the bottom is filled with yellow gold balls – giving the creek its informal name. The creek starts near the Terrey Hills Par 3 Golf Course and driving range, and as a result collects what must be hundreds of golf balls. I’m not sure the creek’s real name – Phil has seen it referred to as Terreys Creek (but it’s unnamed on all my maps).

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Gold Ball Creek is much steeper and rockier than Kierans Creek, but is equally picturesque. We scramble up and around small cascades as we head upstream.

Halfway up the creek is a very tall line of of cliffs, that provides a slightly easier route up the creek.

As head further upstream, the vegetation starts to change: we leave the cooler, semi-rainforest environment of Kierans Creek and the lower part of Golf Ball Creek, and enter the more typical dry sclerophyll forest. The creek flows over some wide sandtone platforms, and there’s not only a trickle of water.

Just before reaching the end of the creek, we pick up a rough footpad that take us back up to Larool Road.

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It’s then a (comparatively) quick and easy walk along the Larool Trail and down Aumuna Road to return to the car.

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It’s been a very pleasant walk, and nice to have seen Dundundra Falls from the top as well as the bottom – and a pleasant reminder of how fortunate we are to have places like this to explore so close to a major city. My appreciation of our local flora and fauna is only slightly diminished when I glance at my leg while stopped at a traffic light on the way home, and realise my leg has been providing a fairly hearty lunch for three very plump leeches…