This lesser-known bushwalk explores the lesser-known Mount White section of Popran National Park, as it (mostly) follows firetrails out to Big Jims Point. I suppose the obvious question is “who is Big Jim”? I’m glad you asked… This section of Bar Point on the Hawkesbury River may have been named after James “Big Jim” Stanbury (1868-1945), a famous rower who was born on Mullet Island. The name was changed from Green Point to Big Jims Point on the December 1972 parish map and officially gazetted as Big Jims Point in August 1975. So the point may also have been named after James Branan, who bought 50 acres of land here in 1835 for five shillings per acre.
The bushwalk starts along the old Pacific Highway, where a steep and un-signposted trail drops down the embankment and initially follows a property fence line.
A helpful marker stuck in the ground suggests you’re on a “proposed track”, which still feels like a fairly real track. It soon reaches the Big Jims Point Trail, a wide firetrail.
After about 2.4km, we leave the firetrail for a side-trip out to Berowra Trig – it’s a fairly long 8km (return) walk along the ridge to the end of Bar Point. But it also offers some great views from the historic trig site.
A few hours later we’re back on Big Jims Point Trail, which initially ascends to the top of the ridge.
It’s pleasant walking despite being a firetrail, with some views of Mount White to the north.
For the last few hundred metres, the trail follows the top of the cliffs above the Hawkesbury River, before the final ascent to Big Jims Point.
Unfortunately the views and serenity are somewhat marred by multiple communication towers and an enormous electricity pylon – but a small rock platform provides a nice view down the Hawkesbury River to the south.
The best views are from what I call Big Jims Lookout, a long rock platform along the top of of the cliffs about 500m back down the firetrail from the top of the point. From here there are unobstructed Hawkesbury River views looking north towards Gentlemans Halt and the town of Spencer.
We continue to re-trace our steps from here back along Big Jims Point Trail, to where it meets the Trinity Trail. Rather going back the same way, I continue along the Trinity Trail to form a loop bushwalk. At some point the Trinity Trail becomes the 115 Trail before ending in a small clearing.
Although AllTrails shows a trail, there isn’t one… it’s a bushbash down the side of the ridge. The scrub is not very thick so it’s not difficult, but if you’re doing Big Jims Point as a loop bushwalk keep this in mind!
After a few hundred metres the route reaches a creek, which you need to cross – a short distance downstream from here is what the Hill View Bushwalkers call “Snotty Nose” – “a waterfall over a nose-shaped rock”. But I don’t have time to explore this today.
Just across the creek is the Upper Marlows Gully Track, another wide and occasionally boggy firetrail.
The firetrail ascends gently as it heads back towards the Pacific Highway, making a small “kink” around a property before reaching Big Jims Point Trail to complete the loop.
Big Jims Point is about a 12km loop – it’s a similar distance doing it as an “out and back” bushwalk, which means the entire walk is on firetrails. If you’re doing the side-trip to Berowra Trig, add another 8km and around three hours, and allow a full day.
Getting to Big Jims Point
The start of the Big Jims Point bushwalk is along the old Pacific Highway; look for the trail at -33.475440, 151.189410 which drops down the embankment and away from the road. There is parking along the shoulder of the old Pacific Highway. It’s about 21km (20min) from the start of the M1 Pacific Motorway at Wahroonga.
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