The part of Sydney north of Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River generally referred to as the Northern suburbs or Northern Sydney. Northern Sydney includes suburbs in the local government areas of Hornsby Shire, City of Ryde, City of Willoughby, North Sydney Council, Municipality of Mosman, Municipality of Lane Cove, Northern Beaches Council, Ku-ring-gai Council, Municipality of Hunters Hill and the eastern parts of the City of Parramatta Council. Suburbs include Epping, Chatswood, Dee Why, Ryde and Manly.
A relatively short and easy ranger-guided bushwalk at Muogamarra, the Bird Gully Walk descends into a valley where it crosses Muogamarra Creek. You’ll see wildflowers, birdlife and some Aboriginal grinding grooves,
The relatively unknown Wedgewood Fire Trail in Cowan ends at a large rock platform, which offers filtered bush views. It’s not the most exciting trail, but offers some great wildflower displays in Spring.
A partly off-track bushwalk around the Waratah Track and up to the Arden Trig to catch the sunset.
An exploratory walk out along Shark Rock Ridge to Want Trig, with some stunning views over Cowan Creek. There is a rough trail all the way along the ridge, although some navigation skills and a topo map are essential.
A dog-friendly and family-friendly bushwalk along a firetrail to Calabash Point. At the end of the trail are the fascinating ruins of the Fretus Hotel, built around 1900 and abandoned by 1920.
An easy walk along Coba Ridge via the Neverfail Fire Trail to Collingridge Point, which has nice views over Berowra Creek. A more challenging side-trip visits an Aboriginal rock art site and the Coba trig station.
An off-track route along “White Trig Ridge”, which passes the depiled White Trig before reaching some vantage points over Bobbin Head and Cowan Creek.
This North Head Loop is an interesting bushwalking circuit around North Head in Manly, which uses some “secret tracks” as well as official trails. The loop passes some stunning viewpoints and World War II historical ruins.
Allenby Park is a small but relatively unspoilt patch of bushland in the Northern Beaches. Walking trails provide access to rainforest, a picturesque creek and waterfall and nice rock formations.
An informal walking pad provides access to Refuge Bay at West Head. This spectacular spot has a waterfall which plunges onto the beach, a clifftop swimming hole, great views and fascinating WWII history.