Hornsby to Fishponds
Download & Print Map and Notes2 hrs 30 mins
296 m
Hard track
(0km) Hornsby Train Station → Int of Quarry Road and Great North Walk
720 m
14 mins
8m
-34m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows Quarry Road down the gentle hill, leaving the houses[11][12] behind to come to an intersection with a track, signposted with a ‘Great North Walk’ sign[13] (on your left).
(0.72km) Int of Quarry Road and Great North Walk → Berowra Valley Bushland Park
540 m
14 mins
12m
-89m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Great North Walk’ sign[16] down the steep rock steps[17]. The walk winds steeply down a number of sets of stone steps, passing some large rock walls for a bit over 100m, to find a welcome flat section of track[18] midway the hill. As the track leads past some houses (through the trees on your left), this walk heads down more steps[19] before coming to the open area of ‘Berowra Valley Bushland Park’[20][21], at the end of Rosemead Road[22].
Berowra Valley Bushland Park
(1.26km) Berowra Valley Bushland Park → Int of Blue Gum Walk and Joes Mountain Service Trail
890 m
20 mins
45m
-39m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads downhill along the wide rocky management trail[35] as it bends left (and passing some houses off to the left). The trail then bends right[36] and leads across Old Mans Creek using some concrete stepping stones[37]. The walk then continues by heading up the moderately steep hill and then through a thick blue gum and bracken fern forest[38]. The wide trail leads to the top of the hill then bends left, (ignoring the track on the right[39]) to pass over a saddle[40]. Here the trail leads down the gentle hill[41], through the turpentine forest for just over 300m to find an intersection with narrower track on the right, marked with arrow posts[42].
(2.15km) Int of Blue Gum Walk and Joes Mountain Service Trail → Fishponds Lookout
300 m
7 mins
0m
-39m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Fishponds’ sign[45] along the flat narrow track past the ‘Berowra Valley Regional Park’ sign[46]. The track soon bends left (passing along the top of an unfenced cliff) then winds down some steep carved rock steps (with a hand rail)[47]. The rocky track then leads down along the side of the valley for just over 100m to cross a timber foot bridge[48]. The track then continues for another 70m to find a fenced rock platform[49] and signposted intersection[50].
Fishponds Lookout
(2.45km) Fishponds Lookout → Fishponds Bridge
350 m
8 mins
16m
-14m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the cave, this walk follows the ‘Galston Gorge’ sign[56] up the track and timbers steps. Soon the track turns left and follows a Great North Walk arrow up the hill[57], at the red and white ‘Danger’ sign[58](ignoring the other track). The track climbs up the carved steps[59] onto the rock platform and continues up the rocky track until just after passing through a narrow gap between two rocks[60], where this walk comes to the un-signposted (and faint) intersection with the Pogson’s Trig track (on the left).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down along the side of the hill[61], whilst keeping the main valley to your right. The track leads down some rocky steps, passing just above a rock platform (a short distance down on your right, with a plaque dedicated to ‘Cora’[62]). The track then leads down along the base of a cliff, passing under a rock overhang[63]. The track continues along the base of the cliff for another 50m then starts to wind downhill (with some handrails[64]) to come to a rock platform beside the creek[65]. This walk then crosses Berowra Creek on the flat timber bridge[66].
Fishponds
Maps for the Hornsby to Fishponds walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Hornsby | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91304S HORNSBY | NSW-91304S |
Sydney | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9130 SYDNEY | 9130 |
Cross sectional view of the Hornsby to Fishponds bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Hornsby to Fishponds
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length | 5.6 km | ||
Time | 2 hrs 30 mins | ||
. | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
Quality of track | Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) | ||
Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
Experience Required | Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6) | ||
Weather | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
1.2km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1km has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 350m is very steep and the remaining 180m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
1.7km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 890m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (180m) follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 1.7km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 1km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 2.1km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 690m requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 2.7km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 70m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 1.9km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 890m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Hornsby to Fishponds walk starts and ends at the Hornsby Train Station (gps: -33.703509, 151.09801)Your transport options to Hornsby Train Station are by;
Train. (get details)
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Metropolitan weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/htf
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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