De Burgs Bridge to Thornleigh station
Download & Print Map and Notes3 hrs 45 mins
363 m
Hard track
(0km) Int. Opposite the end of Lady Game Drive → Int of GNW and Christie Park track
1.8 km
37 mins
47m
-64m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[1] north, gently downhill along the management trail. After about 80m, this trail crosses a concrete bridge[2] over Rudder Creek (beside a concrete sewerage pipe[3]). From here, the trail leads uphill for just shy of 200m to come to an intersection with the GNW track (on your left), where a ‘Lane Cove Weir’ sign[4] points back down along the trail.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Thornleigh Oval’ sign[5] west, gently down the track, away from the management trail. The track almost immediately passes the large metal pipe (crossing the Lane Cove River[6]) then winds down the rocky track[7] for about 200m, through open eucalypt forest[8] with some limited views left over the valley, to come to a weedy section of track marked with a concrete sewerage access point[9]. Here the track mostly flattens out and leads along the side of the hill for about 400m to head down a few steps and cross Quarry Creek[10]. The walk then heads up some steps and follows the track for another 30m to come to a T-intersection[11] with the Gloucester Ave fire trail, marked with a GNW and NPWS arrow post[12].
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the GNW arrow post[13] gently uphill along the management trail, away from the gate whilst keeping the power line poles on your left. After about 30m (just past the second power pole), this trail leads to an intersection with a track (on the left), marked with another set of NPWS & GNW arrow posts[14] (just under the high tension power lines[15]).
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[16] south, downhill along the track and under the high tension power lines[17]. The track winds gently downhill for almost 150m until, just after passing close to the the high tension power line tower[18], this walk comes to a locked green shed[19] opposite a fenced-off pipe bridge[20] (down in the valley to your left).
Continue straight: From the green shed, this walk follows the track[21] along the side of the hill, keeping the valley to your left (running parallel with the high tension power lines, up to your right). After about 150m, this walk comes to an intersection with a faint track on your right (that leads a short distance to a management trail), marked with a GNW arrow post[22].
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post along the mostly flat track, through the dense forest, and almost immediately passes a concrete sewerage access point[23]. After about 70m, this walk heads down a few timbers steps to cross a small gully[24], where the track continues for another 100m (passing close to a few houses[25]), then crosses two flat timber bridges[26] over Congham Creek. Here the walk veers left up onto the rock platform[27] and follows the track gently uphill for another 80m to come to a three-way intersection, marked with a GNW arrow post[28] (and a sign pointing left to ‘Marsfield’[29]).
(1.77km) Int of GNW and Christie Park track → Int of the Great North Walk and the West Pymble service trail link track
760 m
18 mins
42m
-36m
Hard track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[32] gently uphill along the side of the hill (keeping the valley to your left) for about 100m to come to a small clearing and three way intersection, marked with yet another GNW arrow post[33] and a pile of rocks[34] (on your left).
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[35] up the short rocky hill[36] and away from the high tension power lines[37]. The track (rocky early on[38]) leads along the side of the hill among some grass trees[39] for about 300m before passing under the power lines again. Here the track continues for another 300m along the side of the valley to come to a clear intersection with intersection with a wide management trail[40].
(2.53km) Int of the GNW and the West Pymble service trail link track → Int of the GNW and the South Turramurra High School trail
700 m
17 mins
51m
-19m
Moderate track
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post, directly away from the face of the ‘Lane Cove Valley’ aluminum sign and map[45], down the track and timber steps[46] to a sandy beach on the Lane Cove River[47]. Here the walk turns right to cross the weir and bridge[48] over Avondale Creek, (this may become impassable after heavy or prolonged rain) then climb gently uphill for about 120m to come to a faint intersection with a faint track (on your left – this faint track leads down to another old weir).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads gently uphill following the main track, whilst keeping the valley to your left for about 30m to come to a clear Y-intersection marked with a GNW arrow post[49].
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[50] along the track, keeping the Lane Cove River a short distance to your left[51]. After about 80m, the track steps up to and crosses a short section to timber boardwalk/bridge[52]. Here the walk climbs up the rocky hill following a series of concrete access points[53] and timber steps[54] for about 230m to come to a T-intersection with a management trail, marked with a GNW arrow post[55].
(3.22km) Int of the GNW and the Turramurra High School service trail → Int of GNW and Kissing Point Road path
870 m
18 mins
24m
-35m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection just below the Koombalah Ave gate, this walk follows the management trail gently downhill, whilst keeping the valley to your left. The trail initially leads over a rock platform, then about 50m later, leads down a steep hill[58]. The trail then heads gently down for about 400m before a short steep hill[59] leads down to a metal high tension power line tower[60]. Here the trail bends right and leads down and along the side of the hill for another 200m to pass another high tension power line tower[61] and head behind a few houses. Just behind the second house, this walk comes to ephemeral creek on a rock platform[62].
Continue straight: From here, this walk crosses the ephemeral creek[63] (keeping the houses up to your right) and continues along the trail for about 30m to come to a T-intersection with a wide, shared, concrete path, marked with several signposts[64].
(4.1km) Int of GNW and Kissing Point Road trail → Browns Waterhole int
260 m
5 mins
1m
-17m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads fairly steeply downhill along the concrete path. The path passes a few signs[70] over about 100m, then comes to an intersection with a track (on your left), marked with a timber barricade and a GNW arrow post[71].
Veer right: From the intersection, this follows the concrete path downhill for just shy of 50m to come to a intersection with a dirt management trail[72]. This intersection is beside the Lane Cove River crossing[73] (on your left) and is marked with a ‘The Great North Walk’ sign here[74].
Browns Waterhole
(4.36km) Browns Waterhole int → Int of GNW and the STEP track (east)
570 m
12 mins
24m
-14m
Easy track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[82] downhill along the management trail for about 30m to cross a small culverted creek[83]. The walk then follows the trail up the short hill to come to an intersection with the signposted ‘STEP track’[84][85] (on your right).
(4.93km) Int of GNW and the STEP track (east) → Int of GNW and the STEP track (west)
580 m
10 mins
8m
-9m
Easy track
(5.51km) Int of GNW and the STEP track (west) → Int of GNW and the Pennant Hills Park track
1 km
18 mins
25m
-8m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Thornleigh Station’ sign[97] past the ‘Lane Cove Valley’ map, initially keeping the other trail and river to your left. The trail follows the valley floor, keeping the river just to your left, for a bit over 500m, to then cross the Lane Cove River at a rocky ford[98]. This crossing may become impassable after heavy or prolonged rain. On the other side of the river, this walk continues along the trail[99] for about 400m (with the river now close by on your right) to come to an intersection with a faint track[100] (on your left, that leads up towards Pennant Hills Park).
(6.54km) Int of GNW and the Pennant Hills Park track → Int of the GNW and the Morona Ave trail
1.2 km
21 mins
29m
-15m
Moderate track
(7.71km) Int of the GNW and the Morona Ave trail → Conscript Pass
330 m
8 mins
24m
-8m
Moderate track
Conscript Pass
(8.04km) Conscript Pass → Int of the GNW and Lorna Pass tracks
100 m
3 mins
19m
0m
Moderate track
(8.15km) Int of the GNW and Lorna Pass tracks → Int of GNW and BP scout camp tracks
230 m
7 mins
34m
0m
Hard track
(8.37km) Int of GNW and BP scout camp tracks → Int of Handley and Ferguson Avenues
350 m
7 mins
16m
0m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post along the fence line around the oval, keeping the oval to your left. After about 100m, this walk passes in front of the clubhouse[134] (there are toilets[135] and a water tap[136] on your right) to pass a ‘Great North Walk’ sign[137] and come to the corner of ‘Handley’ and ‘Ferguson’ Avenues[138] in front of the ‘Thornleigh Oval’ sign[139].
Thornleigh Oval
(8.73km) Int of Handley and Ferguson Avenues → Int of Railway Parade and Pennant Hills Road overpass steps
810 m
14 mins
18m
-4m
Very easy
(9.54km) Int of Railway Parade and Pennant Hills Road overpass steps → Thornleigh Train Station
110 m
2 mins
1m
-1m
Easy track
Maps for the De Burgs Bridge to Thornleigh station 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 |
Parramatta River | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91303N PARRAMATTA RIVER | NSW-91303N |
Sydney | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9130 SYDNEY | 9130 |
Cross sectional view of the De Burgs Bridge to Thornleigh station bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the De Burgs Bridge to Thornleigh station
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 | 9.7 km | ||
Time | 3 hrs 45 mins | ||
. | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
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
5km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 3.3km has short steep hills. Whilst another 1.1km is flat with no steps and the remaining 230m is very steep.
Quality of track
4.9km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 3km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. Whilst another 1.2km follows a smooth and hardened path and the remaining 620m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
Around 6km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 3.9km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 6km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 3.6km requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 7km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 3.1km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 5km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 4.3km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The De Burgs Bridge to Thornleigh station walk starts at the Int. Opposite the end of Lady Game Drive (gps: -33.77338, 151.1352)Your transport options to Int. Opposite the end of Lady Game Drive are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
The De Burgs Bridge to Thornleigh station ends at the Thornleigh Train Station (gps: -33.731948, 151.07815)
Your transport options to Thornleigh 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/dbbtts
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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