Epping to Gordon Station
Download & Print Map and Notes4 hrs 15 mins
365 m
Hard track
(0km) Epping Station → End of Pembroke street
1 km
18 mins
1m
-46m
Very easy
(1.02km) End of Pembroke St → Int on Epping Rd east of Terrys Creek
110 m
2 mins
1m
-2m
Very easy
(1.14km) Int on Epping Rd east of Terrys Creek → Int of Eastwood Station and Rest area tracks
40 m
1 mins
0m
0m
Easy track
(1.17km) Int of Eastwood Station and Rest area tracks → Int of Terry’s Creek Walking Track and Brown’s Waterhole Servicetrail
2 km
36 mins
37m
-46m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection the track heads under the Epping road bridge on the right side of the creek and onto the bushtrack which winds up the gentle hill to the intersection of the Epping Road bushtrack.
Continue straight: From the intersection the track follows the Browns Waterhole arrow down the short hill passing a sewage access point and signpost 15, continuing along side the creek to the intersection of the Browns Waterhole bushtrack.
Continue straight: From the intersection the track follows the bush track north east along the bushtrack winding along the creek and down across a wooden bridge continuing up and along through the bush to the intersection of the Browns Waterhole bushtrack.
Veer right: From the intersection the track heads north down the short hill and past a sewage access point, winding along the creek to the intersection of the Browns Waterhole bushtrack.
Continue straight: From the intersection the track follows the bushtrack north passing a sewage access point and continuing through the bush as the track winds along the right hand side of the creek, passing 2 more sewage access points along the track before coming to the signposted intersection of the Browns Waterhole track.
Turn right: From the intersection the track heads east down the gentle hill and around a sewage access point, continuing up the other side for a short while to the signposted intersection of the Browns Waterhole track.
Continue straight: From the intersection the track follows the Browns Waterhole arrow through the bush, winding all the way through the bush as it winds around to a rock platform with views of the M2 motorway bridge and continues through the bush for a short while to the signposted intersection of the Browns Waterhole track.
Turn left: From the intersection the track follows the bushtrack heading down and across the creek and up the other side coming to the signposted intersection of the Crimea road and Browns Waterhole tracks
Turn left: From the intersection the track follows the Browns Waterhole arrow north along the bushtrack crossing underneath the M2 moter way and continuing along, down some steps and through to the intersection of a bushtrack winding down across the creek.
Continue straight: From the intersection the track heads north east away from the M2 overpass, following the bushtrack through the valley as it winds down some wooden steps and joins onto a metal walkway which continues through dense bushland until joining back onto a dirt track and continues all the way along to the intersection of the Browns Waterhole track.
(3.14km) Int of Terry’s Creek Walking Track and Brown’s Waterhole Servicetrail → Browns Waterhole
40 m
1 mins
0m
-3m
Very easy
Browns Waterhole
(3.18km) Browns Waterhole → Browns Waterhole int
90 m
2 mins
1m
-5m
Moderate track
(3.27km) Browns Waterhole int → Int of the GNW and the Turramurra High School service trail
1.1 km
23 mins
52m
-25m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the concrete path uphill. The path winds up for about 100m, passing a few signs before coming to an intersection with a track[15] (on your right, that leads to an informal, unfenced lookout), just after a GNW arrow post[16], where the path mostly flattens out.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads uphill along the wide concrete path as it bends left. After about 50m, the path leads under some high tension power lines[17], then about 50m later, comes to an intersection with a track[18] (on your right), marked with a GNW arrow post and an aluminium ‘Lane Cove Valley’ map[19].
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post away from the face of the aluminium ‘Lane Cove Valley’ map sign[20] along the dirt trail. After about 30m, this walk crosses an ephemeral creek on a rock platform[21], coming to a spot behind some houses[22].
Continue straight: From the creek, this walk follows the management trail along the side of the hill, initially keeping the houses up to your left. The trail soon leads past a high tension power line tower[23] and along the side of the hill and gently up for about 200m to another metal high tension power line tower[24]. Here the trail bends left and leads up a fairly steep but short hill[25], where the trail then leads more gently uphill for another 400m before another short, steep climb[26]. From the top of this climb, the trail continues for about 70m before crossing over a rock platform[27] and coming to an intersection (about 25m below the Koombalah Ave gate[28], on your left).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the main trail gently along the side of the hill, keeping the valley to your right. After about 40m, this trail leads to an intersection with a track[29] (on your right), marked with a GNW arrow post (just as this trail bends left).
(4.41km) Int of the GNW and the South Turramurra High School trail → Int of the GNW and the Avondale creek service trail
490 m
13 mins
12m
-46m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[37] gently downhill, keeping the valley to your right for about 30m to come to a faint intersection with a track (on your right – this faint track leads down to an old weir).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the main track east, keeping the valley to your right. After about 120m, this track leads down (becoming steeper as it goes) to the cross the weir and bridge[38] over Avondale Creek to find a pleasant sandy beach on the Lane Cove River[39]. This last crossing may become impassable after heavy or prolonged rain. Here the track bends left and climbs up the timber steps[40] a short distance to come to a T-intersection with a wide trail marked with a GNW arrow post and a ‘Lane Cove Valley’ aluminum sign and map[41].
(4.9km) Int of the GNW and the Avondale creek service trail → Int of the GNW and the West Pymble service trail link track
210 m
4 mins
7m
-5m
Moderate track
(5.11km) Int of the Great North Walk and the West Pymble service trail link track → Int of GNW and Gloucester Ave service trail (sth)
1.3 km
29 mins
47m
-51m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post south, gently downhill for about 100m to come to a faint intersection with a track (on your left) marked with a GNW arrow post[52].
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the GNW arrow post[53] south, downhill for about 30m to come to a three-way intersection, marked with a GNW arrow post[54] (and a sign pointing right to ‘Marsfield’[55]).
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the GNW arrow post east, gently down along the side of the hill (keeping the valley to your right). After about 80m, this walk steps off a small rock platform[56] then crosses two flat timber bridges[57] over Congham Creek. Here the track continues for another 100m (passing close to a few houses[58]) to cross a small gully then climb up a few timber steps. About 70m further along the track, this walk passes a concrete sewerage access point[59] to come to an intersection with a faint track on your left (that leads a short distance to a management trail), marked with a GNW arrow post[60].
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[61] along the mostly flat track, keeping the valley to your left (running parallel with the high tension power lines, up to your left). After about 150m, this track leads close to a high tension power line tower[62], then comes to a locked green shed[63] opposite a fenced-off pipe bridge[64] (down in the valley to your right).
Continue straight: From the green shed, this walk follows the track as it winds along the side of the hill, keeping the valley to your right and initially keeping the high tension power line tower[65] on your left. After about 150m, this track winds up to a clear intersection with the Gloucester Ave fire trail, marked with a set of NPWS AND GNW arrow posts[66] (just under the high tension power lines[67]).
(6.42km) Int of GNW and Gloucester Ave service trail (sth) → Int of GNW and Gloucester Ave fire trail (east)
30 m
1 mins
1m
0m
Moderate track
(6.45km) Int of GNW and Gloucester Ave fire trail → Int. Great North Walk and Blue Hole Trk
1.5 km
31 mins
44m
-57m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Lane Cove Weir’ sign[76] south and gently downhill along the management trail. The trail winds downhill for about 200m to cross a concrete bridge[77] over Rudder Creek (beside a concrete sewerage pipe[78]). Here the trail leads uphill for another 80m to come to an intersection with the GNW track (on your left), marked with ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[79].
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Great North Walk’ sign[80] south, gently downhill past the NPWS no bikes or pets post[81] and along the track which soon bends left. The track leads gently down through a weedy section[82], then among the rocks and grass trees[83] for about 400m to come to a metal handrail[84]. The walk follows the two sections of handrail down this steeper stretch of rocky track, then the track mostly flattens out and leads under the large concrete Deburghs Bridge[85], with some graffiti[86]. Once on the other side of the bridge, this track leads along the side of the valley for another 50m to climb up a couple of steps[87] and come to three-way intersection, where a ‘Thornleigh via Great North Walk’ sign[88] points back along the track.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the sign to ‘Lane Cove River Weir via Great North Walk’[89] down the hill and steps, keeping the valley to your right. The track soon leads down some stone steps[90], then a little further along, partway down some timber steps, this walk comes to a three-way intersection[91], marked with a GNW arrow post.
(7.98km) Int. Great North Walk and Blue Hole Trk → Blue Hole
30 m
0m
0m
Moderate track
Blue Hole
(7.98km) Int. Great North Walk and Blue Hole Trk → Int. Great North Walk and Blaxland Rd Service Trail
320 m
6 mins
20m
0m
Moderate track
(8.3km) Int. Great North Walk and Blaxland Rd Service Trail → Allen Park
130 m
4 mins
20m
0m
Moderate track
Allen Park
(8.43km) Allen Park → House No.1 Blaxland Rd
360 m
7 mins
14m
-2m
Easy track
(8.79km) House No.1 Blaxland Rd → House No.52 Lady Game Drive
100 m
3 mins
0m
-23m
Hard track
(8.89km) House No.52 Lady Game Drive → Int. Lady Game Drive and Falls Creek Trk
110 m
2 mins
0m
-15m
Moderate track
(9km) Int. Lady Game Drive and Falls Creek Trk → Int. Blackbutt Creek Trk and Vale St
1.8 km
33 mins
54m
-7m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, tending right, while keeping the valley of the creek below on the left. The walk then comes to a section of concrete track, winding up the hill for a short time, to then contour along the hillside for approximately 1km. This walk continues, with the creek below on the right and the houses high on the right, to the signposted intersection.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill on the service trail, tending left for approximately 200m. The trail comes to an intersection, which is approximately 20m before a large, concrete drain head.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill towards the concrete sewerage inspection hole and then continues approximately 10m up to the rocky intersection on the left.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill away from the creek, to tend right. The track then continues on a slight upward gradient for approximately 300m, then follows a line of a house on the left, and passes a gate to the road, next to house No. 31.
(10.76km) Int. Blackbutt Creek Trk and Vale St → Gordon Station
980 m
20 mins
54m
-6m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the Gordon Station bus depot, this walk heads up the railed stairs to the ticket office for Gordon Station.
Maps for the Epping to Gordon 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.
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 Epping to Gordon Station bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Epping to Gordon 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 | 11.7 km | ||
Time | 4 hrs 15 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 | Minimal directional signs (4/6) | ||
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 4.8km has short steep hills. Whilst another 1.8km is flat with no steps and the remaining 100m is very steep.
Quality of track
7km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 2.9km follows a smooth and hardened path. Whilst another 1.8km follows a clear and well formed track or trail and the remaining 620m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
7km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 4.2km is clearly signposted. The remaining (100m) has minimal directional signs.
Experience Required
Around 10km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.5km requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 11km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 700m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 6km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 6km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Epping to Gordon Station walk starts at the Epping Station (gps: -33.772518, 151.08242)Your transport options to Epping Station are by;
Train. (get details)
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
Train. (get details)
The Epping to Gordon Station ends at the Gordon Station (gps: -33.756038, 151.15425)
Your transport options to Gordon Station are by;
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/etgs
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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