Thornleigh to Marsfield
Download & Print Map and Notes2 hrs 30 mins
106 m
Hard track
(0km) Thornleigh Train Station → Int of Handley and Ferguson Avenues
920 m
16 mins
5m
-19m
Easy track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post up the concrete steps (or ramp) to cross Pennant Hills Rd using the overpass. On the other side of the road, this walk follows ‘Station St’ down away from the main road. Just over 200m along this footpath, this walk continues straight across ‘Wood St’[7] (you can get to Parkway Plaza if you turn left here) and, just under 200m further along ‘Station St’, crosses ‘Orchard St’ to continue (almost) straight ahead beside ‘Handley Avenue’. After about 250m, the walk cross Clifford Ave[8] then about 130m later, crosses the intersection of ‘Handley’ and ‘Ferguson’ Avenues to find the signposted gate at the front of ‘Thornleigh Oval’[9].
Thornleigh Oval
(0.92km) Int of Handley and Ferguson Avenues → Int of GNW and BP scout camp tracks
350 m
7 mins
0m
-16m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[21], downhill past the ‘Lane Cove National Park’ signpost[22] and heading into the bush. The rocky track leads downhill for about 40m before bending right (ignoring a faint track on your left[23]) and heading down the side of the hill for another 150m to three-way intersection, where a ‘Thornleigh Station’ sign[24] points back up along the track.
(1.28km) Int of GNW and BP scout camp tracks → Int of the GNW and Lorna Pass tracks
230 m
7 mins
0m
-34m
Hard track
(1.5km) Int of the GNW and Lorna Pass tracks → Conscript Pass
100 m
3 mins
0m
-19m
Moderate track
Conscript Pass
(1.61km) Conscript Pass → Int of the GNW and the Morona Ave trail
330 m
8 mins
8m
-24m
Moderate track
(1.94km) Int of the GNW and the Morona Ave trail → Int of GNW and the Pennant Hills Park track
1.2 km
21 mins
15m
-29m
Moderate track
(3.11km) Int of GNW and the Pennant Hills Park track → Int of GNW and Whale Rock trail
960 m
17 mins
8m
-25m
Moderate track
(4.06km) Int of GNW and Whale Rock trail → Int of GNW and the STEP track (east)
660 m
11 mins
9m
-8m
Easy track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[63] along the mostly flat management trail, initially keeping the sealed ‘Canoon Rd’ trail up to your left. The trail undulates through the tall forest[64] and valley (weedy in places[65]), keeping the river to your right, for just shy of 600m to come to an intersection marked with a ‘STEP track’ sign[66][67] (on your left).
(4.72km) Int of GNW and the STEP track (east) → Browns Waterhole int
570 m
12 mins
14m
-24m
Easy track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[71] south-east, gently up along the wide trail, keeping the main valley to your right. The trail leads gently up through the valley for about 400m, then under some high tension power lines[72], where there is a mostly clear view over the river[73] (to your right). Here the trail continues for another 80m to come to an intersection with a wide concrete path (just past the ‘Caution’ sign[74]), beside the Lane Cove River crossing[75] (on your right), marked with a ‘The Great North Walk’ sign[76].
(5.29km) Browns Waterhole int → Browns Waterhole
90 m
2 mins
5m
-1m
Moderate track
Browns Waterhole
(5.38km) Browns Waterhole → Int of Terry’s Creek Walking Track and Brown’s Waterhole Servicetrail
40 m
1 mins
3m
0m
Very easy
(5.42km) Int of Terry’s Creek Walking Track and Brown’s Waterhole Servicetrail → End of Vimiera Rd
630 m
14 mins
39m
-6m
Moderate track
Maps for the Thornleigh to Marsfield 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 Thornleigh to Marsfield bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Thornleigh to Marsfield
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 | 6.1 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
3.5km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 1.3km has short steep hills. Whilst another 1.1km is flat with no steps and the remaining 230m is very steep.
Quality of track
3.5km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.7km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (860m) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 5km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 660m has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 3.6km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 2.5km requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 3.5km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 2.5km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 3.4km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 2.7km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Thornleigh to Marsfield walk starts 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)
The Thornleigh to Marsfield ends at the End of Vimiera Rd (gps: -33.764966, 151.10605)
Your transport options to End of Vimiera Rd 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/ttm
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 🙂
Comments