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an adventurous track in Ku-

ring-gai

10 September 2020 (/posts/the-basin-walk) About Us

When we set off along the Basin Track we had no idea it was going
to end up being one of our favourite walks in Ku-ring-gai
(https://www.walkmyworld.com/posts/kuringgai-national-park-
walks). This fabulous loop track has it all: incredible views, pretty
bushland, several stunning beaches and a the chance to be
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surrounded by dozens of wild wallabies.

It also feels like a bit of an adventure as you rock hop between the
beaches. We were slightly out on the tide times and ended up with
water up to our thighs, which provided lots of laughs. If you don’t
want to get wet at all make sure you go bang on low tide! Hi! We’re Cat & Joe,
two Brits, now living in
Here’s what to expect on one of the best walks in Sydney Australia, with a passion
(https://www.walkmyworld.com/posts/best-walks-in-sydney). for the outdoors and
adventure travel.

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provides highly detailed
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The Basin and Mackerel Track

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Distance: 7km
Elevation: 189m
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of trail: Circuit
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This trail can only be done easily during low tide, otherwise the Featured Posts
section between Currawong Beach and the Basin will be under
water! We walked two hours before low tide and got pretty wet, at
low tide you might end up still having to take your boots off.

This walk isn’t hard, however it takes longer than you might expect
- primarily because of the low tide section, which involves
clambering over and around the rocks. The rest of the walk is along
service trails which are in good condition. We recommend allowing
2-2.5 hours for the circuit. (/posts/the-kindness-
of-strangers)

THE KINDNESS OF
STRANGERS: 10
TRAVEL MOMENTS
:
 TRAVEL MOMENTS
THAT RESTORED
MY FAITH IN
HUMANITY
(/POSTS/THE-
KINDNESS-OF-
STRANGERS)

(/posts/travel-in-your-
Starting the Basin Track 30s)

The walk begins on a fairly average fire trail. It’s the typical wide WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
GIVE IT ALL UP TO
stony path that you get on many of the walks along the West Head
TRAVEL IN YOUR
Road. 30'S
(/POSTS/TRAVEL-
IN-YOUR-30S)

(/posts/that-time-we-
were-attacked-by-
bears)

THAT TIME WE
WERE ATTACKED
BY BEARS!
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We were walking just after some back burning had taken place so
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(/POSTS/THAT-
the bush on one side of the path was pretty burnt and there was a
TIME-WE-WERE-
definite waft of char in the air. ATTACKED-BY-
BEARS)
After 300m you reach a turn off on your right for an Aboriginal
engravings site.
:
 The Aboriginal engravings site
Ku-ring-gai is well known for having really extensive Aboriginal art
sites and this was the most impressive one we’ve seen so far.

The rocky area housing the engravings is huge and there are lots of
different carvings, many of which are really well preserved.

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:
 You can see several people, as well as fish, wallabies and many
more.

There are also some great information boards explaining more about
the art work, which is something you don’t see at every site and
brought the engravings to life.

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After the engravings site you have 450m until you reach the turn
off on your left for the Mackerel service trail.
:
 Onto the spectacular lookout
The beginning of the Mackerel trail is relatively uninspiring and we
didn’t have particularly high hopes the further we walked.

However, after ten minutes or so the bush started to get much

prettier, and you could see glimpses of the ocean through the trees,
as well as a sprinkling of wildflowers.

After just under 1.5km you come to a really beautiful lookout, with
fabulous views over to the Barrenjoey Headland at Palm Beach, as
well as over to Mackerel Beach.

There are lots of rocks you can sit on to enjoy the view and it’s an
incredibly peaceful spot.

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:
 At this point our original plan was to walk back along the service
trail and onto the Basin track down to the campground, but we saw
another distinct path leading into the bush away from the lookout.

It was a proper bush track, rather than fire trail and we decided to
follow it instead.

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Through the bush to Currawong Beach

:
 Through the bush to Currawong Beach
We quickly realised it was a good decision, the track is gorgeous
with lots of dense foliage, and the occasional view out to the
ocean.

The trail is flat at first and then starts to descend through the bush.

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After 370m you will come to a sign which directs you to Currawong
Beach to the right, it also mentions you can get to the Basin if it’s
low tide.

The track gets narrower and the bush starts to take on jungly vibes,
with Cabbage palms and other huge plants which sometimes
almost block the path. It gets a little rocky in places but it’s still
easy to descend.
:
 After 230m the trail brings you out onto the beach and it’s a
gorgeous sheltered one, which looks perfect for swimming (apart
from the fact we did see the odd jelly!).

There are some holiday cottages behind the beach which look like a
great spot to stay, although they are currently being renovated.

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Rock hopping to the Basin campground

The beach and views were beautiful and it was pretty big at 400m
:
 The beach and views were beautiful and it was pretty big at 400m
long. At the far end there are some huge boulders, and with the
dense forest backing the beach the whole scene reminded me of
Jurassic Park!

At this point we knew we weren’t too many beaches away from the
Basin. We arrived about two hours before low tide, but we decided
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to see whether we could make it round.

At first it was easy and we rock hopped our way along the first
couple of beaches. When you do this trail, make sure you watch out
for the bright green rocks which are slippery but other than that it’s
easy enough.
:
 Further along there were some sections which we couldn’t pass
without getting into the water.

It started off knee deep and got to thigh high at points, but it was
a warmish day and it didn’t bother us. We were just happy we were
going to make it round.

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The rock hopping section is 700m long in total. The final stretch of
rocks over to the Basin were really slippery in places and I did
nearly go over.

It’s manageable if you go carefully but it would definitely be easier

to avoid it entirely at low tide.
:
 The Basin campground
The walk to this point had already been fantastic, but it was made
even more special when we got to the campground and were
surrounded by dozens (literally!) of wallabies!

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They were really relaxed, clearly used to being around people, and
great to sit and observe. Most were content just grazing with the
odd one deciding to poke around the solitary tent that was set up,
probably looking for scraps!

It’s an absolutely idyllic spot, with the beach, wallabies and lots of
birdlife. We wished we’d been able to set up camp too!

After hanging out with the wallabies for a while we met the one
couple who were camping that night who seemed surprised to see
us there without a tent.
:
 It was then that they mentioned that the West Head gate was
going to be locked in an hour. We hike in Ku-ring-gai all the time,
but we’d completely forgotten about the gate.

There is nothing like a $50 fine to see you hiking faster uphill than
you ever have before! We had 3km to walk and a 15 minute drive to
do in an hour.

Unless you fancy doing an uphill sprint, make sure you leave more
than an hour before the gate closes!

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The Basin Track

The Basin Track leading from the campground begins as a road. As
well as being incredibly steep, it has ridges in it which seemed to
catch on the front of my boots, never actually tripping me up but
always threatening to.

We didn’t have time to fully appreciate it, but the forest along the
side of the road was stunning with lots of picturesque overhangs
:
 and really dense jungly plants.

For 1km it is really quite steep, luckily we were hiking close to

sunset, so we didn’t have any intense sun which would have made it
harder.
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After that point you continue uphill for a little longer, but the Page 14 sur 19
gradient is much gentler and after a few hundred metres more the
road gives way to fire trail.
:
 The vegetation on either side of the track is pretty and we had the
most amazing sky, which made what could have been quite a
mundane section of the walk, absolutely beautiful.

After a time the walk flattens out completely and it’s an easy stroll
back to your car. Luckily we made it back in 35 minutes, leaving us
just enough time to drive out the park and avoid the fine!

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All in all, this was an incredible walk, and one we’d highly
recommend. Just remember to check the tide times so you can
make it a full circuit.

Essential information about the Basin and

Mackerel Circuit
:
 Ku-ring-gaI National Park entry fee
All walks beginning on the West Head Road require paying the $12
a day vehicle entry fee. If you plan on visiting several NSW parks in
a year you are better off buying the $65 annual pass, which covers
all parks except Kosciusko.

Ku-ring-gai National Park opening times

The West Head Road has strict opening times and is enforced by a
locked gate. If you get your car stuck and have to have the gate
opened it’s a $50 fine. The timings vary slightly by season but
broadly it’s sunrise to just after sunset. Check the times as you
enter the park to avoid any issues.

The Basin campground

If you do want to stay at the campground you can book your spot
on the parks website
(https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-
accommodation/campgrounds/the-basin-campground). It’s a huge
campground which can accommodate 400 people. There are toilets,
showers, BBQs, picnic benches and drinking water. It’s a lovely spot
and you can get a ferry to Palm Beach if you don’t want to do the
steep walk out with all your gear.

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What’s your favourite walk in Ku-ring-gai? Let us know in the

comments below!

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! !
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(/POSTS/REFUGE-BAY) (/POSTS/KURINGGAI-
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(/POSTS/TOPHAM-TRACK)

Tagged: Ku-Ring-Gai (/posts/tag/Ku-Ring-Gai), Sydney Bush Walk

(/posts/tag/Sydney+Bush+Walk)

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Comments (2) Newest First

Preview POST COMMENT…

Oliver Descoeudres 2 years ago

Thanks - have done the Bairne to Basin circuit, but hadn't

considered this loop walk. Alhough I do find the Basin Track is
the least appealing trail in all of West Head!
https://hikingtheworld.blog/2021/07/04/mackerel-and-basin-
loop/

Walk My World
https://www.walkmyworld.com/posts/the-basin-walk
2 years ago 12/3/2023 15 32
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I know what you mean, I definitely think the loop makes it

a brilliant walk, but not so much as a stand alone!

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Who are Walk My World?

We're Cat Smith and Joe Bird, two travel fanatics from the U.K. We both caught the travel bug
on solo trips in 2003 and have been hopelessly addicted ever since. We used to talk about
travelling the world together, and in 2012 we finally made that happen. After buying a one way
ticket to Istanbul we spent a year making our way through Asia before arriving in Australia,
where we have been living ever since.

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