Great North Walk: Mooney Mooney Creek Trackhead to Somersby

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Safer Bushwalks

Tips on staying safe on track

Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

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Getting There

Transport options and directions

Start	(-33.4380203,151.2519672)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.) Special (A bus service runs along Wisemans Ferry Rd passing Somersby store. The service runs between Gosford and Spencer only a few times a day. Please check timetable for more info or Phone Busway on (02) 4368 2277. The bus only picks passengers up from Somersby to head to Gosford on the morning runs. More info)
Directions	From Pacific Motorway, M1, Calga. Turn on to Pacific Highway Offramp then drive for 530 m Keep left onto Old Pacific Highway Offramp and drive for another 4.8 km
Finish	At the intersection of Wisemans Ferry Road & Smiths Road (-33.3580778,151.2902824)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car (There is free parking available.)

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Track Notes

Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Newcastle' sign along the narrowing gravel verge, keeping the Old Pacific Hwy just to your right. After about 200m, this walk comes to then crosses the concrete road bridge over Mooney Mooney Creek, enjoying the view of the wide creek below. Once on the other side, this walk heads past a detailed 'Risk Warning' sign suggesting you be sensible as you cross the bridge (hope it is not too late) to then come to an intersection with Karool Rd, just on the other side of the highway (on your right).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start heading along Old Pacific Highway. There is a car park (about 15 m back from the start). After another 225 m cross the bridge (about 75 m long) Then cross the bridge (about 50 m long) Then find the "Old Pacific Highway Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge" (on your left). Old Pacific Highway Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge Old Pacific Highway Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge The Sydney-Hawkesbury stretch of the Pacific Highway was built in the 1920s, replacing a route that had existed since the 1830s. The original Peats Ferry Road was cut by a settler named George Peat, making a track to his property on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. This road became the 'Old Pacific Highway' upon the opening of the F3, or Sydney-Newcastle Freeway, in the 1980s. This bridge is the smaller of two crossing Mooney Mooney Creek - the other, Mooney Mooney Bridge, is part of the F3 freeway and is the highest road bridge in Australia. + - The Sydney-Hawkesbury stretch of the Pacific Highway was built in the 1920s, replacing a route that had existed since the 1830s. The original Peats Ferry Road was cut by a settler named George Peat, making a track to his property on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. This road became the 'Old Pacific Highway' upon the opening of the F3, or Sydney-Newcastle Freeway, in the 1980s. This bridge is the smaller of two crossing Mooney Mooney Creek - the other, Mooney Mooney Bridge, is part of the F3 freeway and is the highest road bridge in Australia. After another 9 m cross the bridge (about 15 m long)
	After another 25 m (at the intersection of Karool Road & Old Pacific Highway) turn right, to head along Karool Road (a vehicle track). After another 830 m continue straight, to head along Karool Road. After another 410 m head through/around the gate. After another 680 m find the "Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south)" (15 m on your right). Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south) Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south) This is clearing is beside the wide Mooney Mooney Creek and provides a large flat area to pitch a few tents. There are some high tension power lines nearby and you can hear the hum of the F3 from here, so it is not the most remote campsite. There are no facilities or water (the creek is salty). All that said it is still a pleasant spot beside the wide creek to rest for a while or for the night. + - This is clearing is beside the wide Mooney Mooney Creek and provides a large flat area to pitch a few tents. There are some high tension power lines nearby and you can hear the hum of the F3 from here, so it is not the most remote campsite. There are no facilities or water (the creek is salty). All that said it is still a pleasant spot beside the wide creek to rest for a while or for the night. After another 1.3 km find the "Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north)" (on your right). Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north) Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north) This signposted campsite is sits among the tall eucalypt and bracken fern forest beside the Mooney Mooney Creek. This is a very pleasant flat clearing to spend a night, there is a small metal fireplace hotplate and room for a small number of tents. There is No drinking water or other facilities at this campsite (Mooney Mooney Creek is salty at this point, treatable water may be found about 2km north). + - This signposted campsite is sits among the tall eucalypt and bracken fern forest beside the Mooney Mooney Creek. This is a very pleasant flat clearing to spend a night, there is a small metal fireplace hotplate and room for a small number of tents. There is No drinking water or other facilities at this campsite (Mooney Mooney Creek is salty at this point, treatable water may be found about 2km north). After another 2.3 km cross the ford. After another 1.2 km find the "Lower Mooney Dam" (30 m on your left). Lower Mooney Dam Lower Mooney Dam Lower Mooney Dam is located on the Mooney Mooney Creek, about 21 km upstream from the Hawkesbury River. In March 1938 the Gosford Mayor turned the tap to add the water from this dam into the small town water supply of the time. It is a concrete arch dam, with a capacity of 1,000 megalitres, and was superseded by the more than 4 times larger 'Upper Mooney Dam' in 1982. There is a set of timber steps and a faint track that leads down to the waters edge on the uphill side of the dam wall, the dam wall is fenced and is clearly out of bounds. A sign reminds visitors that swimming is not allowed. + - Lower Mooney Dam is located on the Mooney Mooney Creek, about 21 km upstream from the Hawkesbury River. In March 1938 the Gosford Mayor turned the tap to add the water from this dam into the small town water supply of the time. It is a concrete arch dam, with a capacity of 1,000 megalitres, and was superseded by the more than 4 times larger 'Upper Mooney Dam' in 1982. There is a set of timber steps and a faint track that leads down to the waters edge on the uphill side of the dam wall, the dam wall is fenced and is clearly out of bounds. A sign reminds visitors that swimming is not allowed. After another 2.4 km find the "Quarry Camping Area" (4 m on your left). Quarry Camping Area Quarry Camping Area This is a small signposted campsite set among heath, grass tress, scribbly gums and aother eucalpyts. The clearing is flat and sandy and provides room to set up a few tents with and a small metal fireplace with hotplate. There is no water or other facilites here. + - This is a small signposted campsite set among heath, grass tress, scribbly gums and aother eucalpyts. The clearing is flat and sandy and provides room to set up a few tents with and a small metal fireplace with hotplate. There is no water or other facilites here.
	After another 1.3 km continue straight.
	After another 95 m continue straight. After another 1.9 km cross the ford.
	After another 350 m continue straight, to head along Hawkesbury Track.
	After another 155 m turn right, to head along Hawkesbury Track.
	After another 105 m veer left, to head along Hawkesbury Track.
	After another 265 m turn left, to head along Hawkesbury Track.
	After another 370 m (at the intersection of Robinson Road & Hawkesbury Track) turn right, to head along Robinson Road (a vehicle track).
	After another 590 m (at the intersection of Silvesters Road & Robinson Road) continue straight, to head along Silvesters Road.
	After another 500 m (at the intersection of Silvesters Road & Anembo Road) continue straight, to head along Silvesters Road.
	After another 1 km (at the intersection of Wisemans Ferry Road & Silvesters Road) turn left, to head along Wisemans Ferry Road (a road). After another 550 m (at the intersection of Wisemans Ferry Road & Marabunga Road) continue straight, to head along Wisemans Ferry Road. After another 60 m (at the intersection of Wisemans Ferry Road & Smiths Road) continue straight, to head along Wisemans Ferry Road. After another 245 m come to "Somersby Store". Somersby Store Somersby Store Somersby Store offers a good place to have lunch or pick up the basic food supplies. The store serves hot food including burgers, chips, pies etc and cold drinks. Opening hours are 6am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 6.30am to 4pm on Saturdays (closed Sundays). There is a pay phone and a bus stop however services are limited to two buses a day. Contact details are (02)4372 1269, at 841 Wisemans Ferry Road Somersby, NSW 2250. The store owners are happy for you to phone ahead. If you are a large group you can order ahead to save the stress. I always encourage people to use local stores like this on track, but since it is a small store it is worth phoning ahead to see what they have what you want in stock. + - Somersby Store offers a good place to have lunch or pick up the basic food supplies. The store serves hot food including burgers, chips, pies etc and cold drinks. Opening hours are 6am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 6.30am to 4pm on Saturdays (closed Sundays). There is a pay phone and a bus stop however services are limited to two buses a day. Contact details are (02)4372 1269, at 841 Wisemans Ferry Road Somersby, NSW 2250. The store owners are happy for you to phone ahead. If you are a large group you can order ahead to save the stress. I always encourage people to use local stores like this on track, but since it is a small store it is worth phoning ahead to see what they have what you want in stock. About 55 m past the end is a car park. About 65 m past the end is a toilet.
	Continue another 0 m to find at the intersection of Wisemans Ferry Road & Smiths Road at the end.

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Terrain

Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Great North Walk: Mooney Mooney Creek Trackhead to Somersby

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	17 km
Time	5 h 32 min to 8 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Campsite: There are 2 on route, on average they are 5.7 km apart with the largest gap of 13.4 km.

Toilet: There is one 17 km from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Campsite	2.2 km	Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south)
Campsite	3.6 km	Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north)
Toilet	17 km	[toilet]

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Articles

Discover more details to thrive on track

Old Pacific Highway Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge
The Sydney-Hawkesbury stretch of the Pacific Highway was built in the 1920s, replacing a route that had existed since the 1830s. The original Peats Ferry Road was cut by a settler named George Peat, making a track to his property on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. This road became the 'Old Pacific Highway' upon the opening of the F3, or Sydney-Newcastle Freeway, in the 1980s. This bridge is the smaller of two crossing Mooney Mooney Creek - the other, Mooney Mooney Bridge, is part of the F3 freeway and is the highest road bridge in Australia.

Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (south)
This is clearing is beside the wide Mooney Mooney Creek and provides a large flat area to pitch a few tents. There are some high tension power lines nearby and you can hear the hum of the F3 from here, so it is not the most remote campsite. There are no facilities or water (the creek is salty). All that said it is still a pleasant spot beside the wide creek to rest for a while or for the night.

Mooney Mooney Creek Campsite (north)
This signposted campsite is sits among the tall eucalypt and bracken fern forest beside the Mooney Mooney Creek. This is a very pleasant flat clearing to spend a night, there is a small metal fireplace hotplate and room for a small number of tents. There is No drinking water or other facilities at this campsite (Mooney Mooney Creek is salty at this point, treatable water may be found about 2km north).

Lower Mooney Dam
Lower Mooney Dam is located on the Mooney Mooney Creek, about 21 km upstream from the Hawkesbury River. In March 1938 the Gosford Mayor turned the tap to add the water from this dam into the small town water supply of the time. It is a concrete arch dam, with a capacity of 1,000 megalitres, and was superseded by the more than 4 times larger 'Upper Mooney Dam' in 1982. There is a set of timber steps and a faint track that leads down to the waters edge on the uphill side of the dam wall, the dam wall is fenced and is clearly out of bounds. A sign reminds visitors that swimming is not allowed.

Somersby Gardens
'Somersby Gardens' is set on a 50 acre property and is home to a luxurious fully self contained 3 bedroom apartment. The gardens are very well maintained and often used for wedding and other special events. As the accommodation has its own private access to the main spine of the Great North Walk it makes an idea place for bushwalkers to stay the night. The accommodation has all you need plus more, full kitchen, Air conditioning, TV, bathrooms, swimming pool and lovely sitting area. Mid weeks prices are from $215 per bedroom per night. Ask about meal packs and lighten your load even further. Booking must be made in advance, please respect the privacy of guests.

Quarry Camping Area
This is a small signposted campsite set among heath, grass tress, scribbly gums and aother eucalpyts. The clearing is flat and sandy and provides room to set up a few tents with and a small metal fireplace with hotplate. There is no water or other facilites here.

Somersby Store
Somersby Store offers a good place to have lunch or pick up the basic food supplies. The store serves hot food including burgers, chips, pies etc and cold drinks. Opening hours are 6am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 6.30am to 4pm on Saturdays (closed Sundays). There is a pay phone and a bus stop however services are limited to two buses a day. Contact details are (02)4372 1269, at 841 Wisemans Ferry Road Somersby, NSW 2250. The store owners are happy for you to phone ahead. If you are a large group you can order ahead to save the stress. I always encourage people to use local stores like this on track, but since it is a small store it is worth phoning ahead to see what they have what you want in stock.

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