Named in honour of NSW's first Governor, this walk follows in the footsteps of his 1788 expedition to find farm land. The walk starts at the end of Ferguson St, Forestville. Passing the NPWS office and depot, the walk then follows Carroll Creek down to the official start of the Governor Phillip Walk. For the most part, this walk follows a bush track along Middle Harbour creek, to the stepping stones crossing, before returning the same way. Let us begin by acknowledging the Guringai people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
The end of Ferguson Rd. | Photo by admin, 2008.Car park at Nothern Beaches Area office. | Photo by admin, 2008.Area office driveway. | Photo by admin, 2009.Area office service trail. | Photo by admin, 2009.Nothern Beaches Area Depot Servicetrail. | Photo by admin, 2009.Intersection of Casuarina and Carroll Creek Tracks. | Photo by admin, 2009.steps near top of Carroll creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Steps at the top of Carroll Creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Cave near top of the Carroll Creek track. | Photo by admin, 2009.Along Carroll Creek Track. | Photo by admin, 2009.Carroll Creek Track. | Photo by admin, 2009.Int of Lyrebird and Carroll Creek tracks. | Photo by admin, 2009.Looking up Carroll Creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Southern end of Governor Phillip Walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.Governor Phillip Walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.Governor Phillip track on Carroll Creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Following the Governor Phillip Walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.Governor Phillip Walk end of Carroll Creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Mud Flats on Middle Harbour creek just north of Carroll crk. | Photo by admin, 2009.Looking out across the creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Governor Phillip track on the bank of Middle Harbour Creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Governor Phillip Walk along the rocky section. | Photo by admin, 2009.Looking out aross Middle Harbour. | Photo by admin, 2009.Governor Phillip Walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.Passing an old rope swing. | Photo by admin, 2009.The Governor Phillip Walk. | Photo by admin, 2007.Pipe Bridge. | Photo by admin, 2009.Bottom of Davidson track. | Photo by admin, 2009.Governor Phillip track near pipe bridge. | Photo by admin, 2009.winding through the bush on Governor Phillip walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.Fallen tree on Governor Phillip walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.Middle Harbour Creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Governor Phillip track. | Photo by admin, 2009.Governor Phillip Walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.Cave on Governor Phillip walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.Int of Gov. Phillip and Bungaroo tracks. | Photo by admin, 2007.Looking down Middle Harbour Creek from stepping stones. | Photo by admin, 2009.Looking up Middle Harbour Creek from stepping stones. | Photo by admin, 2009.Stepping stones across Middle Harbour Creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.
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.
Turn on to Boundary Street, A38 then drive for 10 m
Turn slight right onto Boundary Street, A38 and drive for another 4.8 km
Turn left onto Arthur Street and drive for another 20 m
Turn right onto Woodlands Road and drive for another 370 m
Turn left onto Ferguson Street and drive for another 115 m
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started From the end of Ferguson Rd, Forestville, this walk heads through the Garigal National Park gate and along the driveway. Soon this walk passes the 'Northern Beaches Area Office and Depot' on the left (and a small car park on the right) and a short distance further, the driveway come to an intersection with a service trail on the right and a sign to "Casuarina and Carroll Creek ->". From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Carrol Creek Track' signs down the hill and along the service trail, winding down past a short loop service trail, before coming to the signposted intersection of the 'Casuarina and Carroll Creek' tracks.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After another 65 m continue straight, to head along Ferguson Street.
After another 65 m turn right.
After another 20 m pass the sign.
After another 410 m (at the intersection of Causarina Track & Casuarina Track) turn right, to head along Causarina Track (a steps).
Then head down the steps (about 10 m long)
At the intersection of Causarina Track & Carroll Creek Track turn left, to head along Carroll Creek Track (a walking track).
After another 730 m (at the intersection of Governor Philip Track & Carroll Creek Track) turn right, to head along Governor Philip Track (a footpath).
After another 9 m cross the bridge (about 10 m long)
After another 1.6 km (at the intersection of Pipeline track & Governor Philip Track) continue straight, to head along Governor Philip Track.
After another 690 m (at the intersection of Governor Philip Track & Bungaroo Crossing) turn left, to head along Bungaroo Crossing (a footpath).
Then cross the stepping stones
Continue another 30 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 3.6 km to get back to the start.
About 20 m past the end is "Bungaroo".
Bungaroo
Bungaroo
Governor Arthur Phillip (first governor of NSW) described this section of the river as where "the flowing of the tide ceased". Phillip and his party of nine camped here in 1788 whilst looking for land suitable for farming. John White (Surgeon General) described the the area as "the most desert, wild and solitary seclusion that the imagination can form any idea of". Over the past 200 years the river has changed, but somewhere not far upstream of the stepping stone is Bungaroo.
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Governor Arthur Phillip (first governor of NSW) described this section of the river as where "the flowing of the tide ceased". Phillip and his party of nine camped here in 1788 whilst looking for land suitable for farming. John White (Surgeon General) described the the area as "the most desert, wild and solitary seclusion that the imagination can form any idea of". Over the past 200 years the river has changed, but somewhere not far upstream of the stepping stone is Bungaroo.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities
Governor Phillip Walk
Grading
Class 3/6
Moderate track
Length
7.2 km
Time
2 h 30 min to 3 h 45 min
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
Bushwalk
2 h 30 min to 3 h 45 min
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After another 65 m continue straight, to head along Ferguson Street.
After another 20 m pass the sign.
Then head down the steps (about 10 m long)
After another 9 m cross the bridge (about 10 m long)
Then cross the stepping stones
About 20 m past the end is "Bungaroo".
