De Burghs Bridge to Fullers Bridge (Darug Country)

1 h 30 min to 2 h 30 min 4

5.7 km ↑ 121 m Hard track One way ↓ 149 m

Following the Lane Cove River, this walk mostly follows a section of the Great North Walk and is well maintained and signposted. Things to lookout for include Fiddens Wharf which is a very pleasant spot to sit and watch the ducks. The walk passes by Lane Cove National Park Headquarters, so pop by and check out the other experiences available in the park. Let us begin by acknowledging the Darug people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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0 0 m 4 km 2 km 285 m 570 m 850 m 1.1 km 1.7 km 2.3 km 2.5 km 2.8 km 3.1 km 3.4 km 3.7 km 4.2 km 4.5 km 4.8 km 5.1 km 5.4 km 5.7 km 5.9x 1.4 km

Class 4 of 6 Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely

Quality of track Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)

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 Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Getting to the start: From Lane Cove Road Exit

Turn on to Lane Cove Road Exit then drive for 30 m Continue onto Lane Cove Road Exit and drive for another 45 m Turn right onto Lane Cove Road, A3 and drive for another 1.9 km

Before you start any journey ensure you; • Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are late returning • Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge to undertake this journey safely • Consider 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 Share If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help. Bushwalk.com /j/SQMFJM

Bushwalking is fun but also can be dangerous. All information here is general and your personal and specific situation needs to be considered. You need to be prepared to cope with all kinds of errors and/or omissions. Neither the authors nor publishers accept responsibility or liability for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained. © bushwalk.com. The maps and some text in this document are generated using Open Database Licenced data © OpenStreetMap contributors and other sources. 0 0.5 1 2 km W

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E E E Start E ←320 m→ ←510 m→ ←110 m→ ←70 m→ S ←205 m→

i i FORD i Sign Sign Sign Ford Sign Sign Sign Ford Gate Gate Cave or Cave or overhang overhang Viewpoint Viewpoint Viewpoint Viewpoint

0 0 m 0 m 1 km 95 m 1 km 95 m 380 m 660 m 280 m 470 m 560 m 190 m 750 m 850 m 940 m 280 m 380 m 470 m 560 m 660 m 850 m 190 m 750 m 940 m 1.1 km 1.2 km 1.3 km 1.5 km 1.8 km 1.9 km 1.4 km 1.6 km 1.7 km 1.2 km 1.3 km 1.4 km 1.5 km 1.8 km 1.9 km 1.1 km 5.8x 1.6 km 1.7 km

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0 2 km 3 km 2 km 3 km 2.6 km 1.9 km 2.2 km 2.3 km 2.5 km 2.6 km 2.7 km 2.8 km 2.9 km 3.1 km 3.2 km 3.4 km 3.7 km 3.8 km 2.1 km 2.4 km 3.3 km 3.5 km 3.6 km 2.3 km 2.6 km 2.7 km 2.9 km 3.1 km 3.2 km 3.3 km 3.4 km 3.7 km 3.8 km 1.9 km 2.2 km 2.4 km 2.5 km 2.1 km 2.6 km 2.8 km 5.9x 3.5 km 3.6 km

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E W ←760←360 m→ ←75 m→ ←175 m→ ←35 m→ W ←310 m→ ←15 m→ ←310 m→ ←145 m→ ←45←35←55←85 m→m→ m→←90 m→ m→←10 m→ ←95 m→

P P BBQ Park BBQ Seat Seat Park Seat Seat Store Store Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Bridge Bridge hazard hazard Car park Car park Car park Car park Historical Historical Historical Historical Viewpoint Entity|trip Viewpoint Entity|trip Picnic area Picnic area Restaurant Restaurant Playground Playground

0 5 km 4 km 5 km 4 km 4.4 km 3.8 km 4.1 km 4.2 km 4.3 km 4.5 km 4.6 km 4.7 km 4.8 km 4.9 km 5.1 km 5.3 km 5.6 km 5.7 km 3.9 km 4.3 km 5.2 km 5.4 km 5.5 km 4.2 km 4.4 km 4.6 km 4.8 km 5.1 km 5.2 km 5.3 km 5.6 km 5.7 km 3.8 km 4.1 km 3.9 km 4.3 km 4.3 km 4.5 km 4.7 km 4.9 km 5.9x 5.4 km 5.5 km Getting started: From the intersection, After another 45 m come to "Blue Hole". After another 65 m pass the sign (7 m on your this walk passes over the timber railing i left).left). and turns left down the hill. The track After another 360 m find the "Sandstone caves" winds down the hill for approximately (8 m on your right). 200m to the signposted intersection.

Start. Blue Hole is found in the Lane Cove River, N N

S S downstream of De Burghs Bridge. Within Lane Cove National Park this small pleasent

E E waterhole has a flat rock and small sandy beach This fairly large sandstone overhang is found on Find the gate at the start. on the north side of the river. The water is the eastern side of the Lane Cove Valley. The polluted by run-off and rubbish, especially after walking track leads through the two caves that rain, so it is not suitable for swimming. It is still run in series, with the northern cave being

W a pleasent place to relax and enjoy the valley. W a pleasent place to relax and enjoy the valley. larger.larger. TheThe liplip ofof thethe overhangoverhang hangshangs downdown aa bit,bit, Turn around and retrace your steps back the 45 providing some extra protection from wind and After another 310 m turn left. m to the main route. NN rain. The cave also provide some shade and a

S S Back at the main route veer right and follow on cooler spot on hot days, and there are also a from the 940 m waypoint. couple of well placed boulders forming nice

E E seats. After another 70 m pass the sign (7 m on your After another 55 m come to the viewpoint.

i right). N EE After another 90 m continue After another 305 m come to the viewpoint (7 m After another 305 m come to the viewpoint (7 m straight. After another 500 m come to the viewpoint. on your right).

W SS After another 600 m cross the bridge (about 15 E

E m long) S

S After another 140 m continue N

S straight. S After another 70 m continue

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N straight. straight. E

E After another 250 m continue

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W straight. W

After another 20 m pass the sign (10 m on your W S

i right). FORD N After another 40 m cross the ford. N After another 140 m pass the sign (6 m on your Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip i left).left). to Blue Hole. After another 80 m continue straight.

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To start this optional side trip turn W S To start this optional side trip turn S

right here. Start. EE After another 620 m continue straight. N After another 80 m veer right.

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W After another 225 m come to the viewpoint (9 m W After another 225 m come to the viewpoint (9 m on your right).

S S N After another 30 m pass the toilet (25 m on your

After another 135 m continue EE To start this optional side trip turn left).left). W

W straight. sharp left here. Start. E E After another 185 m pass the car park (5 m on

W P your right).

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S Continue another 65 m to find Baker's

E E S S After another 95 m veer right.

After another 75 m continue Cottage at the end. N

straight. N

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N About 50 m past the end is "Baker's Cottage". After another 180 m pass the toilet (15 m on After another 15 m pass the toilet (20 m on your your left).

left).left).

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N Continue straight.

After another 160 m continue

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W W straight. Baker's Cottage was built in 1865 as the Baker's Cottage was built in 1865 as the SS

residence of William Baker and his family. The WW

N N cottage once stood in the middle of a well-kept After another 40 m find the "Schwartz garden and orchard. The cottage itself was once garden and orchard. The cottage itself was once EE Homestead" (20 m on your left). larger,larger, withwith moremore roomsrooms andand aa verandahverandah After another 45 m turn right. surrounding it. The residence changed hands N only twice, and was then appropriated by the Minister of Lands in 1938. SS

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 65 WW m to the main route. After another 55 m pass the playground (50 m on your left). Back at the main route turn right and follow on

The Schwartz Homestead is a neat little white from the 4.8 km waypoint. S

and green 1920's timber cottage with a balcony S E on three sides. It was probably built by E Continue straight. orchardist George Warr, who leased the land N EE

from 1917. After another 255 m continue W

straight. W

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SS After another 25 m find the "Seat" (10 m on Veer left.

your right). S

S After another 10 m pass the car park (10 m on

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P your right).

W W After another 55 m pass the toilet (25 m on your N EE left).left). After another 7 m continue straight.

Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip A stone seat, 42cm high, 60cm deep and 1.7m W to Baker's Cottage. SS wide with a 22cm high arm and 22cm backrest. S

After another 15 m cross the bridge (about 10 m After another 40 m find the "Seat" (on your left). S E long)long) E After another 10 m continue straight.

After another 40 m find the "Lane Cove Weir" W

(on your right). W

N N After another 50 m pass the "Alfred Cook Park" (20 m on your left). Two timber seats, 40cm high, 38cm deep and After another 15 m pass the "Whitefire Grill and 1.8m wide with a 35cm backrest and no arm Bar" (15 m on your right). rests. W:www.whitefiregrill.com.au T:+61 2 8097

0280

The Lane Cove River Weir was built in 1938 S The Lane Cove River Weir was built in 1938 S

during the depression. The motivation for 11:30-22:30 E building the lake was to make the area more E After another 8 m continue straight. Then find the "Riverside Cafe Bar & Grill" (20 m

appealing for visitors' picnics. The weir created on your right). W

environmental issues such as silting and a W

N decline in native fish populations. In more N recent years, a 'fish ladder' has been After another 105 m find the "Koonjeree Picnic constructed to allow fish to undertake their Area" (7 m on your right). natural migration route for breeding. The weir proves an easy way for walkers to cross the Lane Cove River whilst enjoying the views up The Riverside Cafe is found at the end of service and downstream. road on the south-west corner of Fullers Bridge.

The nicely renovated building looks over the

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E Lane Cove River and is open 7 days, serving Veer left. breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food is cafe- Koonjeree Picnic Area is at the southern end of style and meals are priced upwards from $13. Lane Cove National Park, just near Fullers

Ph: (02) 9412 3773.

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N Bridge. The picnic area boasts free gas

N Bridge. The picnic area boasts free gas W barbecues, flushing toilets, town tap water, W After another 35 m find the "Trip Hazard" (on picnic tables and shelters, a large open area and

your left). car parking. On the bank of the Lane Cove River, After another 30 m come to the end.

S N this is a pleasant spot to enjoy the park. N

Then pass the BBQ (25 m on your right).

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"The Great North Walk". S

S i E E Continue straight. The edges of the weir are ungraded and there is

a significant drop with water hazards. Keep clear W

of edges. W

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