Day Trip to Ku-Ring-Gai National Park

It is not likely that one would get bored with a city as diverse and beautiful as Sydney. But once you have seen the imposing Harbour Bridge or the majestic Opera House (and experienced the night-time delights of Kings Cross!), you may find yourself hankering for a more wholesome and native Aussie bush adventure.

If this is you, look no further than the short trip north to Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, located just 25km from Sydney.

For those that are not up on their Australian history, this beautifully scenic park (and surrounding suburb) is named after the Guringai aboriginal tribe that inhabit the region. It is also, amusingly, the home of the loveable Skippy the Bush kangaroo, who wowed late 1960’s audiences with his adventures alongside his (human) sidekick Sonny.

Unfortunately folks, Skippy was not real and, even if he was, he would probably be long gone by now. But luckily Ku-Ring-Gai has so much more for the Sydney day-tripper than the adventures of a fictional, yet remarkably intelligent, kangaroo.

From glorious nature hikes, leading past rock engravings and paintings by the Guringai tribe (among others), to winding creeks where expanses of ocean meet thick rainforest, this national park would make me proud to be an Aussie – if I was, in fact, from Australia.

It is easy to assume when visiting Sydney that you are there to see the more built-up and man-made sights that the city has to offer, but Ku-Ring-Gai National Park is living proof that this could not be further from the truth.

It is pleasantly alarming how one quickly forgets their relatively close proximity to one of the world’s most iconic and famous city’s when arriving at the park.

Entrances are scattered around the perimeter, with access at St Ives, Turramurra and Mona Vale, meaning a day trip is more than achievable if you are aching to get back to the delights of the big city after your brush with nature.

It is often difficult to say where to start with a place like Ku-Ring-Gai. Obviously a longer stay would give you more options, but never fear, being a day-tripper just means you need to pick and choose your attractions a little more carefully.

The park is largely split into two parts, with a ‘commercial’ side’ and a more rustic, untamed section. For someone on a cheeky day visit, Akuna Bay is a good place to start if arriving by boat, although this area, with its gift shop, restaurant and visitor’s centre definitely falls under the more commercial side of things. That is not to detract from its merits however and landing fees are reasonably priced at $3 for adults and $2 for kids.

Situated just off the larger Broken Bay, Akun is a thriving mix of marine vessels and their enthusiastic travellers and inhabitants. Luxury yachts, houseboats and family cruisers come and go all day, making this a popular arrival/departure destination for people heading to and from the CBD.

That is not to say that it has to end there if you are on a short-stay visit, although it is certainly worth making yourself aware of the vastness of Ku-Ring-Gai before you embark upon your trip.

To put things in perspective, the eastern boundary of the park is marked by the stretch of the Pacific Highway from just north of nearby Hornsby up to Brooklyn – A distance of roughly 30km.

Similarly the southern boundary is made up of the 18 km section of the Mona Vale road from St Ives to Mona Vale. The northern and eastern borders are the Hawkesbury River and Pittwater respectively.

However, if you are feeling adventurous and fancy a real taste of the untamed Australian bush, heading to West Head at the north eastern tip of the National Park is a good bet. The stunning views of Barrenjoy, Palm Beach and Broken Bay are a must from the specially (and remarkably tastefully) designed lookout point.

West Head is arguably one of the most popular destinations in the park – and for good reason as the views can be incredible. The walking trails contain raw bush lands, literally teeming with fascinating wildlife. As long as you keep your eyes peeled for snakes, and other particularly terrifying Aussie bush delights, then you can enjoy a host of walks with varying degrees of difficulty, leading in some cases, to the sanctuary of a golden beach or two.

West Head is also the starting point for the compelling Garigal Aboriginal Heritage Walk, where visitors can take in and admire some 800 ancient rock-art sites, which the park has been home to since its declaration in 1894.

Another must for visitors to the park is Bobbin Head, with its idyllic waterside setting and additional nature-filled walking trails.

As you may have guessed, walking trails are a strong draw for Ku-Ring-Gai, but it is difficult to imagine a better way for a visitor to the region to experience such native and historical examples of Australian culture.

An adventure in the park’s walk or waterways will give you glimpses of creatures such as swamp wallabies, possums goannas and, according to one easily pleased traveller, some “very big ants”.

The question really is how does a visitor fit all this in one day? Well, as discussed above, it is a case of picking a method by which you want to travel through the park and a bit of basic research from the leaflets available at the park’s entry stations.

Whether you choose to travel by car or rail, there is an entry fee to the park of $4.40 dollars for adults and $2.20 for youngsters, but this is not really much to ask for the delights within, plus the payment contributes to the up-keep and maintenance of the sight. So, think carefully before any complaints are lodged about unexpected fees.

Should you wish to use or travel by car within the confines of the park, a fee of $11 is payable at the Bobbin’s Head and Appletree Bay entrances which, like rest of the park, are open from sunrise to sunset.

So, to summarise, if you are bored of the city and fancy a day away, to take in anything from a fictional TV kangaroo and historical Aboriginal artefacts to stunning views and swamp wallabies, then you could do a lot worse than making this short trip north of the Sydney CBD…

By Dan Colombini