Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park Day Trip | The Ideal One Day Itinerary
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Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park is only 30 km from Sydney and has natural bushland that you can choose for a perfect sightseeing day trip. Visiting Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park is not on the wish list of many overseas tourists as it is not heavily advertised such as the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley. However, locals know the sprawling beauty of this national park, the best foreshores in Northern beaches, a sanctuary for wildlife with history, and local charm. This makes a perfect destination for either a day trip or a weekend gateway.
In this article, you will find practical information, advice and tips to help you plan your day trip from Sydney to Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park from Sydney and make the most of your visit.
Driving directions
Set the Kalkari Discovery Centre on your GPS navigation and start your day trip. More precisely, use this address – 402 Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Rd, Mount Colah NSW 2079. Passing the Harbour bridge, you will be able to get to the Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park within less than 1 hour. There are 4 entry points to the park, namely Mount Colah, Turramurra, Terrey Hills, and Church Point. An entry fee of $12 applies to a small vehicle with fewer than 8 seats. If you travel in a minibus, the charges will reach $4.40 per adult.
First stop of the day at Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park
On your day trip to Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, we suggest you enter via the Turramurra entry point. It’s for nothing else, to gather some valuable information about the park. The volunteers at the Kalkari visitor centre will share some interesting facts about the Guringai people, native animals and plants in the park, and Aboriginal rock engravings. A brief walk from this centre, you can easily spot free-roaming wild Eastern Gray Kangaroos.
Bobbin Head – the second stop
With a drive of 4 km, you can reach the next stop of the day trip to Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park is Bobbin Head. The ideal stop for a coffee or to be more adventurous by paddle boating or kayaking in Cowan Creek. This waterfront picnic spot is also popular among fishermen, however, you need to have a license.
Stop at Cottage Point for Lunch
Located nearly 30 mins away from Bobbin Head, Cottage Point is the ideal spot for lunch and to taste Sydney’s finest local ingredients. Order a three-course meal for $110 from Cottage Point Inn with a bottle of wine and enjoy your lunch with magnificent views of Cowan Creek. I never had Octopus before and thought it was bland and chewy. But the Octopus and Pear combination was a winner and perfectly blended with a bottle of Chardonnay from Adelaide Hills.
West Head Lookout
A must-stop lookout on your day trip to Ku-Ring-Gai Chase. West Head Lookout gives incredible views of Lions Island, Barrenjoey Lighthouse, and Pittwater. A binocular will be handy for whale watching during their migration period from April to December. If you have an advanced binocular, focus on Lion’s head shoreline and calibrate it to spot a fairy penguin. Once more plentiful, yet, you will be able to spot a fairy penguin on a rare occasion.
Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park Walks
In the early afternoon when sunlight is not that much harsh, time to hit some of the best walks in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. Our suggestion is to explore some of the best remaining Aboriginal Rock arts in NSW – Basin Track and Elvina Aboriginal Engraving Sites.
Basin track engraving site walk
The park consists of some of the remaining best Aboriginal rock art sites and caves near Sydney. Located very close to the West Head lookout, keep on signposts while you drive. The common figures you will able to see here are a group of men, kangaroos, and fish.
Elvina Aboriginal rock engravings track
Elvina’s rock art site is a must-visit on a day trip to Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. An 11 minutes drive from West Head lookout, you can reach the Elvina track. After a few minutes of a bushwalk, you can explore the main rock art site. Some of the easily identifiable rock engravings include the Shield (symbol of the Ku-Ring-Gai tribe), Baiame (creator), and Hunter with boomerang and catch. We request you to take off the shoes before you wander around Elvina’s rock engravings. These relics are a heritage to enjoy and we need to preserve them for the future.
Our article on Ku-Ring-Gai Chase national park is over, for now, perhaps you want to book a Sydney private tour to Ku-Ring-Gai Chase national park? Contact us @ +61 498507873 or info@urbanpassport.com.au if you want to book any day tours from Sydney.
If you are looking for another day trip from Sydney, read our article on Blue Mountains day trip from Sydney and Blue Mountains lookouts.
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