Map of Walk

Location

               
Map of Refuge Rock and Natural Arch
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Base maps are used under licence and is © Department of lands   Panorama Avenue Bathurst 2795   www.lands.nsw.gov.au

Maps that cover the walk area (please always carry maps of the area)

Print a map and track notes here

Hornsby

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-91304S

Sydney

1:100 000 Map Series

9130

Photo Gallery

Terrain

Please note: This is a 'return' style walk and therefore these graphs only show the terrain for the first half of the walk (until the turn around point.)

Cross sectional view of the Refuge Rock and Natural Arch bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Refuge Rock and Natural Arch bushwalking track

Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

		Length	1.4km
		Time	30 mins
		.
Grade 3/6 Track: Moderate	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
		Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
		Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing

Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk.
Gradient
This whole walk, 690m has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track
This whole walk, 690m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs
This whole walk, 690m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required
This whole walk, 690m requires no previous bushwalking experience.

Weather
This whole walk, 690m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
This whole walk, 690m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Track Notes

Since this is a 'return' style walk once you have had enough of the walk, turn around and retrace your steps back to the start.

Wildwalks
The State Goverment is allowing Recreational Hunting in our National Parks This poses a serious threat to the environement and visitor safety Help stop the madness by writing a quick letter. Thanks for your help

Catch the bus to End of Trevors Ln
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip to the end of this walk. (Links currently not working sorry) Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

Drive to End of Trevors Ln
There is free parking available. You can drive or ride to the start of this walk Use these links to plan your trip to the start of this walk. Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

(0 km) End of Trevors Ln to Refuge Rock Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 688 m	Time = 13 mins
	Climb = 14 m	Descent = -24 m
From the end of Trevors Ln, Cherrybrook, the walk passes the 'Berowra Valley Regional Park' sign and follows the management trail beside the houses. The walk almost immediately passes around a gate and arrives at an intersection with another management trail. Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail, directly away from the houses. After a short distance, the trail reaches an intersection with another management trail, signposted '92A/92B ...'. Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'ST22/23' arrow, going gently up the hill, along the management trail. After a very short distance, the trail passes under some high voltage powerlines and immediately reaches an intersection with a bush track, to the right, and management trail, to the left. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail away from the high voltage powerlines, leaving the visible tower to the left. The trail descends gently, through pleasant forest (ignoring an unmarked bush track to the right) and reaches an intersection with another management trail, signposted '92A 92B/16'. Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the level management trail, leaving the '92A 92B/16' signpost behind on the left. After a short distance, the trail passes a clearing, to the left, and descends for a while before arriving at a large, flat rock outcrop, the western edge of 'Refuge Rock'.

Refuge Rock	Alt = 160 m
Refuge Rock is a large area of rock outcrops and platforms, at the end of the Refuge Rock walk near Cherrybrook. This area has a great atmosphere and is a nice spot to explore or relax, close to the suburbs, but feeling a million miles from it. The various rock platforms extend for hundreds of metres in all directions. At the far south-east edge of Refuge Rock is a natural arch, know as 'London Bridge'. Refuge Rock was used as a target area during military training around WWII. There are a number of visible marks in the rock surface from mortar shells. More info

(0.69 km) Refuge Rock to Natural Arch Optional sidetrip: Track: Hard - bushtrack,undefined	Length = 300 m	Time = 6 mins
	Climb = 4 m	Descent = -21 m
Turn right: From the western edge of Refuge Rock (where the management trail arrives), the walk heads south, across the rock outcrop toward a well defined bush track. Some parts of this section are a little difficult to follow as the track becomes faint in places. The walk then follows the bush track as it crosses another large rock outcrop (becoming faint at times) and bends to the left just before the end of the outcrop. The track is more distinct again here as it winds down through a gully, ignoring a bush track to the right, to climb over a rounded ridge of rock. The track continues a little further before reaching an intersection at the top of a small cliff line. Veer left: From the intersection, the walk drops into the first of two very prominent slots in the rock platform to the north-east (beside a banksia tree). The walk follows this slot to the edge of the rock platform then bends around to the right to enter the next slot (closer to the cliff line). The walk drops through this very narrow slot to emerge at the base of the very cool natural arch.

Natural Arch	Alt = 144 m
This natural arch, known locally as 'London Bridge' is at the south-eastern edge of Refuge Rock, near Cherrybrook. The arch is formed below a long, narrow block of rock at the edge of a larger rock platform. To see the arch, you walk down through the narrow chasms separating the block from the rock platform, to emerge underneath the arch. The arch itself, and the area around it is beautiful. More info

Catch the bus from End of Trevors Ln
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip from the end of this walk. (Links currently not working sorry) Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

Drive from End of Trevors Ln
There is free parking available. You can drive or ride from the end of this walk Use these links to plan your trip from the end of this walk. Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

Getting there

Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk

Public Transport links currently not working, sorry

Public Transport Timetables
	To the start of the walk From Castle Hill Chatswood Dural Epping Gosford Hornsby Katoomba Manly Parramatta Penrith Strathfield Sutherland Sydney		From the end of the walk To Castle Hill Chatswood Dural Epping Gosford Hornsby Katoomba Manly Parramatta Penrith Strathfield Sutherland Sydney
Driving Directions
	To the start of the walk                  Castle HillChatswoodDuralEppingGosfordHornsbyKatoombaManlyParramattaPenrithStrathfieldSutherlandSydney Drive from:		From the end of the walk                  Castle HillChatswoodDuralEppingGosfordHornsbyKatoombaManlyParramattaPenrithStrathfieldSutherlandSydney Drive to:

Near by

Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk

Store	Address	Phone	Distance (straight line)
All Camping Supplies	12 Railway Pde, Thornleigh	(02) 9481 0473	3.3 km
CampHikeClimb	20 George St, Hornsby	(02) 9476 5767	3.9 km
Kathmandu	236 Pacific Hwy (Westfield), Hornsby	(02) 9476 1399	4 km
Castle Tarpaulin Warehouse	14/ 10 Victoria Ave, Castle Hill	(02) 9899 3959	7.8 km
One Stop Adventure Shop	1045 Victoria Rd , West Ryde	(02) 9858 5844	11.3 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Refuge Rock and Natural Arch.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Refuge Rock and Natural Arch Click to re-center search
5	SYD05	Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA Emergency use only	5 km (to the SE)
6	VMB7	CB Repeater Site 16 Alan Rd BEROWRA HEIGHTS	13 km (to the NE)
7	SYD07	7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN	16 km (to the WSW)
1	SYD01	12/14 Ormonde Parade HURSTVILLE	29 km (to the S)
8	MDC08	Gencom Site Lot 6 Wakefield Close KARIONG	37 km (to the NE)

Weather and Park info

Fire Danger
This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a NONE rating and No Ban in place. (Downloaded 58 minutes ago)
Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban status, this rating is based on information from the RFS and BOM.

Weather and Climate
Weather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here

Mostly sunny. 18.6°C (feels like 13.7°) 17 km/h from the SW 33% humidity     (as at 19/03:00pm) Mon 4°|20° Mostly sunny. Tue 6°|22° Mostly sunny. Wed 8°|18° Rain at times. Thu 9°|17° Rain.

Berowra Valley National Park Link to official closures and fire bans page
Following the Berowra Creek the Berowra Valley National Park is located on the Hornsby Plateau and is made up of typical Hawkesbury Sandstone. The great North walk, Benowie walking track, and many other great walks stretch spann this park. The area has varied vegetation including many different sorts of Eucalyptus and plenty of native animals, includingl swamp wallibies, water dragons, bandicoots, Lyre Birds, and bush turkeys. There are several campsites within the Park, and Crosslands Reserve is also a popular spot near the middle of the park.
Region: Sydney & Surrounds
Park fees Camping
Current Park Closure information for Berowra Valley Regional Park
Closure information last downloaded Monday 20th of May 2013 04:00 AM
CLOSED AREAS
Impass of Calna Bridge, Crosslands Reserve
Due to unforeseen weather conditions the Calna Creek footbridge connecting Crosslands Reserve, Hornsby Heights and the Great North Walk north of Sam’s Creek is impassable. Therefore access to the Great North Walk is from Glenview Road at Mount Ku-ring-gai. It is currently not known how long will be required to rectify this situation.

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