Walk the Bushlands of Bidjigal

Walk the Bushlands of Bidjigal

Rugged sandstone cliffs, towering gums, shady rainforest patches and windy bush tracks of Bidjigal Reserve provide a chance for relaxation, inspiration and reflection within the confines of busy urban Sydney. Formerly called Excelsior Reserve, the parklands were the reported hideout of bushranger Bold Jack Donahue. Today, the reserve safeguards the native flora and fauna and makes a wonderful recreational experience. There are three walking tracks offering bushwalks of 1-4 hours and a welcome respite from city life.

Enjoy the small patches of cool rainforest along the creek and sheltered gullies at marvel at the tall eucalypts. With over 300 native plants and 140 different native animals plus a wide variety of birds, there is always something new to see. Echidnas, Sugar  Gliders  and  Swamp  Wallabies  are some of the native animals that can be found in Bidjigal  Reserve and the Eastern Water Dragon is common.  See if you can spot The Powerful Owl, which is Australia’s largest owl, found in the reserve.

Walks

Murri-Yanna Track is the logest walk at 8km and will take approximately 3 and a half hours. It leads  from  Whitbread  Place, North  Rocks  to  Heidi Place, West Pennant Hills. It stays close to Darling Mills Creek for most of the track as it meanders through the rainforest and riverflat  areas. Distance: 8km.Time: approx 3.5 hours.

Burraga Track is a shorter option at a little under 5km and will take approximately 2 hours. It can  be  accessed  from  various  points  in  Baulkham  Hills, Castle Hill and West Pennant Hills. It passes through some of the healthiest weed  free  bushland  in  areas  away  from  creeks  and  boundaries. Hours of work by professional and volunteer bushland regenerators have transformed the area. Distance: 4.7km.Time: approx 2.5 hours.

Platypus Track is a shorter track which will take approximately 1 hour and starts at the eastern end of Excelsior Avenue, Castle  Hill. Platypus were regularly seen in the creek up until the 1970 when the sewer was installed, but have not been seen since. This  short  loop  passes  Loch Bruce which was once a popular swimming and picnicking spot for locals. Distance: 1.7km.Time: approx 1 hour.

There are other bush tracks throughout Bidjigal Reserve which connect with the longer designated tracks. All tracks within the reserve are bush tracks so conditions do vary.

You can download a map at http://www.bidjigal.org.au/map.html

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