Category: Sydney

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Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park West Head Beach

West Head Beach Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

The West Head area of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park has some wonderful bush walks with fantastic views over the surrounding waterways.

Driving into the park you get to see lots of natural scenery, whilst on a good sealed road. The road has a lot of hills – with poor visibility at times, this mainly refers to the huge amount of cyclists (there were groups and dozens of single riders on the road).  We had to  drive slowly as it was not always safe to pass then.

We chose to do the Red Hands Track and Resolute Track to West Head Beach. There is plenty of parking available in a well sign posted car park. For us the first track was a little disappointing, with uninspiring bush land and badly damaged aboriginal hand stencils. The second walk however made  up for it, being a challenging  grade 4 walk. We liked it because is provided a different challenge to the ordinary tracks,with more unpredictable laid out paths and natural rock formations that we needed to navigate to continue on the walk. At the same time it was still easy to find your way through. At the beginning of the tracks, there are maps with details of each walk. On the tracks, you will be rewarded with an amazing views, beaches, wildlife, and Australian bush scenery.

Red Hands Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Red Hands

West Head Lookout

The walk commenced at the West Head Lookout, which has great views.  Take a look at the picture below! We spent some time here enjoying the views over Broken Bay before, planning our walk on the Resolute Track.

View From West Head Lookout Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
View From West Head Lookout

Resolute Track to West Head Beach

The Resolute Track took us through great bush scenery, climbing over rocks, enjoying varied stops to look out at the different views as we descended to the bottom towards West Head Beach. The track continues past the beach, but we turned here to walk down and enjoy all this little beach offered. 
The steps down and back up are steep, but the reward is a lovely little remote beach, with scenic inlet views and yacht watching.  If the weather is good, you could take your bathers and have a swim.  The walk is very hilly so wear good waking shoes, to protect your feet.  You can take your shoes off to walk in the water.

Walking around the beach we found some amazing weathered rocks looking like honeycombs as well as some great views over the water. We were the only ones there on our visit,  We sat on the rocks and had a bite to eat, it was very peaceful.

The return walk to the lookout was very steep, but we stopped regularly to enjoy the natural surroundings and take some photos.

  • Steps Going Down Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
    Steps Going Down
  • Steps Going Up Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
    Steps Going Up
  • West Head Beach Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
    West Head Beach
  • Honey Comb Rock West Head Beach Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
    Honey Comb Rock

The Resolute Track and West Head Beach were beautiful and we really enjoyed the opportunity to spend the morning walking, savouring the great scenery and the amazing  views in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Middle Head Sydney Harbour

View to South Head Across the Harbour Middle Head Sydney Harbour

Middle Head

Middle Head on Sydney Harbour houses the remains of Sydney’s original fortifications. Designed to repel an invasion from the sea, these huge concrete structures no longer have their guns, but remain as a reminder of times when Australia thought it was going to be invaded.

The Royal Australian Navy still has a presence in the area with HMAS Penguin still an active naval base. The car park for Middle Head is near the base. There is a fee for parking here and ticket machines are located in the car park.

Several of the old administration buildings are still in use and you walk past them on your way to the gun emplacements. The concrete structures are extensive, and you are free to walk around, through and over them. We explored them for a while and then admired the views over the harbour and towards North Head and South Head with Hornby Lighthouse.

  • Fortifications Middle Head Sydney Harbour
    Fortifications
  • Fortifications Middle Head Sydney Harbour
    Fortifications
  • View to North Head Across the Harbour Middle Head Sydney Harbour
    View to North Head Across the Harbour
  • View to South Head Across the Harbour Middle Head Sydney Harbour
    View to South Head Across the Harbour

There is a small display of cannon carriages, but this is in need of signage and maintenance to give context to the display. Likewise, the tiger cages constructed in the area require an explanation to make them relevant.

  • Tiger Cage Middle Head Sydney Harbour
    Tiger Cage

There are no food and drink outlets on the site, but we took our own and had a great view over the harbour while we ate.

Beehive Casements

Situated on Middle Head and maintained by National Parks and Wildlife, this old fortress can only be accessed by a guided tour. Details of the dates and costs can be found on NPWS website.

To get there, you drive through leafy Mossman and pass many lovely houses. Parking in the area is limited, so either arrive early, or walk from one of the larger car parks. Warning signs along the road show that parking in a non designated area will incur a $300 fine.

Beehive Casements Tour

The guide met us at the beehive casements where he gave an overview of their history and significance to Sydney. We then walked down stairs to the interior of the fort. The stairs can be slippery so take care. Once inside, you can see the extent of the excavations needed to build them. The passageways are often wet, because the sandstone they were built with is porous and water constantly sleeps through.

Embrasures facing Sydney Harbour provide a magnificent view and show why the forts were built here as they have a commanding view of any ships attempting to enter the harbour.

The shape of the interior provides the name of the casements, as they look like a conical beehives. The remains of several old cannons lie on the rock floors, but have unfortunately been burnt by vandals in the past. Some other remnants like racks for tools and coat racks still line the walls but have become rotted or rusty, providing some interesting photographic opportunities.

  • Beehive Casements Upper Works

    Upper Works of the Beehive Casements
  • Beehive Casements Tunnel
    Beehive Casements Tunnel
  • Beehive Casements Interior
    Beehive Casements Interior
  • Stairs Down to Lower Level
    Stairs Down to Lower Level
  • Burnt Cannon Carriage
    Burnt Cannon Carriage
  • Burnt Cannon Carriage
    Burnt Cannon Carriage

For another perspective of the beehive casements, look for them when taking the Manly ferry. They can be found low down on the waterline of the cliffs. Looking carefully the three gun embrasures are visible.

Beehive Casements From Sydney Harbour
Beehive Casements From Sydney Harbour

A great place to visit and see Sydney’s early history as well as fantastic views over the harbour. For more early fortifications and military history, visit nearby Bradleys Head and the HMAS Sydney (I) mast and Royal Australian Navy memorials.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Bradleys Head

HMAS Sydney (I) Mast Bradleys Head

Bradleys Head

Many people using Sydney Ferries will have past Bradleys Head with its mast from HMAS Sydney, but many will not know its significance. This small headland holds memorials to the Royal Australian Navy ships lost during wartime.  The RAN considers this location the pre-eminent naval memorial in Australia.

  • Bradleys Head Location
    Location

HMAS Sydney Mast and Associated Memorials

The most striking feature on the headland is the mast of HMAS Sydney (I), because it stands tall above its surroundings. It commemorates all who served on the four ships named Sydney and forms the focal point for the other memorials. Walking around the gardens you come across memorials to individual ships, from the first submarine AE1 to HMAS Canberra.

  • HMAS Sydney (I) Mast Bradleys Head
    HMAS Sydney (I) Mast
  • HMAS Sydney (I) Mast at Bradleys Head
    HMAS Sydney (I) Mast at Bradleys Head From the Harbour
  • HMAS Canberra Plaque Bradleys Head
    The Rifle Wall

Doric Column

Sitting off the headland is a Doric stone column in the waters of the harbour. It is from the demolished Sydney Post Office and in conjunction with the tower off Fort Denison, it was used for speed trials of vessels in Sydney Harbour. No longer used for this purpose, it is an interesting sight.

  • Doric Column Bradleys Head
    Doric Column
  • Doric Column at Bradleys Head
    Doric Column at Bradleys Head From the Harbour

Bradleys Head Light

The Bradleys Head Light, completed in 1905, is located on the point of Bradley’s Head Peninsula. Used as a navigation marker and warning light, it also makes for a great photograph. The lighthouse is mounted on a rock and connected to shore by a footbridge.

  • Bradleys Head Light
    Bradleys Head Light

Access to Bradleys Head is past the Taronga Park Zoo and down a narrow windy road. On the way down, you will pass the Rifle Wall, part of the old fortifications built to defend Sydney. Although probably not as interesting as the naval memorials, it is still historically important and worth stopping at.

  • The Rifle Wall Bradleys Head
    The Rifle Wall

A great little stop for a wander around, either before or after the zoo if you are interested.  Or you could add it to a visit to Middle Head and its fortifications.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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