Aboriginal Heritage walk
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Overview
Take the fascinating Aboriginal Heritage walk highlighting rock art and engravings of the Aboriginal people of West Head in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
- Distance
- 4.4km loop
- Time suggested
- 2hrs 30min - 3hrs 30min
- Grade
- Grade 4
- Trip Intention Form
-
It's a good idea to let someone know where you're going. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your trip to your emergency contact.
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- The Aboriginal rock art and engravings along this walk are of great cultural and historical significance and are very delicate. Please don’t touch or interfere with the artworks.
- You can do an easy 1km return walk to Red Hands Cave and the rock engravings
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch
For a great experience that highlights the best of the Aboriginal art in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, step out on Aboriginal Heritage walk. Combining Resolute and West Head walking tracks, you’ll encounter historic rock engravings and art of the traditional owners of this land.
Within a 10-minute walk along the track, you’ll come across the best-known site in the park, Red Hands Cave. It’s not known how old some of this art is, but either way, you’re bound to be in awe of this ancient Aborginal art. Nearby, as you continue on the track, there are impressive rock engravings, and further down the hill you’ll discover an historic occupation shelter. During the colder months, families would light a fire inside, warming the stones and themselves.
The people of West Head were virtually decimated by an outbreak of smallpox within a year of the arrival of the First Fleet. Pause for a moment in this beautiful bushland, to reflect and pay your respects. Continue around the loop track to the impressive views from West Head lookout before heading back to Resolute picnic area for lunch.
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General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Forestville Office
- Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm.
- 02 9451 3479
- npws.sydneynorth@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 82 Ferguson Street, Forestville NSW 2087
Park info
- in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in the Sydney and surrounds region
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
- Gates to West Head are closed from 8.30pm to 6am during daylight savings periods, and from 6pm to 6am the rest of the year.
- Gates to Sphinx Memorial carpark are closed overnight from 7pm.
-
Park entry fees:
$12 per vehicle per day. You can also pay for your visit via the Park’nPay app.
Vehicles over 8 seats: $4.40 per adult, $2.20 per child (per day).
Other fees:
A $3 per adult, $2 per child landing fee may apply for day visitors to The Basin campground. Please pay at the campground wharf. Landing fees are included in your camping fees.
Group bookings:
Under the Plan of Management for this park, prior written approval is required for organised groups of 40 or more people planning to visit this park. Contact the park office before your visit.
Buy annual pass
What's nearby:
Things to do (76)
- Aboriginal culture (12)
- Beach (1)
- Birdwatching and wildlife encounters (13)
- Cafes and kiosks (2)
- Canoeing/paddling (6)
- Cultural heritage (2)
- Cycling (8)
- Educational activities (1)
- Environmental appreciation/study (1)
- Fishing (5)
- Geotourism (1)
- Historic heritage (10)
- Horse riding (2)
- Other experiences (2)
- Photography (3)
- Picnics and barbecues (7)
- Sailing, boating and cruises (4)
- Sightseeing (35)
- Snorkelling and scuba (1)
- Swimming (5)
- Visitor centres (1)
- Walking (38)
- Waterfalls (2)
- Wildflowers (seasonal) (9)