Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Turramurra:
- Enter the park from Bobbin Head Road, at North Turramurra.
- This is a good route to Bobbin Head and Appletree Bay.
From Mt Colah or Asquith:
- Enter the park from Ku-ring-gai Chase Road, off the Pacific Motorway. Or from Belmont Parade if you are driving from Mount Colah.
- This gives you easy access to the large parking areas and picnic facilities at Bobbin Head and Appletree Bay.
From Terrey Hills or Church Point:
- Enter the park from McCarrs Creek Road.
- This leads to Liberator General San Martin Drive, where you'll find the picnic areas and facilities of Illawong Bay and Akuna Bay.
- It also gives access to West Head Road, West Head.
Please note, you cannot reach The Basin campground or Barrenjoey Lighthouse directly by car.
Park entry points
- Bobbin Head Road access See on map
- Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Road access See on map
- McCarrs Creek Rd access See on map
Parking Show more
- Apple Tree picnic area See on map
- Basin Aboriginal art site See on map
- Accessible parking at Bobbin Head Visitor Centre See on map
- d'Albora Akuna Bay See on map
- Elvina trail See on map
- Flint and Steel track See on map
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
For information about public transport options, visit the NSW transport info website.
Best times to visit
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park offers an exceptional visit all year round. You're sure to find a walk, tour, activity or attraction to appeal, regardless of the season.
Spring
If you're interested in wildflower displays, set aside a day in August or September to stroll through the park's blooming heathlands.
Summer
Bring your fishing gear and go camping at The Basin.
Winter
Barrenjoey Head (on the other side of Pittwater, but still in the park) is an excellent spot for whale watching. Take the Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk between May and August or celebrate International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend in August.
Facilities
Boat moorings
- NSW National Parks provides free, courtesy moorings available to all recreational boat users on Cowan Waters in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
- Domestic Commercial Vessels may use courtesy moorings with NPWS consent.
- Vessels must not be left unattended on a courtesy mooring.
- Only one vessel can be attached to each mooring at a time, for a maximum of 24 hours. Attaching other vessels to the moored vessel is not allowed.
- Vessels cannot exceed 14 metres in length.
- There's no need to book, just moor your boat at any of the available yellow buoys marked with a NSW National Parks logo.
- There are 54 moorings in 17 locations and the NPWS mooring locations are shown as a black number inside a yellow circle on this map provided by Department of Roads and Maritime Safety.
Amenities
- d'Albora Akuna Bay
- Empire Marina Bobbin Head
- Kalkari Discovery Centre
- The Basin campground
- The Basin picnic area
Toilets Show more
- Apple Tree picnic area
- Birrawanna walking track
- Bobbin Head
- Bobbin Head Visitor Centre
- d'Albora Akuna Bay
- Empire Marina Bobbin Head
- Gibberagong walking track
- Great North walk – Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
- Resolute picnic area
- The Basin campground
- The Basin picnic area
Picnic tables Show more
- Akuna Bay
- Apple Tree picnic area
- Bobbin Head
- Bobbin Head Visitor Centre
- d'Albora Akuna Bay
- Empire Marina Bobbin Head
- Gibberagong walking track
- Resolute picnic area
- Sphinx Memorial
- The Basin campground
- The Basin picnic area
Barbecue facilities Show more
Boat ramp
Cafe/kiosk
Drinking water Show more
- Apple Tree picnic area
- Bobbin Head
- d'Albora Akuna Bay
- Empire Marina Bobbin Head
- The Basin campground
- The Basin picnic area
Public phone
Showers
Maps and downloads
Fees and passes
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.
Permitted
Fishing
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Please note that spear guns and hand spears are not permitted in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. They may not be carried through the park and must not be used within 100m of a beach in the national park.
Prohibited
For visitors holding a picnic or an approved event in this park, please note that the following is also prohibited:
- Amplified or loud music, or public address systems.
- Balloons, water balloons, or paintball equipment.
- Decorations consisting of flowers, vines or other exotic plant materials.
- Throwing of rice, confetti, petals or similar decorative items.
- Candles or other open flames.
- Tents and marquees. Please do not put up signage or cordon off structures or picnic shelter areas.
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
Open fires and any form of solid fuel are not allowed.
Drones
Flying a drone for recreational purposes is prohibited in this area. Drones may affect public enjoyment, safety and privacy, interfere with park operations, or pose a threat to wildlife. See the Drones in Parks policy.
This area may be a declared Drone Exclusion Zone, or may be subject to Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) rules for flying near airports, aerodromes and helicopter landing sites. See CASA's Drone Flyer Rules.
Commercial filming and photography
Commercial filming or photography is prohibited without prior consent. You must apply for permission and contact the local office.
Gathering firewood
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Contact
- 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 -
-
Bobbin Head Visitor Centre
02 9472 8949
Contact hours: 10am to 4pm daily. 9am to 4pm during summer school holidays, closed 12pm-12:30pm. Closed Christmas Day. - 688 Ku-ring-gai Chase Road, Mount Colah, NSW 2079
-
Email: bobbin.head@environment.nsw.gov.au
-
Bobbin Head Visitor Centre
Visitor centre
-
Bobbin Head Visitor Centre
688 Ku-ring-gai Chase Road, Mount Colah, NSW 2079 - 10am to 4pm daily. 9am to 4pm during summer school holidays, closed 12pm-12:30pm. Closed Christmas Day.
- 02 9472 8949
-
-
Kalkari Discovery Centre
402 Ku-ring-gai Chase Road, Mount Colah NSW 2079 - 9:30am to 4:30pm. Closed on Christmas Day.
- 02 9472 9300
- 02 9472 9301
-
Kalkari Discovery Centre
Nearby towns
Hornsby (5 km)
A suburb in Sydney's upper north shore, Hornsby is conveniently located for easy access to Lane Cove National Park, Berowra Valley Regional Park, and the heritage-listed Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park - Australia's second-oldest national park. Explore walking and cycling tracks and Aboriginal sites, as well as marinas, cafes and picnic areas.
Sydney City Centre (26 km)
No trip to Sydney is complete without spending some time in the city’s beautiful parks. Whether it’s in central areas like Hyde Park or the Royal Botanic Gardens or further out in Centennial Parklands, there’s plenty of green space to go out and enjoy.
Gosford (50 km)
Gosford is a great destination for a family day trip or holiday. It's situated on Brisbane Water National Park and surrounded by state forests, lakes and beaches.