Heath and Bare Creek trails
Garigal National Park
Overview
These challenging trails are great for a day out mountain biking and horse riding, and take you along Bare Creek and the adjoining Cascades trail.
- Distance
- 3.7km one-way
- Time suggested
- 1hr 30min
- Grade
- Medium
- Entry fees
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Park entry fees apply at Davidson Park only
- What to
bring - Hat, sunscreen, drinking water
- Please note
- This is a shared trail, so please keep an eye out for other walkers and riders.
- Mountain bikers and horse riders are requested to avoid the trail during wet weather.
Popular for mountain biking and horse riding, Heath trail is a challenging fire trail running down into the valley of Garigal National Park. It's a fantastic ride and suited to more experienced mountain bikers. There are sandy corners and the terrain can be rough, so take care. Of course, if you ride down into the valley you'll have to ride back out - the climb can be hard work, but it's definitely worth the effort.
Heath Trail merges into Bare Creek trail shortly after entering Garigal National Park. Bare Creek runs along the east side of the creek, passing Quarry trail at the first creek crossing and eventually adjoining Cascades trail, so there are plenty of options for extending your mountain biking adventure. It's a great track to walk as well - watch out for other track users.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/cycling-trails/heath-and-bare-creek-trails/local-alerts
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
Park info
- in Garigal National Park in the Sydney and surrounds region
Garigal National Park is open 6am to 6.30pm (8pm during daylight savings) but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day applies only at Davidson Park only. Day passes are available from on-park pay machines that accept coins and credit cards, and you can also pay for your visit via the Park’nPay app.
Bus: $4.40 per adult, $2.20 per child (per day).
Daily entry fee exemption for teachers and educational supervisors (1 adult per 10 children) applies only for organised and pre-arranged group bookings.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Heath and Bare Creek trails.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
The Heath trail starts on Ralston Avenue, Belrose (behind the Belrose Electricity Substation) or alternatively from Wyatt Avenue. To get there from Frenchs Forest, travel north along Forest Way and turn left into Ralston Avenue or Wyatt Avenue.
Parking
Parking is available on Ralston Avenue, a short walk from the Heath trail.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Garigal National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
Spot wildflowers turning the undergrowth into a painter's palette along the Cascades trail during late winter and early spring.
Summer
Davidson Park is a popular place for a family picnic or barbecue, so pack up the kids and a tasty lunch to enjoy some time in the great outdoors.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
18°C and 26°C
Highest recorded
44°C
Winter temperature
Average
10°C and 16°C
Lowest recorded
-1.7°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
290mm
Maps and downloads
Prohibited
Gathering firewood
Gathering firewood and the use of heat beads is not permitted.
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.
Learn more
Heath and Bare Creek trails is in Garigal National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Outdoor action
There are countless ways to pass the time in Garigal. Explore the park's trails and tracks on horseback, mountain bike or on foot. If you enjoy water activities, launch your canoe or boat from the ramp at Davidson Park or drop a line in one of the great fishing spots throughout the park, like Middle Harbour, where you can catch flathead, flounder, mullet and bream.
- Cascades trail Cascades trail is ideal for walking, horseriding and mountain biking in Garigal National Park. A medium difficulty walk or ride along a fire trail, it traverses Middle Harbour creek.
- Davidson Park picnic area and boat ramp If you're looking for something to do in Sydney, Davidson Park is a pretty harbourside park with boating and canoeing access, just a short drive from the Sydney CBD.
- Natural Bridge track to Davidson Park This challenging walking track winds through Garigal National Park, and features impressive sandstone rock formations and spectacular water views.
Rich Aboriginal heritage
Aboriginal people have been custodians of the land in Garigal National Park for thousands of years and this connection and legacy is evident throughout the park. Garigal has extensive Aboriginal art sites, with over 100 Aboriginal sites recorded to date, including cave art, rock engravings, shelters, middens and grinding grooves.
Wartime stories
There are many places of historical interest in the park, such as Bungaroo and the former Bantry Bay Explosives Magazine complex. Both sites played a key role in the early establishment of Sydney and are important reminders of our history since colonisation. Enjoy a walk to Bantry Bay, where you'll see a collection of historically important buildings surrounded by stunning foreshore and bushland views.
- Pipeline and Bungaroo tracks to Stepping Stones Crossing This short steep walk is one of the most beautiful on Sydney’s upper north shore. Beginning at St Ives, it leads you through Garigal National Park to Middle Harbour creek.
Wildlife haven
Garigal is part of an important wildlife corridor that spans all the way from Sydney Harbour to the national parks of the Blue Mountains. It's the natural habitat for a number of threatened native animal species, such as tiger quolls, broad-headed snakes and red-crowned toadlets, so keep your eyes peeled. If you see a hole in the ground it may be that of the endangered southern brown bandicoot.
- Cascades trail Cascades trail is ideal for walking, horseriding and mountain biking in Garigal National Park. A medium difficulty walk or ride along a fire trail, it traverses Middle Harbour creek.
- Stepping Stone Crossing to Cascades trail Located in Garigal National Park, Stepping Stone Crossing to Cascades trail is an easy walk that you can enjoy by walking, horse riding or mountain biking.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii)
The eastern water dragon is a subaquatic lizard found in healthy waterways along eastern NSW, from Nowra to halfway up the Cape York Pensinsula. It’s believed to be one of the oldest of Australian reptiles, remaining virtually unchanged for over 20 million years.
Plants
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Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina)
Grey mangrove is the most common and widespread mangrove found within intertidal zones across Australia, and throughout the world. Growing to a height of 3-10m, they thrive best in estuaries with a mix of fresh and salt water. They excrete excess salt through their long thick leaves, and absorb oxygen through their aerial root system.
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Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)
Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.
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Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)
An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.
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Scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)
Easily identifiable Australian native plants, scribbly gum trees are found throughout NSW coastal plains and hills in the Sydney region. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark.