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Duckholes picnic area

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Nearby alerts

Applies from Tue 21 Apr 2026, 4.04pm to Mon 27 Apr 2026, 11.59pm. Last reviewed: Tue 21 Apr 2026, 4.17pm

Closed areas: Powerline Hazard Reduction in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Some parts of this park are closed for hazard reduction burning from Thursday 23 to Friday 24 April 2026, or until tracks and trails are declared safe.

The burn is bounded by Ku-ring-gai Chase Rd to the south, Apple Tree Creek to the north, the M1 Freeway to the west and Apple Tree Bay to the east.

The closed areas are:

  • Deadmans Trail
  • Myall Trail
  • Powerline Trail
  • Birrawanna track
  • Kalkari Track
  • Chase Trail
  • Apple Tree Flat Track
  • Mt Ku-ring-gai Track
  • part of the Berowra Track

Road Closures include:

  • Ku-ring-gai Chase Road, between the M1 ramp at Mount Colah and Bobbin Head, from 8:00am Thursday 23rd until 8:00pm Friday 24th April.
  • Apple Tree Bay Road (including Apple Tree Bay boat ramp and picnic area).

 

Please note: The Bobbin Head Precinct remains open, with access via Bobbin Head Road, North Turramurra. This includes Empire Marina, the Bobbin Head Visitor Centre and Bobbin Inn Café.

 

Penalties apply for non-compliance. This burn is called Powerline Trail Hazard Reduction. For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 8448 0400 or visit the Rural Fire Service website.

Affects 1 park and 5 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 16 Mar 2026, 4.28pm. Last reviewed: Tue 7 Apr 2026, 11.01am

Closed areas: Bantry Bay Explosives Magazine Complex - western foreshore closed

The western foreshore of the Bantry Bay Explosives Magazine Complex is closed due to contamination, hazardous materials and structural conditions. 

Do not enter the closed areas. 

The Magazine Walking Track and eastern foreshore remain open to the public. 

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please visit Bantry Bay Explosives Magazine Complex project | Park management | Environment and Heritage or contact the the local NPWS office. 

 

Affects 1 park and 2 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 25 Aug 2025, 10.33am. Last reviewed: Mon 16 Mar 2026, 8.40am

Closed areas: Upper Gledhill Falls access unsafe

There is no safe location to park a vehicle on the side of McCarrs Creek Road to reach Upper Gledhills Falls. For your own safety, climbing and abseiling are prohibited here. Please visit Duckholes picnic area instead.

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Sat 31 Jan 2026, 10.58pm to Sat 1 Aug 2026, 2.53am. Last reviewed: Mon 19 Jan 2026, 3.01pm

Other planned events: 1080 pest management operation

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will be conducting a baiting program using manufactured baits, fresh baits and Canid Pest Ejectors (CPEs) containing 1080 poison (sodium fluroacetate) for the control of foxes. The program is continuous and ongoing between 1 February 2026 and 31 July 2026 in Garigal National Park. Don’t touch baits or ejector devices. Penalties apply for non-compliance.

 

All baiting locations are identifiable by signs.

Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW national parks and reserves. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.

Fox baiting in these reserves is aimed at reducing their impact on threatened species.

For more information, contact the local park office on:

Forestville 9451 3479 (business hours)

NPWS after-hours call centre: 1300 056 294 (after hours)

Affects 1 park nearby. Show list

Applies from Wed 1 Jan 2025, 8.49pm to Tue 30 Jun 2026, 8.50pm. Last reviewed: Fri 17 Apr 2026, 9.22am

Closed areas: Berowra walking track partial closure

Berowra walking track is partially closed from Apple Tree Bay to the Mount Ku-ring-gai access track until further notice. There continues to be a threat of rockfalls and foreshore slumps due to slope instability caused by previous weather events. NPWS is updating detailed assessments to undertake essential repair works.

Berowra walking track from Berowra Station to Mount Ku-ring-gai remains open.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 8448 0400 or call 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS).

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Wed 10 Feb 2016, 3.18pm. Last reviewed: Fri 27 Feb 2026, 2.43pm

Closed areas: Flat Rock track partial closure

The section of Flat Rock track from the Killarney Drive entrance to the Downpatrick Street entrance, is permanently closed as the old track passes through private property near Killarney Point.

Please note:

  • Walkers heading west should exit Flat Rock track at the eastern end of Killarney Drive and use Killarney Drive until you reach Downpatrick Street. Then walk down the street and re-enter Flat Rock track from the Downpatrick Street fire trail.
  • Walkers heading east should exit Flat Rock track at the Downpatrick Street fire trail and use Downpatrick Street, then Killarney Drive until you reach the end of Killarney Drive. Re-enter Flat Rock track from the Killarney Drive entrance.

For more information, please contact the NPWS Forestville area office on 02 9451 3479 between 9.30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 15 Sep 2025, 4.30pm to Wed 2 Sep 2026, 2.25pm. Last reviewed: Wed 8 Apr 2026, 8.58am

Closed parks: Muogamarra Nature Reserve closed

Muogamarra Nature Reserve is only open to the public for 6 weeks every year, around spring time.

Due to the sensitive nature of the reserve, access is restricted at other times to approved educational and research activities only.

For more information about the reserve, call the NPWS Contact Centre on 1300 072 757 or the NPWS North Western Sydney area office on 02 8448 0400.

Affects 1 park nearby. Show list

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/picnic-areas/duckholes-picnic-area/local-alerts

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
See more visitor info

Emergency services

For all NSW fires visit the Rural Fire Service

For the latest information on wildfires in your area please contact the NSW Rural Fire Service.

View all alerts for NSW

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