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Aboriginal Heritage walk

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Affected by closures, check current alerts 

Current alerts in this area

Last reviewed: Thu 30 March 2023, 5.01pm

Applies from Thu 15 Dec 2022, 4.29pm. Last reviewed: Thu 30 Mar 2023, 5.01pm.

Closed areas: North Mackerel track closed and Mackerel trail partially closed

North Mackerel track is permanently closed due to a potential risk of rockfalls and unstable cliff edges in the Great Mackerel Beach area.

The only designated land access to or from Great Mackerel Beach is via Mackerel track to the north, which intersects with Resolute track.

Due to land instability and risk to personal safety, there is no through or return access to or from the following places:

  • The south end of Great Mackerel Beach via The Basin or Mackerel trail
  • The west of Great Mackerel Beach via North Mackerel track, which is closed.

Please remember the risks associated with visiting natural areas, including rock falls, unstable edges, falling branches and interactions with wildlife.

For more information, contact the local NPWS office.

Nearby alerts

Applies from Thu 1 Jun 2023, 9.30am. Last reviewed: Thu 1 Jun 2023, 9.00pm

Hazard reduction burns: Ellis Trig HR

There is a planned Hazard Reduction burn in this park from 01/06/2023. The fire is called Ellis Trig HR. Refer to the Rural Fire Service for latest information. Do not enter any closed area or area with fire. If you see an unattended fire call Triple Zero (000). Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information about fire safety in parks and reserves, visit the NSW National Parks fire safety page for park safety guidelines.

Affects 1 park and 2 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 22 May 2023, 1.05pm to Thu 8 Jun 2023, 9.00am. Last reviewed: Thu 1 Jun 2023, 12.34pm

Closed areas: Perimeter trail closed for surface maintenance

Perimeter trail is partially closed from Monday 22 May until Wednesday 7 June 2023 for emergency trail repair works. Visitors should expect delays during works. Large machinery will be in operation. Communicate with onsite contractors before moving through construction zones. Care should be exercised when horse riding.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Thu 11 May 2023, 11.49am to Thu 30 Nov 2023, 11.52am. Last reviewed: Thu 1 Jun 2023, 11.16am

Closed areas: Areas closed for West Head lookout upgrades

The following areas are closed from Monday 22 May to Thursday 30 November 2023 while West Head lookout upgrades are underway:

  • West Head lookout
  • The loop section of West Head Road
  • West Head Army track.

Vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians will have access to the Resolute picnic area and public toilets. Access is restricted past this point.

The following walking tracks remain open:

  • Red Hands track
  • Aboriginal Heritage track
  • Resolute track, including access to Resolute Beach and West Head Beach
  • Mackeral Beach track
  • Koolewong track.

The West Head lookout cannot be accessed from any of these tracks.

For more information, visit the project webpage.

Affects 1 park and 2 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Wed 24 May 2023, 1.16pm to Fri 2 Jun 2023, 11.16pm. Last reviewed: Thu 1 Jun 2023, 11.14am

Closed areas: Brooklyn Dam campground closed

Brooklyn Dam campground is closed from 7am to 3pm on Friday 2 June 2023 for planned vegetation management.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please call the NPWS North Western Sydney area office on 02 8448 0400.

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Tue 30 May 2023, 4.10pm. Last reviewed: Thu 1 Jun 2023, 11.06am

Closed areas: Illawong picnic area and Centre trail closed for hazard reduction burn

Some parts of this park are closed for hazard reduction burning Thursday 1 June 2023 until further notice. The closed areas are:

  • Centre trail
  • Illawong Bay picnic area
  • Illawong Point
  • All areas north-west of Centre trail between General San Martin Drive.

General San Martin Drive will be reduced to one lane with traffic flowing in a clockwise direction and may be closed completely at short notice.

Akuna Bay will remain open. To access Akuna Bay, turn off McCarrs Creek Road onto General San Martin Drive. It will not be possible to approach Akuna Bay from West Head Road.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. This burn is called NPWS HR Ellis Trig. For more information, contact the local NPWS office or visit the Rural Fire Service website.

Affects 1 park and 2 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Thu 1 Jun 2023, 7.00am to Wed 28 Jun 2023, 4.00pm. Last reviewed: Thu 18 May 2023, 11.12am

Other planned events: Closure for aerial spraying program

A number of areas will be closed in Bouddi NP for an aerial weed spraying program for one (1) day between Thursday 1 June and Wednesday 28 June 2023. The closed areas will be all walking tracks and management trails from Mourawaring (Second) Point in the north to Lobster Beach in the south, along the headlands and sea cliffs of eastern and southern areas of the park. NPWS staff will be present during the helicopter spray operations, please follow safety signs and directions given by staff. The herbicide used is Metsulfuron-methyl 600WG. For more information please contact the NPWS Central Coast Area office on 02 43024200 or 02 4979000.

Affects 1 park nearby. Show list

Applies from Fri 28 Apr 2023, 11.53am to Sun 31 Dec 2023, 6.00pm. Last reviewed: Tue 16 May 2023, 8.35am

Closed areas: Somersby Falls Walking Track - partial closure

Part of the walking track leading to the bottom waterfall off Somersby Falls Picnic Area is closed while essential maintenance work is undertaken. The closed areas are:

- Bottom Falls Walking Track (closed beyond the middle waterfall walking track)

- Bottom Waterfall 

Access from the picnic area to the middle waterfall will remain open.

Signage and barricades are in place around closed areas.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the NPWS Central Coast Area Office on 02 4320 4200.

Affects 1 park and 2 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 29 May 2023, 8.00am to Fri 29 Dec 2023, 8.00pm. Last reviewed: Tue 16 May 2023, 8.33am

Closed areas: Somersby Falls picnic area and walking track closed

Somersby Falls picnic area and walking track, including access to the waterfalls will be closed between July and December 2023 while the picnic area is being upgraded.

The proposed upgrade will improve visitor safety, accessibility and protect sensitive cultural heritage.

Consider visiting the nearby Girrakool picnic area less than 5 minutes away which also has waterfalls, walking tracks and a well established picnic area.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS Central Coast Area Office on 02 4320 4200.

Affects 1 park and 2 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Thu 7 Apr 2022, 11.17am to Fri 1 Dec 2023, 8.00pm. Last reviewed: Tue 16 May 2023, 8.31am

Closed areas: Brieses fire trail partial closure

The section of Brieses fire trail between Mooney Mooney Creek and Old Mooney Dam trail is closed until further notice due to a landslip, making it unsafe for vehicles.

Signs are in place around closed areas. This area will re-open as soon as it is safe and repair works have been completed.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 4320 4200.

Affects 1 park nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 29 Sep 2014, 1.49pm to Sun 11 Aug 2024, 11.58am. Last reviewed: Tue 9 May 2023, 12.56pm

Closed areas: No access to Old Wagstaffe trail through private property

There is no public access to Old Wagstaffe trail through private property. Signs show where public access is not permitted. 

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the NPWS Central Coast area office on 02 4320 4200.

Affects 1 park nearby. Show list

Applies from Thu 15 Dec 2022, 4.29pm. Last reviewed: Thu 30 Mar 2023, 5.01pm

Closed areas: North Mackerel track closed and Mackerel trail partially closed

North Mackerel track is permanently closed due to a potential risk of rockfalls and unstable cliff edges in the Great Mackerel Beach area.

The only designated land access to or from Great Mackerel Beach is via Mackerel track to the north, which intersects with Resolute track.

Due to land instability and risk to personal safety, there is no through or return access to or from the following places:

  • The south end of Great Mackerel Beach via The Basin or Mackerel trail
  • The west of Great Mackerel Beach via North Mackerel track, which is closed.

Please remember the risks associated with visiting natural areas, including rock falls, unstable edges, falling branches and interactions with wildlife.

For more information, contact the local NPWS office.

Affects 1 park and 8 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Thu 29 Dec 2022, 2.25pm to Fri 30 Jun 2023, 2.26pm. Last reviewed: Thu 25 May 2023, 10.47am

Closed areas: Kariong Brook Waterhole and Waterfall Closed

The waterhole and waterfall at Kariong Brook is closed until further notice due to risk of rockfall.

The adjacent Great North Walk will remain open.

Signs are in place around the closed area.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the Central Coast NPWS office on 02 4320 4200.

Affects 1 park and 2 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 19 Sep 2022, 7.00am to Fri 30 Jun 2023, 6.00pm. Last reviewed: Sun 16 Apr 2023, 8.20am

Other planned events: Notice of fire trail maintenance program

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is undertaking fire trail maintenance works in Brisbane Water National Park from Monday 19 September 2022 for a period of up to 9 months (pending suitable weather conditions).

The maintenance work will repair damaged drainage assets and infrastructure that supports and is essential to the ongoing operation of the trails as well as maintaining vegetation clearances.

Trails will remain open for the duration of the construction works, with adequate signage and diversions (if required) in place.

Please contact the the local Central Coast area office on 02 4320 4200 for more information.

Affects 1 park and 6 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 19 Sep 2022, 9.36am to Thu 31 Aug 2023, 9.39am. Last reviewed: Mon 15 May 2023, 8.29am

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

Applies from Wed 30 Sep 2020, 11.54am. Last reviewed: Wed 10 May 2023, 3.06pm

Safety alerts: Ironbark Road access to picnic area - Last 850m 4WD only

The last 850m along Ironbark Road (Crown Road) to access Ironbark picnic area is currently limited to 4WD vehicles only. This section is not suitable to conventional 2WD vehicles due to a severely eroded hill along the Crown Road. Visitors to this section of the park travelling by conventional 2WD vehicles will have to walk the last 850 metres to access to the start of the park and Ironbark picnic area.

Affects 1 park and 5 locations 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/walking-tracks/aboriginal-heritage-walk/local-alerts

Park info

  • in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in the Sydney and surrounds region
  • Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is open sunrise to sunset but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

    • The entrance to Bobbin Head and Appletree Bay is closed from 8pm to 6am during daylight savings periods, and from 5.30pm to 6am the rest of the year.
    • 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.
  • 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). Students on educational programs: $1.10 per student. Teachers/educational supervisors: free (1 adult per 10 students).

    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 20 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