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The Basin track and Mackerel track

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Affected by closures, check current alerts 

Current alerts in this area

Last reviewed: Sat 21 October 2023, 3.11pm

Applies from Thu 15 Dec 2022, 4.29pm. Last reviewed: Sat 21 Oct 2023, 3.11pm.

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 Fri 8 Dec 2023, 1.30pm to Sun 17 Dec 2023, 11.59pm. Last reviewed: Fri 8 Dec 2023, 1.37pm

Fire bans: Park Fire Ban

A park fire ban is in place in this park and remains in effect unless otherwise extended or removed. During park fire ban periods, all campfire and solid fuel (wood, heat beads, charcoal, briquettes, hexamine) barbecues and stoves are prohibited. Gas and electric barbecues and cookers are permitted as long as:

  • They're under direct control of an adult
  • The ground within 2m of the barbecue is cleared of all flammable materials
  • There's an adequate supply of water (minimum of a bucket)

If a Total Fire Ban is in place, different rules apply. Contact the local park office before bringing a gas or electric barbecue or cooker.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information about fire bans in parks and reserves including your responsibilities, visit the NSW National Parks fire safety page.

Affects 3 parks nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 4 Dec 2023, 7.00am to Mon 18 Dec 2023, 7.00am. Last reviewed: Tue 5 Dec 2023, 10.29am

Closed areas: Areas closed for trail upgrades

Some parts of Bouddi National Park will be closed from Monday 4 December to Monday 18 December 2023 while trails are being upgraded. The closed areas are:

  • Old Quarry trail
  • Bombi Moor trail
  • Third Point trail
  • 81 trail
  • 78 trail 
  • Little Beach carpark

Little Beach campground will remain open and parking is available along Grahame Drive

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the NPWS Girrakool area office on 02 43204200.

Affects 1 park nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 9 Oct 2023, 5.00am to Fri 29 Dec 2023, 6.00pm. Last reviewed: Tue 5 Dec 2023, 10.50am

Closed areas: Heath and Bare Creek Trails closed for trail upgrades

Heath and Bare Creek Trails will be closed from Wednesday 11 October to Friday 29 December 2023 for trail upgrades. 

The entire trail will be closed from the Cascades Trail and Bare Creek Trail intersection to the Ralston Avenue Belrose entrance. 

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

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Sat 28 Oct 2023, 8.32am to Fri 22 Dec 2023, 8.32am. Last reviewed: Tue 5 Dec 2023, 10.49am

Closed areas: Cascades Trail access route for trail upgrade works

Cascades Trail is closed. It is being used as an access route for trail upgrade works being undertaken on Heath and Bare Creek Trails. 

Bare Creek Trail is closed at the intersection with Cascades Trail. 

 

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

Affects 1 park and 2 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Tue 13 Jun 2023, 6.00am to Sun 30 Jun 2024, 8.00pm. Last reviewed: Mon 13 Nov 2023, 2.03pm

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 until 30 June 2024 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 Mon 29 Sep 2014, 1.49pm to Sun 11 Aug 2024, 11.58am. Last reviewed: Tue 12 Sep 2023, 4.16pm

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 Sun 17 Sep 2023, 5.00pm to Fri 9 Aug 2024, 8.09am. Last reviewed: Fri 17 Nov 2023, 8.25am

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 Sat 1 Jul 2023, 8.19am to Sun 31 Dec 2023, 6.00pm. Last reviewed: Mon 13 Nov 2023, 9.30am

Other planned events: Notice of fire trail maintenance program

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is undertaking fire trail maintenance works at various locations throughout Brisbane Water National Park. Work is expected to be completed by the 31 December 2023 (pending suitable weather conditions).

The maintenance work will repair damaged surfaces, 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 4 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Sat 1 Jul 2023, 8.12am to Sun 3 Mar 2024, 6.00pm. Last reviewed: Mon 13 Nov 2023, 9.32am

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 31 Jul 2023, 11.55pm to Thu 1 Feb 2024, 3.57am. Last reviewed: Mon 9 Oct 2023, 7.09am

Other planned events: ‘1080 pest management’

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 August 2023 and 31 January 2024 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 30 Sep 2020, 11.54am to Wed 31 Jan 2024, 6.00am. Last reviewed: Mon 13 Nov 2023, 9.30am

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

Applies from Thu 7 Apr 2022, 11.17am to Sun 30 Jun 2024, 8.00pm. Last reviewed: Mon 13 Nov 2023, 9.33am

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 Thu 15 Dec 2022, 4.29pm. Last reviewed: Sat 21 Oct 2023, 3.11pm

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 Fri 24 Mar 2023, 9.31am. Last reviewed: Wed 29 Nov 2023, 2.06pm

Closed areas: Section of Casuarina track closed for track maintenance

Part of Casuarina track is closed from Thursday 23 March 2023 until further notice due to maintenance on the footbridge.

The closed area is the section of Casuarina track between the end of Boree Road and the Carrol Creek track intersection.

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

Affects 1 park and 3 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Wed 10 Feb 2016, 3.18pm. Last reviewed: Wed 29 Nov 2023, 12.23pm

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 where 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

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/the-basin-track-and-mackerel-track/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