Bushwalk Australia

Hi all,

I've doing the Great North Walk (GNR) from Sydney to Newcastle one day at a time, with a view to ultimately doing the whole walk as a single trek.

I've run into an issue in the "Cowan to Wondabyne station" section, where the documentation tells me to catch a ferry from Brooklyn to Patonga.

Unfortunately, the ferry doesn't seem to exist.

I've spoken to the fella at the Brooklyn Ferry Service, who didn't know about the GNR, but knows his local area very well. Apparently the ferry travels from Brooklyn to to Dangar Island to Little Wobby and back again. He reckons it'd be about a four hour walk from Little Wobby to Patonga, through bush and over a hill.

The only way he knew of getting there (apart from driving) was via water taxi (from one of a few local companies) - however he warned it'd be expensive.

(Despite being outside their park) the good people at Ku-ring-gai NPWS had a look at their resources for me; they confirmed that everything they have references the ferry service.

I was wondering if anyone could provide advice? Perhaps you've done the GNW?? Perhaps you know maintains it?

Thank you

The ferry between Brooklyn to Patonga no longer exists. The alternative is an expensive water taxi. Not everyone who provides information about the walk seems to know that. Most people I know doing the Great North Walk as thru walkers or in stages bypass Patonga altogether and either go via Wobby Beach by ferry or catch the train to Wondabyne. I like the Wobby Beach alternative and have done it many times. Its a better option than following a fairly uninteresting fire trail up from Patonga.

You can access the ferry timetable for Wobby Beach here http://www.brooklynferryservice.com.au/

When you reach Wobby Beach you need to turn right and go past the houses. Once you leave the village you can either follow the shoreline round to Croppy Beach to pick up the Highway Ridge Track or there is a short cut once you leave the village which takes you up a gully following an old power line easement. Stck to the right hand side of the gully as its easier. Once at the top of the ridge you hit the Highway Ridge Track. Turn left and head north. There are some terrific views of the Hawkesbury at the top of the ridge. You will find reliable water at Tank Creek. From there you pick up a fire trail which takes you to the Great North Walk just south of Mt Wondabyne.

The whole of the Great North Walk is run by Crown Lands NSW though the website doesn't have a lot of current information. Better off going to the NPWS website or accessing a commercial site like https://www.thegreatnorthwalk.com/

Thanks @DavidB - very appreciated!

What DavidB says.
Ferry to Wobby Beach, walk along the cute shoreline track past or through all the houses until you get to an open flat area. The power-line goes up from here. It's steep, but quite OK. At the top, turn left along the ridge TOP. Magnificent views.
Done it twice so far. Nice ferry man.

There is a wharf at the flat area as well. The flat and the wharf may belong to the NSW Sport and Recreation department. I think the ferry picks up S&R's rubbish there: big skips, brought around on the 4WD track. I found S&R extremely UNhelpful. The first time (long ago) there was a hut and a women in the hut who abused us for being there. Yeah, Sport and Recreation! Bushwalkers do not count. The 2nd time we camped at the flat area, and chatted with a local resident.

Cheers
Roger

Ive climbed up the powerline easement track a few times the last couple of years.
Previously we also accessed the track by walking up the road and taking the steps up near an overhang (which is just before the bricked in creek).
However twice we arrived at the base of the road into S&R and found it fenced off, it was actually being concreted on one of the occasions.
it is possible to catch the ferry to the S&R wharf as it seems to stop there at times.
I think the water taxi service to Patonga from Brooklyn is about $400. I seem to remember paying $20 each with a limit of 20ppl. Its been a couple of years since Ive used this service but it the past that was the usual route North crossing the Hawkesbury River to the Patonga Wharf then onto the GNW.

The water taxi to Patonga is usually $20/person, minimum of 8(?) - so $160 minimum price. Phone number 0422 300 100, They are often busy so call/ book well ahead. Transport to Wobbly about half that price.

If using the Wobbly route, you are entering Dept. S&R property, and so need to get permission. Because of frequent large groups of children using the grounds, they are very sensitive to strangers entering the grounds, however as I understand it if you are just using Highway Ridge trail and not going to the eastern side of the camp, they grant permission freely.

In 2022 there was a slip that closed the shoreline access road, it re-opened last year.

Skibug.

if you are just using Highway Ridge trail and not going to the eastern side of the camp, they grant permission freely.

I emailed them 3 times. They never answered. So I just went anyhow.

Cheers
Roger