Diary 2026 - Walks & other activities

Tuesday 24 March

CHERRYBROOK: Callicoma Walk & Blackwattle Trail

Meet:    Cherrybrook Metro Station - Before 9.40am, in time to catch the bus route 635, from the bus stop in Bradfield Pde, at 9.55am.

Description:

Arrive at Cherrybrook Metro Station, exit the station onto Bradfield Parade.

We will cross the road to the bus stop and catch Bus 635, we get off at the Cherrybrook Shops, about 10 mins travel.

When we get off the bus, it is a short 100m walk to the Cherrybrook Lakes Park.

Here we will have the usual intro circle etc.

We will start the walk here at the Cherrybrook Lakes, which are on the headwaters of a tributary of the Berowra Creek.

The walk will be in the Berowra Valley National Park.  It is called The Callicoma Walk and includes the Blackwattle Trail and a number of other trails.

The walk is along a mix of bush paths and fire trails.   It all with moderate grades.

The walk starts in a native Blue Gum forest, passes through a variety of vegetation including very large Angophora species and the typical vegetation on Sydney’s sandstone ridges.

There will be a stop to look at a scheme for filtering the runoff from suburbia, before it enters the creek system.   This will be of interest to those who are concerned about the environment.

We will have a stop for tea/coffee.   

Early exit:

After the coffee stop, there will be an opportunity for people to make an early exit, by walking a short distance through the suburb and taking a bus (route 626)  back to Cherrybrook Station.

The walk will continue out onto ridge forming the main valley of the Berowra Creek.

We will stop at a large rock ledge formation for lunch.  This area is called “London Bridge”, there is a system of eroded caves below the ledge, which supposedly give the name to this area!  There will be an optional guided tour to walk down and view these!

 For those who can remember, several years ago we had a bush walk which started on the eastern, Thornleigh side of the valley, we descended into the Berowra Creek then climbed the western side and had lunch here at “London Bridge”, then retraced our route back to Thornleigh.

This walk will be easier, no steep ascent/descent!!

After lunch we will continue walking along the ridge to a large rock area called “Refuge Rock”  which gives views north along the Berowra Creek Valley.

We will then walk back through the bush, to the edge of suburbia and a short 400m walk through the suburb to a bus stop.   This bus route 626,   will take us back to Cherrybrook Metro Station,  about 20min ride, timetable frequency 30min.

Grade:   This is medium difficulty, no steep sections. The walk is along a mix of bush tracks and wider Fire Trails.  I recommend you bring your trekking stick if you use one.

Distance:    

For those who exit after morning coffee, about 3 km

For those who do the full walk, about 6km

Bring:   Your cheerful self, sturdy walking shoes, suitable clothing for the day,  sun screen and a hat.

Water bottle, lunch and tea/coffee etc

Weather:

If it looks like rain, or

If the forecast is for temperatures above 30deg,

Then we will postpone, with an email, at the latest 48hrs before the date.

More info: Call  John 0414727060 

Date to be announced

MEADOWBANK to PARRAMATTA

This is a pleasant, non-strenuous walk along familiar pathways. (See map below.)

The walk is around 9 kilometres from Meadowbank to Parramatta. But it would be shorter if one catches the new Light-Rail Tram for the last section between Rydalmere and Parramatta.

We will get good views of the placid river and some new landscaping. And we might see some signs of the new high-rise suburb on the north side called Melrose Park and the two bridges planned to connect it to the fast metro train at Olympic Park on the south side.

Exit-points: There are a few exit-points via bus and ferry along the walk.

Bring Lunch, snacks and drinking water.

Meet at Meadowbank station at 10:05am. 

Enquiries: Mark Matheson 9559 5502 (preferred) or 0409 617 778 (emergencies)