After lunch, almost immediately I encountered a junction with a tempting log bridge across the creek, indicating the track to Crosslands Reserve picnic ground/camping area. When planning the walk I had considered taking this side trip, but needed to be conscious of the time, as I had to co ordinate my finish (on a largely unfamiliar track) with the infrequent train timetable. Some quick calculations indicated I should be able to include the 2.6km return trip.
![Log Bridge.jpg](./download/file.php?id=6319&sid=f55c5497507f4b99a460a69279d1bd78)
- Interesting log bridge over Calna Creek
- Log Bridge.jpg (104.31 KiB) Viewed 18231 times
Crosslands side tripSo I crossed the bridge and followed the easy 1.3km track, arriving promptly at Crosslands. There were two car camping tents set up and a few people around. The reserve has picnic shelters and flushing toilets in park like grassy surrounds. It would make a good alternative lunch spot if you wanted a bit of luxury. After a quick look around I returned along Berowra Creek, stopping for photos at a lookout point, then re crossed the log bridge.
![Ducks near Crosslands.jpg](./download/file.php?id=6321&sid=f55c5497507f4b99a460a69279d1bd78)
- Ducks near Crosslands Reserve
- Ducks near Crosslands.jpg (75.16 KiB) Viewed 18231 times
Calna Creek to Sams CreekI crossed the salt marsh plain via a raised board walk then continued alongside of Calna Creek. Eventually this joins Berowra Creek and along this section I passed mangroves and shell middens, a reminder of long term aboriginal use and feasts of long ago. At one point there was a great view of the junction of Berowra and Sams Creeks. I turned up Sams Creek gully and the track shortly became very steep climbing various sections of rock and timber steps, eventually arriving at the service trail connecting to Berowra about 2km away. This trail also forms part of the GNW section from Berowra to Cowan. Having done that section previously, I knew it would be easy going from here to the finish. So I decided to take the 300m detour to Naa Badu Lookout, overlooking the wide expanse of Berowra Creek. This is a spectacular view and showed me much of the route just completed.
![Berowra Creek.jpg](./download/file.php?id=6322&sid=f55c5497507f4b99a460a69279d1bd78)
- View of Berowra Creek junction
- Berowra Creek.jpg (100.83 KiB) Viewed 18231 times
![Naa Badu Lookout.jpg](./download/file.php?id=6323&sid=f55c5497507f4b99a460a69279d1bd78)
- Part of my route below seen from Naa Badu Lookout
- Naa Badu Lookout.jpg (123.82 KiB) Viewed 18231 times
Service trail to Berowra StationI returned to the service trail and followed it for about 1.5km, leaving it at a marker post, to follow the indicated bush track veering off to the left. This continued steeply upward, including several stepped segments, to meet the final 700m of road walking to the finish at Berowra railway station.
Track conditionsThe track infrastructure is very well maintained; in fact sometimes it can seem a bit excessive. It is very clear that the Great North Walk land managers (principally NSW Dept. of Lands) are actively encouraging people to walk it. The navigational features, bridges etc are well thought out and helpful in negotiating the track. For the most part I’d consider the walk grading to be easy medium for reasonably fit walkers. Apart from the fairly tortuous (but short) steep descent early on, the climb out to the service trail is fairly strenuous. I currently have a knee injury but only had some minor discomfort on the Lyrebird Creek descent. Overall, the walk took me about 4 hours 15 mins including side trips, a 20 minute lunch break lunch and numerous brief photo stops. I walked approximately 11.8km in total. This walk is somewhat easier than the Berowra to Cowan section.
![GNW sign.jpg](./download/file.php?id=6320&sid=f55c5497507f4b99a460a69279d1bd78)
- Navigation sign at Crosslands
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Weather and gear notesThe weather was mostly sunny but cool, about 12-14 degrees, and quite windy at times, making it feel colder. I was generally comfortable down in the protected sections of the valley wearing an L/S Icebreaker 200 merino top, long trousers, hat and Scarpa Treks. I used track notes from
http://www.wildwalks.com as a reference. These were not really necessary as the track is easy to navigate, but they were a useful resource in identifying the features along the walk. I also used the Kuring-Gai Chase NP 1:30,000 tourist map as a reference, and took the 1:25,000 Hornsby and Cowan topographic maps but these were not needed.