The Basin Track
This is a return trip. You can go down and back up in 90 minutes or so but much better to combine it with a picnic or overnight stay.
Our recent walk down to the Basin was prompted by a family camping trip in which we declined to participate. Trust me, if you’d seen the weather, you would too. The trip had been much anticipated but so was the rain and after months of drought, it arrived just in time for the school holidays. So with a break in the rain, we opted to just pop down for lunch.
Getting there
From Terrey Hills take Mc Carrs Creek Road and then West Head Road to enter Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (fees apply). About 8.5km from the Liberator General San Martin Drive junction, look out for the signs to The Basin Track.
The walk begins here and it is a pleasant one, around forty minutes with a pretty easy track down. But the steep bit at the end will give you a good idea of what you’re in for when its time to go back up - not so easy, but as long as you’re reasonably fit you’ll be fine.
Aboriginal heritage
Near the start of the track you’ll find an Aboriginal Heritage site with rocks featuring carvings of wallabies, a variety of sea creatures and human figures. The carvings have eroded over time and some are barely visible but they are some of the best examples of rock engravings by the Garrigal people of the Guringai Nation who lived in the area for thousands of years before white man arrived.
Back on the track, keep an eye out for the pretty native flora that lines the path and the beautiful birdlife that feeds on it. You might even spot the odd wallaby or goanna on the trail though if not here, you’re almost guaranteed to see some when you get to the bottom.
if you’re a fan of camping, and I quite like it as long as the weather is good, then you’ll immediately see that the Basin is a great place to go for a weekend getaway. There are barbecues and campfires and the Basin itself is a beautiful protected swimming hole perfect for waders and small children. The facilities are good, and though the showers are still cold, I was pleased to find that they’ve added a few amenities recently including a vending machine for ice cream!
We’ve taken many trips to The Basin over the years, sometimes for a picnic, sometimes camping, usually arriving by ferry from Palm Beach. If you choose this route you can still do the walk, just in reverse, getting the up hill stretch done with early so you can enjoy the bush and Basin views on your way back down.
