Warriewood Wetlands
Looking for a leisurely stroll through the trees, surrounded by birdsong? Try this one.
I only recently discovered the wetlands and having lived on the Northern Beaches for many years, was surprised I hadn’t heard of them before. Now that I have, I’ll certainly be back, with a tripod, a zoom lens and a little more time.
The Walk
The walk is suitable for the whole family, though you’ll have to leave the dog and the bikes at home as both are prohibited on the trail.
The Warriewood Wetlands covers 26 hectares. It provides a home to many endangered species and plays a vital role in local flood mitigation and sediment filtration.
The walk is not a long one - The track through the wetlands is just 2.4 km. But with a side trip to a local waterfall, you can clock up a little over 4km or around 6000 steps.
It can be easily done in under an hour. But bird watchers, photographers and nature lovers will no doubt want to stop to watch the wildlife including, if you’re lucky, wallabies, possums lizards and snakes.
The Route
The walk begins and ends at Katoa Park where there is a small playground, barbecues, picnic tables and (limited) offstreet parking.
The route is easy to follow and you’ll be guided by the boardwalk paths for much of the way. Use the map above as a guide.
The wetlands walk is in two sections. When you get to what seems the end of the track at Garden Street, you’ll cross the road to take the side path to the waterfall. Returning, double back and turn left to rejoin the wetlands paths via Watergum Drive, a little further up Garden St, on your right.
Much of the trail is shaded by tall trees which means the paths can get a bit damp and muddy at times. So choose shoes to suit and bring the mozzie spray, especially if walking near dawn or dusk.
You’ll be walking close to houses at times and might hear the hum of traffic. But for the most part, the urban sounds are drowned out by bird calls.
Birds
The Warriewood wetlands are well known among the birdwatching community.
Over 80 bird species have been recorded here, the Powerful Owl, Goshawk and endangered Regent Honeyeater among them. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any of these but I did see plenty of others, including bellbirds, fairywrens, honeyeaters and laurikeets.
The trees are are tall in parts and the foliage thick, making it difficult to see many of the birds up high, but you’ll certainly hear them.
Lower down on the surface of the water look out for ducks and swamphens, herons and spoonbills.
Irrawong Waterfall
The path to the waterfall is shaded by tall trees and is mostly flat and sandy, though it can get quite muddy after rain. This and the fact that there are a few steps close to the waterfall, make it unsuitable for wheelchairs and strollers.
The trail that you’ll walk along is named for former journalist, local activist and community leader Jim Revitt. Revitt, who passed away in 2009, was passionate about his local area and instrumental in helping to preserve natural environments like this one.
You’ll hear the waterfall before you reach it, especially if there’s been recent heavy rain. It was a gentle cascade when I visited but must be quite a sight when it gets going.
There is a large sandy clearing near the waterfall, a nice spot for a picnic if the weather’s right.
Bats
As you come to the end of the loop on the second part of the wetlands trail, don’t miss the storybook swamp, home to moorhens and purple swamphens as well as the local bat colony.
The colony of grey headed flying foxes is not large but it’s very vocal (and just a little bit smelly). The sleepy creatures are easily visible from the pathway known as the Angus Gordon Walkway close to the back of the shopping centre.
In the area
If you’re wanting coffee and a bite to eat after your walk you’ll find all this and more in Warriewood Square, just around the corner from Katoa Reserve.
If you’re looking for a longer walk in similar surrounds, you can’t go past the Narrabeen Lakes Trail just a little way up Pittwater Rd. For a beach walk, try the pretty walk from Long Reef to Dee Why.