The park contains over 800 recorded Aboriginal sites, including rock art, middens, and engravings.
It holds the title of the second-oldest national park in Australia after Sydney's Royal National Park.
The park is managed as part of a landscape that includes areas listed on the National Heritage List.
Its name, 'Ku-ring-gai', refers to the original inhabitants of the area, the Guringai people.
The park's diverse geography includes salt marshes, which are critical nurseries for estuarine fish.
Much of the park’s terrain is formed from Hawkesbury Sandstone, deposited over 200 million years ago.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a 15,000-hectare protected area featuring significant Aboriginal cultural sites, including ancient rock engravings and art galleries. The landscape is defined by its deep river valleys, coastal cliffs, and expansive mangrove forests surrounding the Hawkesbury River and Pittwater. It is the second-oldest national park in Australia, established in 1894 to preserve the natural bushland near Sydney. The park encompasses a diverse range of ecosystems, from dry sclerophyll forests to rainforest patches. Visitors can access numerous walking tracks, mountain biking trails, and secluded waterways. Aboriginal heritage remains central to the park's identity, with sites indicating thousands of years of continuous Indigenous occupation. Water-based access is common due to the park’s complex shoreline and numerous boat-accessible coves. It serves as a vital habitat for native wildlife, including swamp wallabies and varied bird species.
West Head Lookout for panoramic views of the Hawkesbury River, Pittwater, and Barrenjoey Lighthouse.
Download offline maps, as cellular reception is inconsistent or unavailable in deep valleys.
Bring water purification supplies or sufficient bottled water, as potable water stations are limited.
Check the NSW National Parks website for active fire bans or track closures before heading out.
Attempting to hike long-distance trails without adequate sunlight remaining in the day; underestimating the steep terrain.
Park entry gates may be locked after sunset; check local alerts for bushfire-related closures.
Stay on marked trails to protect sensitive flora and do not touch or walk over Aboriginal rock art sites.
