The Great North Walk
3-Day Great North Walk – Pack-Free Guided Adventure for Private Groups by Life’s An Adventure
Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Great North Walk, an iconic trail that stretches from Sydney to the northern reaches of New South Wales. Our exclusive 3-Day Pack-Free Guided Walk is designed for private groups, allowing you and your companions to immerse yourselves in the stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage of this remarkable region.
Over the course of three days, you’ll explore some of the most picturesque sections of the walk, focusing on the stunning Berowra Waters and Hawkesbury regions. This carefully selected route meanders through rare Blue Gum forests, offering a unique opportunity to experience the tranquility and beauty of these ancient trees. As you hike, you’ll traverse steep river gorges and encounter cascading waterfalls, each step revealing the natural wonders that make this area so special.
One of the highlights of this adventure is the exploration of weathered sandstone caves and quaint waterside communities that dot the landscape. These charming spots invite you to take a break, relax, and soak in the stunning scenery while enjoying the sounds of nature around you.
The Great North Walk is steeped in history and culture, with evidence of the Darug people, the traditional owners of this land. Along the trail, you’ll discover rock carvings and cave paintings that provide insight into the rich heritage and stories of the Indigenous people who have called this area home for thousands of years. Your knowledgeable guides will share fascinating narratives about the cultural significance of these sites, enriching your understanding of the region’s history.
Wildlife enthusiasts will be delighted by the abundance of native animal species that inhabit this area. With over 270 species recorded, including wallabies and the threatened spotted-tailed quoll, you’ll have ample opportunities to observe these creatures in their natural habitat. The diverse ecosystems along the Great North Walk provide a haven for wildlife, making each hike an adventure filled with discovery.
Our Pack-Free approach ensures you can enjoy this journey without the burden of heavy backpacks. You’ll carry only a light day pack with essentials, allowing you to focus on the breathtaking landscapes and unique experiences awaiting you each day.
Join us for this exceptional 3-Day Great North Walk, where adventure, culture, and nature intertwine. This guided walk offers the perfect blend of exploration and relaxation, creating lasting memories as you experience the iconic beauty of one of New South Wales’ most treasured trails!
This walk can be extended as a 5-day walk continuing along the trail taking in a section of the Central Coast and Watagans before finishing in the Hunter Valley wine region. Click here to find out more.
A Pack-Free Walk
Walk in comfort with a day pack carrying your water, lunch & camera
Our Pack-free walks are designed to have your luggage transferred while you walk, leaving you free to walk with only a light daypack. This is a big advantage for our guests, in that you will avoid carrying a heavy rucksack on your back every day. With Life’s An Adventure, you will carry as little as your water bottle, camera and lunch!
Waterfront Penthouse accommodation
at beautiful Berowra Waters
Situated on the waterfront and surrounded by bushland, our accommodation for two nights is at beautiful Berowra Waters Penthouse. Relax on the deck in the lounge room soaking up stunning views of the boats bobbing on the water outside in this tranquil location.
Room Configurations:
Room 1: King Bed
Room 2: Queen bed
Room 3: Queen Bed
Room 4: Queen Bed
Room 5: Twin beds
Those wanting a single supplement and their own room will be housed at nearby accommodation. Please enquire for details.
Gourmet food and wines
Superb seafood & local produce
A seafood feast will be enjoyed one night at a lovely local restaurant & on night 2 we dine at our accommodation overlooking the water. Both dinners will be served with local wines for your enjoyment. Our talented guides will prepare fresh fruit and muesli for breakfast and lunches will be made by a local café for enjoying along the trail
Special dietary requirements will be catered for.
Personalised Tours
A maxmium group of 10 people
We keep our group sizes small and personalised with a maximum of 10 guests per trip, we find this delivers a more personal service, a great social environment and has less impact on the environment.
Flexible walking
Shorter and longer options available
Don’t feel like walking as far as your walking partner? Don’t worry, with this walk you have the flexibility to choose a shorter walking option if you prefer. Our guides are there to make your journey enjoyable, fun and carefree.
Our CEO Guides
Chief Experience Officers
We refer to our guides as CEOs…. Chief Experience Officers whose aim is to deliver you a world-class walk. We pride ourselves on employing a talented team of passionate CEOs with an enthusiasm for their homeland. They are committed to your safety and have a genuine desire to provide an enriching and memorable walking experience.
21 Tourism Awards of Excellence
including Australia's best Adventure Tourism Company
Life’s an Adventure have won 21 Tourism Awards of Excellence including the Qantas Australian Tourism Award for Australia’s Best Adventure Company. Awards are great, but our biggest accolade which we value even more, is that our happy clients come back and travel with us time and time again.
Genuinely all-inclusive
We provide a genuinely all-inclusive experience. When you travel with us you won’t need to keep putting your hand in your pocket to pay for additional items not included in your tour, such as meals, wine and activities, everything is taken care of.
To find out more click on any of the below links:
Why should you choose us?
Tour Itinerary
Your 3-day walking holiday includes:
- Pack Free walk with your overnight luggage transported every day
- 2 nights accommodation staying in a luxury waterfront penthouse suite
- 1 x restaurant dinners at a local hidden gem
- 1 x dinner at our accommodation
- 3 x walkers lunches
- 2 x hot and cold breakfasts
- Complimentary pick up from the Sir Stamford Hotel, Sydney CBD. Alternatively, you can meet the group at Hornsby.
- Fresh fruit and trail mix to enjoy during your walk
- Professionally guided – Our guides are locals who are passionate, well trained and enthusiastic with the ability to bring to life a depth of information
HOW TO GET TO YOUR WALK:
Whether you live in Sydney or you’re visiting from afar, we have suggested a number of options to make your journey as easy as possible.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: For those catching public transport, take the train or bus to Hornsby Station and walk to the Bunker Bean Café to meet with your group. Your guides will pick you up at 8.00am
DRIVING: If you choose to drive there is a car park at the Hornsby Station with 370 spaces available. From here you can walk just 5mins to the ‘Bunker Bean Café’ where the guides will pick you up at 8.00am
MEETING TIME HORNSBY: 8:00 am from the Bunker Bean Café, Hornsby
TRANSFER TIMES: Morning: 3-minute transfer to the beginning of the walk. Afternoon: 35-minute transfer from the end of the walk to the accommodation
WALK DETAILS: 16km. Medium to hard grade. 7-8hrs including breaks. Easier option: 9.6km. Medium to hard. 3-4hrs including breaks
TERRAIN: The walk starts with a couple of short, steep descents and ascents. While the track is well-formed with a firm base, there are some rocky sections and some ladders to negotiate. Fallen trees and other obstacles may be likely but it is the ups and downs that make this track grade Medium to Hard. The cumulative ascent for the day is more than 900m, with the biggest rises at the start as the track becomes more lightly undulating towards the end of the day.
WALK ITINERARY: After meeting your guides and joining the rest of the group at Hornsby you’ll begin your journey along the Great North Track heading into the bush and down steep stone steps through the volcanic Old Mans Valley. You’ll follow the Blue Gum walk through one of Sydney’s rare Blue Gum Forest stands to then cross the Berowra Creek a few times at Fishponds waterhole. After exploring the edge of the valley the walk starts to lead steeply down enjoying more sandstone caves before arriving into Galston Gorge, a perfect spot for a rest and some lunch before following the eastern side of Berowra Creek valley from Galston Gorge to Crosslands. This enjoyable section of track travels through wide tidal creeks in deep valleys where there are many grass trees and more sandstone caves. Finishing today’s walk at Crosslands Reserve where we will be met and transferred to our waterfront accommodation at beautiful Berowra Waters. Enjoy time to relax in our waterfront property before walking to our nearby restaurant for a superb dinner by the water. Enjoy fresh local seafood and produce perfectly matched with regional wines. A wonderful way to finish the day.
TRANSFER TIMES: Morning: 35 minute transfer to the beginning of the walk. Afternoon: 35 minute transfer from the end of the walk back to our accommodation.
WALK DETAILS: 14km. Medium to hard grade. 8-9hrs with breaks. Easier option: 12.9km. Medium to hard grade. 5-6hrs with breaks.
TERRAIN: Some steep and rocky areas with a few ladders. A few easy creek crossings. The track is otherwise well-formed with a firm base.
ITINERARY: After a hearty breakfast at the accommodation you will be transferred back to Crosslands. The trail starts off winding north alongside Berowra Creek passing mangroves, estuaries, sandstone overhangs and stunning lookouts. After passing through Berowra Waters the track meanders through some amazing remote bushland where you’ll experience some creek crossings, crazy rock formations & some steeper terrain, providing you with rewarding views looking back over Berowra Creek. Finishing up in Cowan your guides will drive the group back to the accommodation for some relaxation time in the comfortable penthouse accommodation that overlooks the wonderful Berowra Marina. Tonight enjoy dinner in a local restaurant with magnificent views as we enjoy fresh local produce with wines.
TRANSFER TIMES: Morning: 35-minute transfer to Cowan. Afternoon: 25-minute transfer to Hornsby Station or 50-minutes to Sir Stamford Hotel in Sydney’s CBD
WALK GRADE: 14km. Medium to Hard grade. 6-7hrs with breaks.
TERRAIN: Two steep and rocky climbs. The track is well-formed with a firm base, there are some uneven sections and the usual, occasional, obstacles such as fallen trees, overhanging branches and spiky and pokey scrub.
ITINERARY: After another enjoyable breakfast at the accommodation your guides will transfer the group back to Cowan to recommence our walk. This stunning section of the Great North Walk has some spectacular scenery ranging from foreshore to ridge top lookouts. Enjoy a steady decent into the picturesque Jerusalem Bay before climbing over a series of ridges into Brooklyn. Marvel at the wonderful diversity of flora throughout today’s walk while you experience numerous water views including a circumnavigation of Brooklyn Dam. Hiking can make you thirsty, so this walk finishing at the iconic pub in Brookyln overlooking the Hawksbury River. A great finish to an epic three-day journey. For those leaving the tour here. Jump on the train at Brooklyn which will take you back to Hornsby or the Sydney CBD. The end of a remarkable walking experience.
5 DAY OPTION:
For those that want to explore more of the Great North walk, our 5 day Great North Walk continues on to explore a Central Coast section of the walk, and the Watagan State Forest and finishes in the Hunter Valley with a celebratory lunch. Click here to find out more.
Tour Availability
PRIVATE GROUP TOUR ONLY:
This tour is only available for private groups only of 10 or more.
Date of your choice is available for groups of 10 people. Subject to availability.
Please contact us for more details on (02) 9975 4553 or email: walks@lifesanadventure.com.au
