Garigal National Park

Gazing upon Garigal National Park, can you sense the whispers of the Garigal people? Their name, a derivation of Carigal or Caregal, echoes through these 2,202 hectares. Garigal National Park, just 20 kilometers north of Sydney’s central business district, isn’t just a patch of green. It’s a time capsule. Split into three sections by creeks, roads, and urban growth, the park cradles the valley of Middle Harbour Creek. It embraces the slopes along Middle Harbour up to Bantry Bay. It even holds a piece of the Narrabeen Lakes catchment. Over 100 Aboriginal sites lay scattered throughout Garigal National Park. These aren’t just rocks and shelters. They’re stories etched in stone: cave art, engravings, middens, grinding grooves, and perhaps even a stone arrangement. These whispers tell tales of a people deeply connected to this land, long before the city’s skyscrapers pierced the sky. Today, the park’s trails weave through a dry sclerophyll forest, a haven for bandicoots, koalas, wallabies, birds, and snakes. This delicate ecosystem also battles introduced pests like rabbits and foxes. Walk the Cascades Track between Belrose and St Ives, named for the cascading waterfalls. Choose from over 35 trails spanning 120 kilometers, both official and unofficial paths for bushwalkers and mountain bikers. Garigal National Park isn’t merely a place to visit. It’s a place to connect with the past, the present, and the enduring spirit of the Garigal people.