bushwalking with kids Archives

Exploring the America Bay Track Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

America Bay track in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a short, moderate walk with waterfalls, Aboriginal engravings and a stunning picnic spot at the end of the track.

The track is 1km return, starting from West Head Road off McCarrs Creek Road. Look for the large sign on the side of the road. There is parking on the roadside available.

There are no bathrooms nearby, so make sure you go before you start the trail.

While the walk is quite short, it’s a winding walk with plenty to look at along the way, over uneven surfaces. There are plenty of rocks to climb and little water cascades to explore. Right near the entrance there is a a detour to see the Aboriginal rock engravings. The detour is not sign posted so we actually missed it, even though we were looking for it.

Walking quite slowly, the trail took us 45 minutes to reach the rock platform overlooking America Bay, which is located near the mouth of the Hawksburry River. It used to extend further, however the next park is closed due to hazards.

There is a little waterfall at the rock platform and plenty of shady wide rocks to sit on. We brought a picnic blanket and lunch to enjoy at the lookout.

Be sure to bring good walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen when doing this walk.

The walking track is one of many on offer in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, so you could very easily do this short walk in conjunction with others.

Entry to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is $12, so I would definitely advise making a day of it.

Along the walking trail you’ll encounter woodlands of scribbly gum and bloodwood, and a little creek with crystal clear water. In August and September the wildflowers bloom bright yellow and pink throughout the bush.

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is open sunrise to sunset.

nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/america-bay-walking-track

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I recently took Cheese, aged four, on her first proper bush walk in Katoomba. We had an amazing walk to the Minni Ha Ha Falls (you can read about it here). It got me thinking about how different it is bushwalking with little kids – not better or worse, but different.

Tips for bushwalking with small kids:

Over estimate the time it will take
The walk we did was 1.3km and should have taken an adult 15 minutes, it took us over an hour. Make sure you have plenty of time when you set out so there isn’t any rushing involved on either end of the walk.

Go slow and enjoy the journey
When I do bush walks on my own, I tend to rush through the bush to get to the waterfall at the end. When walking with Cheese, however, the walk is about the leaves and skinks and butterflies we encounter along the way. She enjoyed all the elements of the bush just as much as she did the waterfall at the end. Don’t set a time limit, just enjoy the journey.

Pack extra clothes
Particularly pack extra shoes and socks in the car (or backpack if you travelled by public transport) and shorts/dress if your child is like mine and won’t wear anything else. Even on days when it hasn’t rained in weeks, we often find mud on the trails, and are always glad to have spare shoes to change into.

Prepare for swimming
If there is the potential for a dip, bring swimmers and a small quick-dry towel, plus a wet bag. Waterfall pools can be incredibly cold, even in the middle of summer, so there is a high chance of swimmers being worn and no actual dips happening. Do be aware of slippery rocks when there is water involved.

Stock up on food
Bush walks make for hungry kids. We stopped at the base of the waterfall for a picnic so Cheese had energy for the return trip. We packed a sandwich, rice crackers, banana, apple and many bottles of water.

Get ready for the elements
Don’t get caught out – the bush is a dangerous place. Wear closed-toe shoes, a hat and a short that covers your shoulders to prevent sunburn. take plenty of water even if it’s only a short hike. Also take wipes or tissues incase a bush wee presents itself!

Conserve strength for the end
There is always carrying involved for us. Our daughter was a champ on this walk and did most of it on her own, but still needed to be carried for the last three-quarters of a kilometer. We often bring a baby backpack carrier that takes kids of bigger weight for this exact reason.

Have you been bushwalking with your kids? I’d love to hear your favourite walks.

bushwalking with kids

Exploring the America Bay Track Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Sydney Australia

Exploring the America Bay Track Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Tips for Bushwalking with Preschoolers