Bushwalking

Our bushland reserves are easily accessible via bush tracks and boardwalks, many of which follow along creeks and the river foreshore, often with stunning views. Close to the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities, peace and solitude can be found when bushwalking in Lane Cove.

Lane Cove’s bushland is diverse in native flora and fauna and contains a variety of habitat – wet and dry sclerophyll forest, heathland, mangroves and tidal flats. Walk quietly or stop a while to take notice of any native birds or animals. You may hear small birds such as Fairy-wrens and Scrub-wrens in the undergrowth or spot a Water Dragon or skink sunning itself on a rock. Elusive animals such as Echidnas and Tawny Frogmouths are sometimes seen.

To protect our local fauna and flora, dogs must be on a leash when walking in our bushland reserves – and do pick up after them. There are many off-leash parks available for exercising your dog.

Our bushland has important natural, cultural and recreational values and we ask that you stay to the tracks, avoid picking any plant material and take your rubbish with you in order to protect these special areas.

Bushwalks Around Lane Cove provides handy maps of 17 local walks and descriptions of the track and features you will find as you explore each walk. For a quick overview of these walks, view this map. Bushwalks Around Lane Cove is available as a book for sale for $9.90, available from Lane Cove Library and Lane Cove Civic Centre.

Free basic maps of local walks are also available from the Lane Cove Civic Centre.

Ventemans Track Nature Walk

Explore the stretch of Lane Cove River between Blackman Park and the saltmarsh boardwalk on the easy and peaceful Ventemans Track Nature Walk. 

Lane Cove Loop Walks

Take a hike on one of four loop walks designed to link our bushland parks and reserves together for an enjoyable walking experience.

Lane Cove Tree Trails

Explore Lane Cove and the municipality's variety of street trees by taking a self-guided walk on one of the Lane Cove Tree Trails. There are three separate tree trails, all which start from the Lane Cove Plaza. 

Extended Walks

Adventure further afield with these longer walks which pass through or adjacent to Lane Cove.

A Harbour Circle Walk

Harbour Bridge to the Great North Walk

Walking Coastal Sydney

7bridges Walk

Guided walks and more: find out what local activities are coming up!

Lane Cove has two accessible bush walking tracks that are ideal for visitors with prams, wheelchairs / mobility aids and people with reduced mobility. 

TAMBOURINE BAY

Distance: Approx 400m return 
Track: Level, mixture of boardwalk, asphalt and natural paths 
Facilities: Disabled toilet, seating along track 
Access: From the car park at the end of Tambourine Bay Road, Riverview.

This short bushwalk begins with an asphalt path crossing a small creek. You may like to stop at the historic well, which once supplied local homesteads with water.  Tall Blue Gums and Casuarinas line the path, with an understorey of lush ferns. There are two seats along the track to stop to enjoy the peaceful surrounds and glimpses of the water through the trees.

Returning to the car park, you can extend your walk and follow the footpath through Tambourine Bay Park. After crossing a small bridge, stop at the seat to enjoy the picturesque views across the bay (approx. 200m from car park). This lovely bush-lined park and picnic area with tables and BBQ’s provides an ideal spot for lunch.

HARTMAN HILL

Distance: Approx 400m return 
Track: Mixture of level and inclined cement paths and boardwalk 
Facilities: Viewing deck, seating along track 
Access: From end of Caroline Chisholm Lane, Lane Cove. Also from Burns Bay Road (at rear of Caroline Chisholm Nursing Home)

This bushwalk begins with a cement path leading past housing towards Hartman Hill reserve. Once in the reserve, the track winds past ferns and sandstone outcrops and a seat before ending at a shady viewing deck. Note that most of the path is on a slight to medium incline. The deck offers lovely bush views in a tranquil location, where there is seating, a wheelchair space and birdbath – the perfect place for a picnic. The birdbath provides a water source for birds as the reserve does not have a stream - visitors may like to bring a bottle of water to pour into the birdbath so that it is kept topped up. Sydney Peppermint, Sydney Red Gums and native Fig Trees are features of the reserve, along with Banksias and Orchids.

Gore Creek / Bob Campbell Oval

Due to the Bob Campbell Oval (BCO) upgrade, walkers along the Gore Creek bushwalking tracks leading to BCO from the northern end (including River Rd and Fleming St) will no longer be able to walk across the oval to St Vincents Rd. If walking to BCO from the southern end (Ford St), access will be blocked at the oval.  

Ventemans Reach 

To ensure your safety the section of bushwalking track from the Stringybark Creek footbridge to the old Pumphouse building in the northern end of Ventemans Reach is closed. The wooden boardwalk has deteriorated and the adjoining land is contaminated. Council has been working through various NSW Government legislation requirements to gain approval for construction of a new boardwalk and remediate the contaminated land.

This is how the project has progressed so far:

REQUIREMENT PROGRESS (June 2024)