We walked from St Ives (Acron Oval) to the Cascades (looking good from the rains and the path was covered by the water twice but we got across on rocks) then went south on the Middle Harbour Creek Track. This is a wild area, with great forests and cliffs alongside the mighty Middle Harbour Creek. A lot of the path was rough or sandy and some had blockages (not all from the recent storms) and several spots had tight squeezes through rocks. Stepping Stone Crossing would have been difficult to cross without getting wet (note the goog map has it wrong, Middle Harbour Creek Track and the connecting Governor Phillip Track are entirely on the east side of the creek and the stepping stones are only necessary to get to the Bungaroo Track). Shortly after this and 2 hours after leaving St Ives, we gave up and took the steep road up to Davidson - any exit will require a steep climb to the suburbs on the hills. So worth it though - there are few areas of Sydney this wild.

I'm fairly active, and have experienced many Sydney & Blue Mountains bush tracks. This part-day track this is definitely one for the more experienced bush walkers. With the exception of the last section, from Flat Rock Beach to Davidson Park, the trail very uneven, obstructed with fallen branches & over grown in parts, and a bit water logged in others. That said, it affords some stunning harbour views, and is certainly off the beaten track whilst still close to Sydney CBD. As for the route - starting at Seaforth Oval carpark near the info sign for the park, take the Timber Getters track, followed by the Bay Track, the Bluff Track, the Natural Bridge Track, the Currie Road Track, the Bates Creek Track, the Magazines Track, and finally the Flat Rock Beach Track to Davidson Park. As of Oct 2019 most of the Flat Rock Beach Track is closed and you're diverted via Killarney Drive & Drumcliff Avenue and rejoin at the Downpatrick Road entrance. Generally, it's pretty well signed - but would still recommend having a printed map or one downloaded to your phone. In terms of the highlights, lots of Australian wildlife to see (including Echidnas, Parakeets, Cockatoo and Kookaburras), a very enjoyable bush, creek & harbour, the view from the Bluff over Bantry Bay, and the abandoned explosives storage facility on the bay. Tips, 1. If you're not up for the larger walk why not cheat and just take in the Bluff Lookout by approach it from Forestville - a very short, easier, track. 2. Visiting on a week day late morning I didn't pass anyone on the whole 9km route. As such you may come across the occassional spider's web, so would advise picking up a stick to clear your way (and indeed support you over the more ruged terrain).