A tour of Allenby Park, located in Allambie Heights on the Sydney Northern Beaches.
If you want to cross off all of the trails in Allenby Park, or at least all of the ones I did, then you are looking at approximately 3-4kms. Our starting point is Derna Crescent, Allambie Heights. There is plenty of free street parking in this area, and near all of the other entrances to the park, so finding the perfect free space to begin is easy.
If you would prefer, you can check out the video directly on the Sunday Explorer YouTube channel (link opens in a new window).
Allenby Park is full of steps and narrow dirt paths, so this isn’t one that you can take the pram along to.
From the moment that you step into Allenby Park it feels as though you are taken miles away from civilization. The sound of traffic drops off and nature takes over as you are unleashed upon 42 hectares touching the suburbs of Allambie Heights, Beacon Hill and Brookvale. Allenby Park is often listed by the Northern Beaches Council as being one of the best walks in Sydney, and it is easy to see why.
One criticism I do have of Allenby Park is the lack of trail markings, particularly on the south side where I began the walk. There were a few points where I had to take a guess, one of which I got wrong. Having said that, Allenby Park is surrounded by suburbia on all sides, so even if you stuff up and head down the wrong trail there is a bit of a safeguard on how badly you can be punished for that mistake!
Large moss covered boulders can be seen in the valley towards the north of the park. Greenery including a large variety of ferns will surround you. There are a few different waterfalls, the largest being close to the center of Allenby Park, and sometimes referred to as the Allenby Park Waterfall. Unfortunately at the time of my walk there had not been much rain in the last month, almost none in fact. This resulted in the falls being bone dry.
There isn’t really any fixed start or end point to Allenby Park. Just pick a spot to enter and then choose which tracks you would like to walk along. Or do what I did, put a bit of time aside and walk them all. It will only take an hour or two.
Allenby Park – Other Adventures Nearby
Pick a direction and there is an option not far away. To the north one of the closest options is the Long Reef Headland Trail, located at Long Reef, next to Collaroy or go another 5 minutes north and you will be at the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail. For a couple of options to the south you could try the Wormhole Tunnel (Queenscliff Tunnel) or the epic Spit Bridge to Manly Coastal Path.
Allenby Park – Getting There
By car there are a few different entry points to the track. You have Derna Crescent in Allambie Heights, which is where I started my walk. There is also Dresden Avenue in Beacon Hill and Doulton Avenue in Beacon Hill at the north end of the walk. Clear View Place in the Brookvale industrial area is one of the easiest options for entry, however car parking will be limited. Owen Stanley Avenue in Beacon Hill is yet another option and as I found out there is also Darmour Avenue in Allambie Heights with a trail head, which isn’t marked on any of the official maps, so may be a bit of a more difficult option. As mentioned towards the top of this article, there is a lack of signage around Allenby Park and this signage problem continues when it comes to the entry point. It is a bit hit and miss, so pay attention to the video when I show the entry points.
If you are coming via public transport then take the big yellow double decker B-Line bus to the Warringah Mall stop. From here you can walk to the industrial area and the entry to the park in Clear View Place.
Gear used:
- Camera: https://amzn.to/2YU36Zu
- Awesome value camera mount kits: https://amzn.to/2LFJF34
