Getting started
From the north-bound platform of Wondabyne Station, this walk follows the 'The Great North Walk' sign off the southern the end of the platform, keeping the train lines (and water) to your left. The track soon leads past a strangler fig and a large boulder then bends right and heads up a timber staircase with a metal landing at the top. The track winds steeply uphill, up a series of timber and rock steps for just over 200m to pass a filtered view of the cranes (right), down at the old Gosford Quarry. Here the walk continues a bit more steeply uphill for another 150m, up a series of rock steps, and then, soon after passing up the carved steps in a cleft in a rock, the track flattens out and comes to a clearing at the end of a management trail, marked with a 'Brisbane Water National Park' sign.
From the clearing, this walk follows the wide management trail uphill past the 'Brisbane Water National Park' sign. The trail leads up quite steeply for about 250m, where the trail bends right then leads gently uphill for about 600m. Here the trail leads up a short but quite steep hill, to then bend left and, about 150m later, come to an intersection with the Pindar Cave track (that leads over a rock platform, on your left), marked with a GNW arrow post (on your right).....

Campsite: There are 3 on route, on average they are 6.3 km apart with the largest gap of 12.5 km.

Wondabyne
Wondabyne is situated in Brisbane Waters National Park on the banks of Mullet River, which feeds into the Hawkesbury River north of Brooklyn. The area is defined by the National Park's flora and fauna, the quarry, railway station and a few houses sitting above the water around the river. The quarry produced sandstone building materials, used in the construction of the National War Memorial in Canberra. More recently, in 2000, the quarry was re-opened for restoration of St Mary's Cathedral spire in Sydney. Wondabyne Station, named after the nearby Mt Wondabyne, was built in 1889 and exclusively used for the quarry - it was then known as Mullet Creek Station. The station is one of the smallest on the line and one of very few railway stations in a NSW National Park. When you catch the train to Wondabyne, let the guard know you want to get off at Wondabyne Station, otherwise the train will not stop. Travel in the last carriage as the platform is very short. To catch the train from Wondabyne, wave to the driver.

Phil Houghton Bridge
The Phil Houghton Bridge is a metal suspension bridge that crosses Piles Creek. It is part of the Great North Walk and replaces an older bridge, with part still visible upstream. The bridge can hold up to 8 people and feels very stable. There are great views both up and downstream half way across this bridge. There is a clearing on the northern side that people have used for camping.

Lower Mooney Dam
Lower Mooney Dam is located on the Mooney Mooney Creek, about 21 km upstream from the Hawkesbury River. In March 1938 the Gosford Mayor turned the tap to add the water from this dam into the small town water supply of the time. It is a concrete arch dam, with a capacity of 1,000 megalitres, and was superseded by the more than 4 times larger 'Upper Mooney Dam' in 1982. There is a set of timber steps and a faint track that leads down to the waters edge on the uphill side of the dam wall, the dam wall is fenced and is clearly out of bounds. A sign reminds visitors that swimming is not allowed.

Quarry Camping Area
This is a small signposted campsite set among heath, grass tress, scribbly gums and aother eucalpyts. The clearing is flat and sandy and provides room to set up a few tents with and a small metal fireplace with hotplate. There is no water or other facilites here.

Somersby Store
Somersby Store offers a good place to have lunch or pick up the basic food supplies. The store serves hot food including burgers, chips, pies etc and cold drinks. Opening hours are 6am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 6.30am to 4pm on Saturdays (closed Sundays). There is a pay phone and a bus stop however services are limited to two buses a day. Contact details are (02)4372 1269, at 841 Wisemans Ferry Road Somersby, NSW 2250. The store owners are happy for you to phone ahead. If you are a large group you can order ahead to save the stress. I always encourage people to use local stores like this on track, but since it is a small store it is worth phoning ahead to see what they have what you want in stock.