Created in 1894, after the creation of The National Park (now called the Royal National Park) in 1879, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is rich in Aboriginal history, with hundreds of sites found throughout the park.

The park's steep-sided, river valleys not only lend itself to a spectacular and rugged landscape, but is rich with flora and fauna:
 

Woodland
Flora: bloodwood, scribbly gum, angophora, geebung, flannel flowers.
Fauna: eastern spinebill, white-eared honeyeater, sugar glider, swamp wallaby, longnosed bandicoot, brown antechinus, ring-tailed possum ,echidna, lace monitor, leaf-tailed gecko.

Open forest
Flora: Sydney peppermint, blackbutt, turpentine, blueberry ash, grass trees.
Fauna: sacred kingfisher, golden whistler, grey fantail, white-throated treecreeper, greater glider, brush-tailed possum, lesser long-eared bat, Gould's wattled bat, diamond python, red-bellied black snake.

Mangroves
Flora: grey mangrove, river mangrove.
Fauna: Australian water rat, white-faced heron, red-bellied black snake.

Things to see and do
There are many walking tracks and picnic spots (bring your own gas cooking equipment). There are 15 km of authorised horse trails within the Terrey Hills and Duffys Forest area of the park.

Ph: 02 9451 3479 for information.

You can also launch boats at Apple Tree Bay and Akuna Bay. Boats can be hired at Akuna Bay and Bobbin Head. You can visits the Kalkari Visitor Centre, staffed by the Chase Alive Volunteer Team, it offers a theatrette with videos on aboriginal culture and Australian animals, display on the the park's wildlife, a three dimensional slide show, guided walks and other activities. West Head is a prominent landmark and has outstanding water views from its lookout.

Source: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

Also adjoining the national park is the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, a 124 hectares garden, that includes picnic areas, playground, fern house, visitor centre as well as a variety of bush walking tracks.

Check out our listing of Ku-ring-gai Chase accommodation. In addition to our listed online travel guide information, contact the local tourism visitor centre for your destination for more attractions, tours, local maps and other information.