This multi-use reserve serves as a starting point for many adventures, from mountain biking to hiking and water sports. As we entered the reserve, we followed a rough gravel trail running parallel to Deep Creek. Trucks and vans lined the water’s edge, while people unloaded mountain bikes or drifted down the creek on paddleboards or kayaks.
The gravel road ends at an open reserve that doubles as a giant off-leash dog area, with a towering sandstone wall barricading the north-eastern side. Beyond the sandstone wall lies a mountain biker’s haven: the Mt Narra mountain biking trail, an extensive network of natural sandstone single tracks.
We were bike-less that day, so we chose the Deep Creek trail loop. Starting at the open reserve, it crosses a short wooden boardwalk before looping back to form a solid five-and-a-half-kilometre route. But before venturing further afield, we explored the far side of the reserve, where a hidden waterfall lies nestled.
On the day we visited, it stood bone dry under the scorching sun, though it transforms into a rushing cascade after heavy rains. From the vantage point of the waterfall, it’s astonishing to think we’re less than a kilometre from the bustling Wakehurst Parkway – so secluded within the bushland.
Continuing along the short, rocky track beside the creek, we crossed a large metal bridge connecting the trail to the opposite bank. From the top of the bridge, there’s a beautiful view down the creek, shaded by mangroves, eucalypts, ferns, and shrubs, despite the eyesore of a water valve that runs through the reserve.
Just beyond the bridge, the trail splits in two, offering the choice of starting with the fire trail or the rough, rocky path along the river’s edge. We chose the river’s edge, winding through dense shrubbery that opened to patches of rainforest, where towering palms and knotted roots crowded the path. Mallards drifted down the creek, basking in sunlit patches, while vibrant black-and-orange butterflies fluttered ahead of us, occasionally pausing to pollinate.
Though we passed a few groups, the trail remained quiet despite being shared by mountain bikers and hikers, as we enjoyed the cacophony of birdsong, high in the trees. Making our way back to the open reserve, we pass more vans and bikers gathering along the path, unloading their gear and gearing up for adventure – yet another hidden gem in the Northern Beaches, ready to be explored.
Did you know…
Camping at Deep Creek Reserve dates back to 1927, when Warringah Council allowed it despite most of the land being privately owned at the time. The area quickly became a popular camping spot, gaining even more traction when the land was sold to Warringah Council in 1957. Although camping is no longer permitted, archives reveal the reserve hosted a variety of groups over the years, including German seamen brought by the German Labour Front (DAF), 200 members of the Methodist Order of Knights, other religious organisations, and individual families.
How to get here
If you’re driving, look for a turn-off from Wakehurst Parkway, just before or after the bridge over Deep Creek on the northern side of Narrabeen Lake. The turn-off isn’t well-marked, but if you’re coming from the Narrabeen side, it’s about a kilometre west of Bilarong Reserve.
If you’re already on the Narrabeen Lake trail, keep an eye out for an underpass beneath the Deep Creek bridge on Wakehurst Parkway. This will lead you under the bridge and into the parking lot at Deep Creek Reserve – just follow the road down to the open reserve.
More to explore
Head here to visit more Secret Spaces to explore on the Northern Beaches.
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