Sandstone Heath and Bushland on Sydney’s Northern Edge

Overview

Terrey Hills sits on the northern fringe of Sydney, around 25 kilometres from the CBD, where the city gives way to broad sandstone bushland. Much of the area people associate with walking and riding here lies within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, a large protected landscape of plateaus, gullies, creeks and sheltered inlets. Around Terrey Hills, the character is more open and elevated than the river and estuary country further east, with heath, woodland and rough sandstone country setting the tone.

Highlights

The appeal of Terrey Hills is its classic Sydney sandstone scenery. This is a place of ridgelines, weathered rock platforms, heathland and open forest, with a dry, airy feel on the higher ground and deeper bush in the more protected gullies. The surrounding national park is shaped largely by Hawkesbury Sandstone, which gives the landscape its shallow soils, rugged texture and distinct mix of vegetation.

What stands out most is the contrast within a relatively small area. Near the higher country around Terrey Hills, the bush feels wide and exposed, while elsewhere in the park the terrain drops away into creeks, coves and more enclosed valleys. That shift in landform is a big part of what makes this part of Sydney’s north so memorable.

Best Time to Visit

Late winter into spring is an especially good time to be here, when the heathlands are known for their wildflower displays in August and September. The milder months also suit the exposed sandstone country around Terrey Hills, which can feel harsher in the hotter part of summer.

Plants and Animals

The bush around Terrey Hills is part of a broader mosaic of heath, scrub, woodland and forest that supports a rich spread of native wildlife. Across Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and its associated reserves, more than 209 bird species, 58 native mammals, 48 reptiles and 19 amphibians have been recorded.

This diversity includes a notable number of threatened species. Animals recorded in the park include the southern brown bandicoot, glossy black-cockatoo, powerful owl, Rosenberg’s goanna, giant burrowing frog and red-crowned toadlet. The vegetation around Terrey Hills also sits alongside several threatened ecological communities within the wider park landscape, reflecting how important this sandstone country is for biodiversity close to Sydney.