Flint and Steel Beach and beyond: the best wild swimming beaches in Ku-ring-gai

Flint and Steel Beach is a gorgeous sweep of golden sand, with relatively calm water for swimming. The headland at one end of the beach and the views out to Lion Island add to the charm, and if that wasn’t enough, if you visit early or late in the day, you’re highly likely to encounter some of the resident Swamp wallabies!

However, if you like your beaches even more secluded, you can also head to the next beach along, which nobody seems to visit!

This small stretch of sand has a remote feel, with dense bushland behind the beach and steep forested cliffs in the distance. It’s easy to imagine you just arrived by boat and there’s no one around for miles, it really does have that wild vibe.

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting both beaches.


The Flint and Steel & White Horse Beach Walk

The stats

Distance: 3.4km return
Elevation gain:
225m
Difficulty:
Easy, but not flat
Trailhead:
Flint & Steel Track, Ku-ring-gai

Summary: The walk down to Flint and Steel Beach is all on a well maintained path. It does descend relatively steeply for much of the way, but the trail conditions are good. There is the odd rocky uneven section, but most of the path is steps and dirt track, which is not slippery when dry.

Continuing to White Horse Beach can be done directly from Flint and Steel Beach, either along the shore at low tide (still involves some rock scrambling) or via the overgrown track behind the beach. This has narrow eroded sections.

However, the easiest route is to walk partway back up the hill from Flint and Steel Beach and then take the National Park track down to the beach. This is less manicured than the path to Flint and Steel Beach, but provides no real obstacles.


Starting the trail: to Flint and Steel Beach

From the Flint and Steel car park you’ll take the signposted track and begin heading fairly gently downhill in the bush, mainly on shallow stairs.

After 285m you’ll come to a signposted junction and head right, towards Flint and Steel Beach (left would take you to ‘Flint and Steel Bay’, aka White Horse Beach).

After the junction you’ll come to my favourite part of the track, a little jungly path with oodles of Cabbage palms and dense foliage.

The path is now flat, or close to, for just under 400m.

You’ll start to get water views amongst the trees and it’s so peaceful to hear the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks mixed with the general hum of the bush.

At the 665m mark you’ll begin descending towards the beach. It’s gentle at first and then it gets a bit steeper, but the majority of the track is stairs, so it’s not slippery.

There are short patches which are less well manicured, with some rocks and tree roots, but these sections are quite minor.

As you get closer to the beach you get some stunning views - it’s never a completely clear view - but the beach looks incredibly picturesque from between the trees.

You’ll reach the sand 975m after leaving the car park.


Flint and Steel Beach

The 90m long stretch of golden sand is really pretty, with relatively calm water, making it an ideal place for a dip. It has a lovely feel to it, really peaceful and relatively secluded.

There’s lots of driftwood on the beach, but it’s usually towards the back, so it doesn’t compromise the beach itself. People have usually constructed a teepee or two!

The wallabies tend to hide in the thick grass behind the beach during the day time, so if you’re hoping to spot one, you’re better off coming early or late in the day - but remember to watch out for the gate closure time so you don’t get stuck in the national park!

If you’re keen on a swim, don’t visit this beach after very heavy rainfall, as it tends to suffer from debris washing in from the Hawkesbury River. Outside of this time the water is generally good.

It’s also worth noting that the beach is very popular for fishing. Whenever we’ve visited the car park has been close to full and we assumed the beach would be busy, however, it never seems to have more than a handful of people on it at most.

The rock platforms at either side of the beach will usually have quite a few people fishing though!


Getting to White Horse Beach via the McGaw Ruins

As mentioned, there are a few different ways of making your way over to White Horse Beach (Flint and Steel Bay). You could rock hop at low tide, but many of the rocks are caked in barnacles and it’s very slippery. There are also some boulders in the way at points so you’ll need to scramble.

We started on this route and then wondered why we were bothering when there was a perfectly good track through the bush!

There’s also an off track route which doesn’t involve backtracking to the signposted junction (near the top of the hill). This is narrow and eroded in parts and you might want to wear long trousers as it gets a bit scratchy.

The easiest route is to retrace your steps back to the junction and take the parks track, signposted as Flint and Steel Bay.

Though this does mean you’ll have more climbing to do, it’s still easier than the other options. You’ll retrace your steps for 690m back to the junction.

You’ll then follow the narrow bush track, which is mainly downhill, but rarely steep. The path is less manicured than the one to Flint and Steel Bay, but it’s still in decent shape.

When dry it wasn’t slippery, despite having a coating of needles and leaves at points. There are a few rocky patches, but no scrambling.

However, this is a seldom used track, so you may want to carry a stick with you, as there’s definitely some web clearing to do!

Roughly 450m from the junction you’ll come to the somewhat overgrown McGaw Ruins, this is also the point at which the off track route directly from Flint and Steel Beach meets the national park track.


The McGaw Ruins

Depending on the source, the ruins are that of a home or guest house, which belonged to the McGaw’s until it was burnt down in 1971.

Every resource I read had a slightly different story to tell about the history of the site, but I found this account to be the most colourful and therefore a bit more exciting to read!

In terms of what remains today, the answer is, some of the foundations of the building, as well as a section of stone wall which is still in pretty good condition.

There is a lot of rubble and some broken glass, so take care when having a poke around. It’s quite overgrown, but that does give it a ‘lost city’ feel which I found appealing.


Arriving at White Horse Beach

On leaving the McGaw ruins, you are just 300m from the beach. Make sure you keep left at the fork by the ruins, as the other path will take you back to Flint and Steel Beach (via the overgrown route).

From the ruins you’ll bear left at the fork and head briefly downhill. There is then a short traverse, still on a bush track, but you’re now close to the water’s edge.

You’ll arrive at the beach 750m after leaving the junction with Flint and Steel Beach. There are two paths down to the beach within a few metres of each other, both are easy.


White Horse Beach (Flint and Steel Bay)

At just a third of the size of Flint and Steel Beach, White Horse Beach is tiny. In fact, you probably don’t want to visit at high tide or there may not be too much of a beach left!

We were there on a mid (towards low) tide, and it was perfect. The beach might be small, but it’s incredibly atmospheric.

It feels like the sort of beach you can only get to by boat, with a bit of a Robinson Crusoe vibe. I can’t put my finger on exactly why it felt that way and why I loved it so much, but the combination of the small spit of sand, calm water and thick bush behind the beach just gave me that island feel.

If you like big beaches with very clear water then it’s not going to be your favourite, but if you like tiny wild beaches which look inaccessible by land, then you’re going to love it!

In terms of swimming, the water was shallow for quite a way, so it’s perhaps not the best, but I enjoyed taking a dip, especially because there was absolutely nobody around - and this was on a hot day in the school summer holidays I might add!

There’s a little wooden platform and two old milk crates behind the beach if you want to bring a picnic - though you may prefer sitting on the sand!

When you’re ready to leave, the easiest route is back the way you came. It’s a short sharp climb, with a few flat sections inbetween to catch your breath.


Keep them wild

Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.

Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the national park, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.


Ku-ring-gai National Park entry fee

The vehicle entry fee applies to the Flint and Steel Track, which is $12 per day. If you are planning on visiting several NSW parks in a year you are likely better off buying the annual pass which covers all parks apart from Kosciusko.

The fee is for vehicles only and does not apply to those entering the park by bicycle.


Ku-ring-gai National Park opening times

There is a gate you need to pass through to reach the trailhead for the Flint and Steel Track. If you get your car stuck and have to have the gate opened it’s a $50 fine. The timings vary slightly by season, but broadly it’s sunrise to just after sunset.


Getting to the Flint and Steel Track

The Flint and Steel Track in Ku-ring-gai National Park has a dedicated car park with room for quite a few cars to park so you shouldn’t have any trouble.

We’ve only ever been on weekends and in the holidays and never had an issue. There are no facilities at the car park, but just beyond the car park (a minute or so by car) you’ll come to the Resolute picnic area which has toilets.

The car park is around 48km and a 55 minute drive from the CBD.


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