At a glance
- Entry fee
- $12 per vehicle per day, payable through the Park’nPay app. Vehicles with more than 8 seats pay $4.40 per adult and $2.20 per child per day
- Opening
- Always open, but the park may close at times because of poor weather or fire danger
- West Head gates
- Closed from 8.30pm to 6am during daylight saving, and from 6pm to 6am the rest of the year
- Sphinx Memorial car park
- Gates closed overnight from 7pm
- Three entrances
- Bobbin Head Road (North Turramurra), Ku-ring-gai Chase Road (off the Pacific Motorway, or from Belmont Parade, Mount Colah) and McCarrs Creek Road
- Not by car
- The Basin campground and Barrenjoey Lighthouse cannot be reached directly by car
- Who it’s for
- Anyone driving to Bobbin Head, Apple Tree Bay, West Head or Akuna Bay, or taking the ferry to The Basin
- What to do now
- Pay through the Park’nPay app or at a pay point, and be out of the West Head gates before they close
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against the NSW National Parks visitor information pages
- Not yet confirmed
- The pages do not give car park space counts or the ferry operator, fares or 2026-27 timetable
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park costs $12 per vehicle per day, and you can pay through the Park’nPay app, according to the NSW National Parks visitor information page, checked on Monday 9 November 2026. The park is always open, but it may close at times because of poor weather or fire danger. The gates to West Head close overnight, at 8.30pm during daylight saving and 6pm for the rest of the year, and the gates to the Sphinx Memorial car park close from 7pm. The park has three road entrances, described below.
How much does it cost to enter Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park?
The park’s visitor information page lists these fees. Prices are as of November 2026.
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Park entry, per vehicle per day | $12 |
| Vehicles with more than 8 seats, per adult per day | $4.40 |
| Vehicles with more than 8 seats, per child per day | $2.20 |
| Landing fee for day visitors to The Basin campground, per adult | $3 (may apply) |
| Landing fee for day visitors to The Basin campground, per child | $2 (may apply) |
The landing fee is paid at the campground wharf, and it is included in camping fees. The page also says that organised groups of 40 or more people need prior written approval, under the park’s Plan of Management, and should contact the park office before visiting.
Which entrance should I use?
| Coming from | Enter by | Where it leads |
|---|---|---|
| Turramurra | Bobbin Head Road, at North Turramurra | A good route to Bobbin Head and Appletree Bay |
| Mount Colah or Asquith | Ku-ring-gai Chase Road, off the Pacific Motorway, or Belmont Parade from Mount Colah | The large parking areas and picnic facilities at Bobbin Head and Appletree Bay |
| Terrey Hills or Church Point | McCarrs Creek Road | Liberator General San Martin Drive, the picnic areas at Illawong Bay and Akuna Bay, and West Head Road to West Head |
The page says the park’s roads are sealed and suit 2WD vehicles, and that you cannot reach The Basin campground or Barrenjoey Lighthouse directly by car. For public transport, it points visitors to the Transport for NSW website, and for cyclists to the Bicycle information for NSW website.
Where do I park at Bobbin Head?
The Bobbin Head page says parking is in asphalt and bitumen car parks near the barbecues, picnic tables, shelters and other facilities. It lists accessible parking at several car parks, including 2 near the inn, 1 near the station and 1 near the playground. At the Bobbin Head Visitor Centre, the page says there is a bitumen car park with 2 accessible spaces outside Bobbin Inn, and that it can be busy on weekends, when parking might be limited.
The Bobbin Head Visitor Centre is at 688 Ku-ring-gai Chase Road, Mount Colah NSW 2079. It is open 10am to 4pm daily, 9am to 4pm during the summer school holidays, closed 12pm to 12:30pm and closed on Christmas Day. The phone number is 02 9472 8949. The Kalkari Discovery Centre is at 402 Ku-ring-gai Chase Road, Mount Colah, open 9:30am to 4:30pm and closed on Christmas Day, on 02 9472 9300.
Where do I park at Apple Tree Bay?
The Apple Tree picnic area page says to take Bobbin Head Road through North Turramurra, or Ku-ring-gai Chase Road at Mount Colah near Hornsby. Parking is in asphalt car parks, and the page says it can be a busy place on weekends, so parking might be limited. It lists the road as unsealed and suitable for 2WD vehicles.
Where do I park at West Head?
The West Head lookout page says to follow West Head Road, or to walk to the lookout from the Resolute picnic area along the 1.9 km West Head lookout track. Parking is in bitumen and roadbase car parks at the end of West Head Road, including one accessible space next to the lookout entrance.
Check the gate times before you go. The park page says the West Head gates close from 8.30pm to 6am during daylight saving periods, and from 6pm to 6am the rest of the year. The gates to the Sphinx Memorial car park close overnight from 7pm.
Where do I park at Akuna Bay?
The Akuna Bay page says to follow McCarrs Creek Road and turn onto Liberator General San Martin Drive. Akuna Bay is part way along Coal and Candle Creek. Parking is along General San Martin Drive and in a car park opposite the marina, with 5 accessible spaces on the marina side of General San Martin Drive. There are flush toilets, picnic tables, free gas or electric barbecues, a boat ramp and a cafe or kiosk.
National Parks provides free courtesy moorings for recreational boats on Cowan Waters. Each mooring is limited to one vessel for a maximum of 24 hours, vessels must not be left unattended, and they cannot exceed 14 metres. You do not need to book. The page says there are 54 moorings in 17 locations.
How do I get to The Basin?
You cannot drive to The Basin. The picnic area page says the ferry departs hourly, on the hour, from 9am to 5pm, from Palm Beach Wharf. If you are camping, drop your camping gear at the ferry wharf, leave the car in the seasonal car park at the Careel Bay Sporting Fields, and catch the 199 bus back to the wharf. The page says the 199 comes every 15 minutes and takes about 5 minutes.
The other way is to drive or ride a mountain bike to West Head Road and walk or cycle the 2.8 km Basin track. Limited parking is available at the West Head Road car park, 2.8 km from the picnic area. The page does not name the ferry operator or give fares, so check the Transport for NSW trip planner or the operator before you travel.
What is not allowed in the park?
The park page says open fires and any form of solid fuel are not allowed. Flying a drone for recreation is prohibited. Candles or other open flames, and tents and marquees, are also on its prohibited list, and it asks visitors not to put up signage or cordon off structures or picnic shelter areas. Check the full list on the park page before booking a group event.
When is the best time to go?
The page recommends a day in August or September to see the heathland wildflowers. In summer it suggests fishing and camping at The Basin. In winter, it points to the Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk between May and August, and to International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend in August. Remember that Barrenjoey Lighthouse cannot be reached directly by car.
Sources
- NSW National Parks — Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park visitor info (checked 9 November 2026)
- NSW National Parks — Bobbin Head
- NSW National Parks — Bobbin Head Visitor Centre
- NSW National Parks — Apple Tree picnic area
- NSW National Parks — West Head lookout
- NSW National Parks — Akuna Bay
- NSW National Parks — The Basin picnic area
Featured image: Cowan Creek, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (photo: Dallas Clarke / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service or the NSW Government. Check the park alerts before you go, as the park can close at short notice.