The Harold Reid Foreshore Track is a family-friendly bushwalking trail in Middle Cove, offering picturesque views of Middle Harbour.
The walk takes you through the Harold Reid Reserve, a scenic pocket of natural waterfront bushland set on a Hawkesbury sandstone landform.
| Harold Reid Reserve Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 4 km (loop) |
| Duration: | 1.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy |
| Wheel-friendly: | No |
| Dog-friendly: | Yes; on a lead |
Getting There
Harold Reid Reserve in Middle Cove is still a bit of a hidden gem, but it’s easy to find.
There are two locations to start this walk:
We recommend starting from the Sugarloaf Crescent end. This will allow you to include the 1 km trail along Camp Creek towards the loop, a section that is quite scenic.
Below is a map of the walk with those two locations marked.
Track Notes
The Harold Reid Foreshore Track is a family-friendly walking trail that’s easy to navigate. It offers a true bushwalking experience, with an unsealed path and sections that can be uneven or slippery.
Following rainfall, parts of the trail, particularly along the waterfront on the reserve’s eastern side, can become quite muddy.
Start of the Walk
Once you’ve parked, head straight into the bush at the signpost.
Before you begin hiking, take a moment to read the information boards to learn about the reserve’s history, its wildlife, and the diverse plant communities found here.
The reserve is named after Harold James Reid, a local resident and Willoughby Council town clerk during the 1950s and 1960s, in honour of his contributions to the community.
The path quickly descends into a thriving forest, crossing Camp Creek before heading east towards Sugarloaf Creek and Fig Tree Cove.
You’ll soon reach a junction where you can either climb north to the opposite side of the reserve or continue straight along the creek.
We suggest turning left at this junction to complete the loop in a clockwise direction.
Crossing the Reserve
From the junction, the path climbs to higher ground via several sets of stairs, gradually moving away from the creek.
After about 10 minutes, the trail leads to a small one-way road, which takes you to the Harold Reid Reserve picnic area and lookout (more on that later).
At this road, turn left and walk along the roadside for a short distance until you see the bushwalking trail continue on your right.
From there, the path leads to the second entry point of the Harold Reid Reserve walking track, at the end of North Arm Road.
Water Views
This is where the most scenic part of the walk begins, a section that closely follows the reserve’s foreshore.
The path gradually descends towards the shoreline on the northern side of the reserve, offering the first glimpses of the water.
After a few hundred metres along the shoreline, you’ll reach a junction where you can either continue straight along the water or turn right for a shortcut through the bush.
We suggest continuing straight, as this stretch is the highlight of the walk and includes a lovely lookout right on the water at Sugarloaf Creek.
Sugarloaf Creek
The water views from this lookout are beautiful, and the small rocky platform makes a great spot for a waterside picnic.
From the lookout, the path soon leads back to the first junction of the walk (where you previously turned left), allowing you to retrace your steps up to Sugarloaf Crescent.
Picnic Area and Lookout
Once you’ve completed the track and returned to the starting point, it’s worth driving to the Harold Reid Reserve BBQ area and lookout.
You could also walk there via the road starting from Rembrandt Drive, but since the road is narrow and not particularly interesting, driving is the better option.
To reach the area, head to Rembrandt Drive, east of the reserve, and turn onto the one-way road leading into the reserve.
Keep driving until you spot the picnic tables and BBQs, where you can park. From there, it’s just a short walk to the lookout, offering scenic views of Middle Harbour.
To extend this walk, we recommend doing the North Arm Walking Track from North Arm Road. This 6.5 km return walk explores the headland in Castle Cove north of Middle Cove through a similar landscape.
