This walk explores some of Bouddi National Park's hidden beaches and the Box Head lookout. The views over the South Pacific Ocean and Broken Bay are magnificent, while the secluded beaches of Tallow and Little Tallow are great spots for lunch and to dip the toes in. The vegetation is mostly heath along the service tracks, and larger eucalyptus trees along the bush tracks.
(open in app)
There are Closed areas in Bouddi National Park Today's Fire rating LOW MODERATE (No fire ban)
Cross sectional view of the Tallow Beach and Box Head bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Tallow Beach and Box Head bushwalking track
Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length
9km
Time
4 hrs
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Quality of track
Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Signs
Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Experience Required
No experience required (1/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing
Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk. Gradient
Around 8km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 970m has short steep hills.
Quality of track
6km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 2.8km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (160m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
Around 8km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 160m has minimal directional signs.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 9km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 9km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 8km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 160m has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).
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(0 km)
Hawke Head Drive NE
to
Box Head Trail Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 2.01 km
Time = 44 mins
Climb = 80 m
Descent = -45 m
From the start of Hawke Head Drive, this walk heads up the hill following the road and power lines. The walk winds up Hawke Head Drive, where the road becomes unsealed and has numerous speed bumps. The walk continues along the road to the intersection with a management trail, and gate on the right. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail up the hill, leaving the gated management trail behind on the right. The trail undulates along the ridge line for some time, with views to the right of the track over the Rip Bridge and Woy Woy. The trail then starts to head downhill, arriving at a car park, to the right, signposted 'Tallow Beach 900m'. Continue straight: From the car park, the walk follows the management trail past the 'Tallow Beach 900m' signpost. The walk soon passes around a gate and continues down the hill. The walk passes an unfenced cliff warning sign and (ignores) a track signpost ('Tallow Beach') before heading up the hill to the intersection, signposted 'Tallow' and 'Killcare'. Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Tallow' arrow along the management trail, going down the hill. The trail tends right for approximately 30m, to the signposted intersection for 'Box Head' and 'Tallow Beach'.
(2.01 km)
Box Head Trail
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Int. Little Tallow Spur Trk and Service Trail Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 405 m
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -37 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill towards the ocean. The track tends left as it descends over numerous speed bumps. After a short time, the track heads down the hill to reach an intersection with a bush track on the right. If the track turns left (north) down the hill you have gone too far.
(2.41 km)
Int. Little Tallow Spur Trk and Service Trail
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Little Tallow Beach Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 162 m
Time = 6 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -37 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill along the track, away from the management trail and towards the ocean. The track comes down onto the rock platform above Little Tallow Beach and continues to the right, then follows the creek down onto the beach.
Little Tallow Beach
Alt = 9 m
Little Tallow Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a small 50m stretch of sand, wedged into a rocky outcrop. The beach is backed by a steep gully and rocky headwalls on all sides, and faces south-west out to the Tasman Sea and South Pacific Ocean.
(2.58 km)
Little Tallow Beach
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Tallow Beach Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail,bushtrack
Length = 557 m
Time = 11 mins
Climb = 16 m
Descent = -18 m
Turn around: From Little Tallow Beach, this walk heads away from the ocean and towards the hill, following the creek bed. This soon comes upon two round boulders, at which this walk turns right, crossing the creek and then heading around the rocky northern headland of Little Tallow Beach. From the rocky platform at the point, this walk turns left up the bush track, leading across the hillside with the ocean on the right of the track. The track heads down the hill parallel to the sea for a little while before climbing slightly to the intersection. Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill towards the beach. The walk winds down to an intersection with a small track, leading to the beach on the right. Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sandy track to the top of Tallow Beach.
Tallow Beach Campsite
Alt = 8 m
Tallow Beach campsite is a large grass clearing set behind Tallow Beach, some 30m away. The campsite has room for seven sites and has a single toilet facility and rubbish facilities.
Tallow Beach
Alt = 6 m
Tallow Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a large 400m-long beach with a south-westerly aspect. The beach is set between two rocky headlands and backed by a large campsite.
(3.13 km)
Tallow Beach
to
Box Head Trail Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail,servicetrail,servicetrail
Length = 872 m
Time = 21 mins
Climb = 78 m
Descent = -2 m
Turn around: From Tallow Beach, this walk heads along the sandy track, away from the beach and ocean. The walk leads up the hill to the start of a management trail. Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads away from the beach and up the hill. The track turns left as it climbs the hill for approximately 30m, to an intersection on the left, after a speed bump. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, away from the campsite and ocean. The track winds into a gully and then out to a bend in the track, where the bush track intersection can be found on the ocean side (left) of the service trail. Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill away from the ocean. The track tends left as it separates the eucalypts on the left with the heath on the right. The track continues to rise over numerous speed bumps as it heads up to the signposted intersection.
(4 km)
Box Head Trail
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Box Head Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.26 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 24 m
Descent = -79 m
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Box Head' sign along the track. The walk follows the track for a short time, then crosses a rocky area before passing through a small clearing. The track narrows and meanders for some time, crossing numerous rock surfaces and rocky outcrops, then follows the top of the cliff line of Box Head out to a point that overlooks Barrenjoey, Lion Island, Broken Bay and out across the ocean.
(5.26 km)
Box Head
to
Box Head Trail Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.26 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 79 m
Descent = -24 m
Turn around: From Box Head, the walk follows the track away from the sea and the opposite headland, generally following the cliff line up the ridge. The track drops into a saddle, then climbs up the ridge for some time, crossing many rocky outcrops. The track then widens as it enters a small clearing and continues for a short time to the signposted intersection.
(6.52 km)
Box Head Trail
to
Hawke Head Drive NE Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 2.01 km
Time = 44 mins
Climb = 45 m
Descent = -80 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail up the hill away (following neither the 'Box Head' nor 'Tallow Beach' arrows). The walk continues away from these signposted trails, going down into a saddle and up the hill on the other side to the sign-marked intersection. Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Killcare' arrow along the management trail. The walk passes (ignoring) a track signpost ('Tallow Beach') and passes an unfenced cliff warning sign before climbing a little. The walk passes around a gate and continues a short distance to a parking area, signposted 'Tallow Beach 900m'. Continue straight: From the car park, the walk follows the management trail up the slight hill, leaving the car park and signpost behind, to the left. The trail undulates for some time, with views of the Rip Bridge and Woy Woy to the left. The trail begins to go downhill and arrives at an intersection with a gated service trail, to the left. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill, with views of the water to the left. The walk continues for some time down the hill, passing over many speed bumps, and continuing when the road becomes a sealed surface. The walk passes a few houses on both sides of the road and soon comes to the intersection with Nukara Ave.
Fire Danger This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a LOW MODERATE rating and No fire ban in place. (Tomorrow the Fire Danger Rating is LOW MODERATE, No fire ban.) (Downloaded 8 years ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.
Bouddi National ParkLink to official closures and fire bans page Bouddi National Park is south east of Woy Woy and encompasses the Box Head headland. Bouddi NP has numerous secluded beaches and some great surf beaches too. The park also offers fantastic coastal walking with views out from the tall headlands over Broken Bay, Woy Woy and the South Pacific Ocean. Bouddi NP also boasts one of the first marine extensions in NSW, with a 300ha protection zone out of Maitland Bay for the marine life. The mosquitoes in Bouddi NP can be fierce so it might be an idea to pack insect repellent. Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park feesCampingFacilities Current Park Closure information for Bouddi National Park Closure information last downloaded Sunday 27th of September 2015 07:00 AM Closed areas: Old Wagstaffe trail There is no public access available through private property to Old Wagstaffe trail. Signs indicate where public access is not permitted. Penalties apply for non-compliance For more information, please contact the NPWS Hawkesbury North area office on (02) 4320 4200 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.
Alex Portnoy - PO Box 1048, Bo - BE CAREFUL OF HAWKE-HEAD DRIVE
IP:203.45.126.xxx | 2010-04-13 06:59:45
BE CAREFUL OF HAWKE-HEAD DRIVE!!!
The semi-tarred Gosford Council road finishes abruptly at the top of the hill, and you are immediately faced with a dirt-and-sand unsealed track.
This unsealed track goes for the next 10 minutes or so, until you reach the Gate - the beginning of the Box Head walk.
If you car is even remotely dodgy below, do not to drive on the unsealed road here. It will rip your exhaust apart, even before you get to the beginning of the Walk! And NRMA refuses to assist on all National Park roads.
So be aware of this - either bicycle, motorcycle or walk.
Alex Portnoy - PO Box 1048, Bo - BEWARE of Hawke Head Drive!
IP:203.45.126.xxx | 2010-04-13 07:01:00
BE CAREFUL OF HAWKE-HEAD DRIVE!!!
The semi-tarred Gosford Council road finishes abruptly at the top of the hill, and you are immediately faced with a dirt-and-sand unsealed track.
This unsealed track goes for the next 10 minutes or so, until you reach the Gate - the beginning of the Box Head walk.
If you car is even remotely dodgy below, do not to drive on the unsealed road here. It will rip your exhaust apart, even before you get to the beginning of the Walk! And NRMA refuses to assist on all National Park roads.
So be aware of this - either bicycle, motorcycle or walk.
Fiona
IP:114.198.40.xxx | 2011-04-25 05:26:17
We have a 4w drive so started this walk at the end of the unsealed road. It is a great walk, easy and lots of opportunities for photos of the great views. The view from Box Head is amazing and we did it on a beautiful sunny autumn day..it was great. Also enjoyed the section down to the beaches. A great walk!!
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Hard
1 km
There is free parking available.
not too much longer now :)