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Picnic area near Watagan forest Motel +
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Start Of Track near Nigel Memorial rest +
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Entrance near Branxton-toronto road +
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Trees you might see along the way +
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Interesting Artifacts in the Awaba Forest +
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The view from Awaba Forest +
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Trail in the Awaba range +
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View From Awaba State Forest +
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Following Awaba State Forest +
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View from Brunkerville Range Trail +
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A Sign pointing towards Mount Sugarloaf +
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Walking along the trail +
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Entering Sugarloaf State Conservation Area +
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Warning cracked and harsh Roads due to Mine Subsidence +
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Archery Road, Freeway Underpass +
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Great North Walk Track adjacent to Wakefield Road +
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Great North Walk crossing through power line maintenance Road +
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Great North Walk facing Wakefield road +
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Looking down Wakefield Road +
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Sign pointing towards Teralba +
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An intersection between Rhondda Road and Private Haul Road +
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Rhondda Road facing Railway Street +
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Looking up at the Stairs at Teralba Station +
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Cross sectional view of the Heaton Gap to Teralba station bushwalking track  Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Heaton Gap to Teralba station 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.
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Length |
15km |
| Time |
6 hrs |
| . |
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Grade 4/6
Track: Hard |
AS 2156.1 |
Gradient |
Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track |
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) |
| Signs |
Directional signs along the way (3/6) |
| Experience Required |
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6) |
| 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
7km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 3.2km has short steep hills. Whilst another 2.9km is flat with no steps and the remaining 2.2km is very steep.
Quality of track
9km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 3.6km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (2.2km) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 8km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 7km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 13km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 2.2km requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 15km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
8km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) and another 5km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced). The remaining (1.4km) has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).
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Watagan Forest Motel
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Alt = 145 m |
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Watagan Forest Motel[1] is located on Branxton-Toronto Road. This retro-style motel is located right on the Great North Walk. The motel offers six rooms[2] for around $99 per night - each with a double bed[3] (four rooms also have twin singles), a television[4], bathroom with shower[5], air conditioning[6], and breakfast included. Room service is available. Adjoining the motel is a service station[7], which also offers dining room meals as well as a small grocery selection (bread, milk, bottled water, rice, pasta, etc), open until 8:30pm daily. A rest area is situated next to the motel, with covered picnic tables and garbage bins[8]. For further information, phone (02)4938 0149.
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(0 km)
Watagan Forest Motel
to
Int of Gap Road and GNW track
Track: Hard - road,servicetrail |
Length = 1.13 km |
Time = 26 mins |
| Climb = 81 m |
Descent = -14 m |
From the picnic area next to 'Watagan Forest Motel'[9] (on Freemans Drive), this walk follows the 'Wakefield' sign[10] gently up alongside Freemans Drive, away from the motel[11]. The walk leads behind the safety barrier[12] beside the road for about 400m, until coming to an intersection with an unsealed road[13] marked with a 'Sugarloaf State Conservation Area' sign[14] (on the left).
Turn left: From the intersection[15], this walk follows the GNW arrow post, gently uphill along the dirt road[16], initially passing the 'Sugarloaf State Conservation Area' sign[17] on your right. The walk continues for about 700m (with one steep uphill section[18]), until leading down to an intersection[19] with a track and GNW arrow marker, and a couple of timber fence posts (on the left).
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(1.13 km)
Int of Gap Road AND GNW
to
Int of GNW AND Brunkerville trail
Track: Hard - bushtrack,servicetrail |
Length = 2 km |
Time = 52 mins |
| Climb = 185 m |
Descent = -81 m |
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post, heading between the timber fence posts[20] and up along the old management trail[21]. After about 40m, this walk veers right onto another trail[22] and continues up an eroded section[23], getting steeper as you go. After just over 150m, the walk comes to a small clearing at the base of steep rocky section[24]. Here the walk follows the GNW arrow to climb the very steep rocky section[25]. The walk then follows the narrow track along the ridge for about 300m to pass a notable rock outcrop[26], and then continues along the particularly narrow ridge, enjoying the filtered distant views[27] either side for another 700m. This walk then leads steeply down[28] the eroded track across a saddle then climbs up the rocky track[29] on the other side. At the top of this climb, the track comes to a small clearing, and the start of a grassy trail[30], on the top of the ridge.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the grassy trail east, gently uphill[31]. The trail leads up along the ridge for about 300m to where the trail widens and become much clearer[32]. The walk continues along this trail for just over 200m to come to an intersection with a dirt road[33], where a there is a 'The Great North Walk' sign[34] on the left.
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(3.13 km)
Int of GNW track and Brunkerville trail
to
Int of Brunkerville and Sugarloaf Range trail
Track: Moderate - servicetrail |
Length = 1.15 km |
Time = 24 mins |
| Climb = 21 m |
Descent = -88 m |
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Veer right: From the intersection[35], this walk follows the GNW arrow marker[36] downhill[37] along the main dirt road, following the ridge line south-east. The road leads mostly downhill for about 500m to cross a saddle and then undulate up over a hill (moderately steeply in a few places) for just over 600m, enjoying some filtered views[38] (on the right). Then the road leads downhill to an intersection with another trail (on the right), marked with a GNW arrow post[39].
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(4.28 km)
Int of Brunkerville and Sugarloaf Range trail
to
Int of Sugarloaf Range and Wakefield Forest Roads
Track: Moderate - servicetrail |
Length = 356 m |
Time = 7 mins |
| Climb = 10 m |
Descent = -10 m |
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Veer left: From the intersection[40], this walk follows the road GNW arrow post gently downhill[41], following the ridge east. The road leads through forest, across and saddle for about 350m, to head up to a clear y-intersection[42] marked with a 'Wakefield/Mt Sugarloaf' sign[43].
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(4.64 km)
Int of Sugarloaf Range and Wakefield Forest Roads
to
Int of GNW track AND Aubs Ridge Road
Track: Moderate - servicetrail |
Length = 1.11 km |
Time = 22 mins |
| Climb = 7 m |
Descent = -108 m |
Veer right: From the intersection[44], this walk follows the GNW arrow post[45] and the 'Wakefield 4km' sign[46] downhill along the dirt road, keeping the valley to your right. The road leads through forest[47] for just over 600m, to come to an intersection[48] with a minor trail (on your left), marked with a GNW arrow post[49].
Veer right: From the intersection[50], this walk follows the GNW arrow post moderately steeply down along the dirt road[51], following the ridge line east. After just shy of 500m, this walk comes to an intersection[52] with 'Aubs Ridge Road'[53] (on the right).
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(5.75 km)
Int of GNW track and Aubs Ridge Road
to
Int of Archery Road and GNW track
Track: Moderate - servicetrail |
Length = 1.93 km |
Time = 36 mins |
| Climb = 18 m |
Descent = -106 m |
Veer left: From the intersection[54], this walk follows the GNW arrow post[55] directly downhill along the dirt road[56], following the ridge east. The road immediately passes a 'Warning mine subsidence...' sign[57] and continues to meander down along the ridge for just shy of 1.2km to come to a three-way intersection[58] just past the 'Sugarloaf State Conservation Area' sign[59].
Veer left: From the intersection[60], this walk follows the GNW arrow post gently downhill along the wide dirt road[61], directly away from the face of the 'Sugarloaf State Conservation Area' sign[62]. The walk continues down the road for 230m, until coming to a wide intersection[63] with a number of trails, just past a 'Warning Mine Subsidence...' sign[64] (facing away from you).
Continue straight: From the intersection[65], this walk follows the GNW arrow post gently downhill[66] along the wide dirt road, directly away from face of the 'Mine Subsidence' sign[67]. The road bends right (passing a private driveway[68]) then leads under two Sydney/Newcastle Freeway bridges[69]. The road then leads gently uphill (ignoring side roads[70][71]) for about 350m to the top of the hill (just past the second power pole[72] and the 'Lake Macqurie Field Archers Inc' sign[73] to find an intersection, marked with a 'The Great North Walk' sign[74].
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(7.68 km)
Int of Archery Road and the GNW track
to
Int of GNW track and Wakefield Road
Track: Moderate - servicetrail |
Length = 1.26 km |
Time = 22 mins |
| Climb = 15 m |
Descent = -25 m |
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Turn left: From the intersection[75], this walk follows the 'The Great North Walk' sign gently uphill[76] directly away from the 'Lake Macqurie Archery Club' entrance[77]). The walk continues (undulating gently) for about 170m, to cross underneath a set of high tension power lines[78] and continue straight back into the bush for another 800m. Here the walk veers left at an intersection to head under another set of high tension power lines[79]. The walk now heads through the forest for about 140m, to head under yet another set of power lines[80]. Now the trail leads straight back into the trees for another 120m, then bends right and leads to the sealed Wakefield Road[81].
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(8.94 km)
Int of Great North Walk and Wakefield Road
to
Eddie Peterson Memorial Park
Walk: Easy - road |
Length = 230 m |
Time = 4 mins |
| Climb = 0 m |
Descent = -4 m |
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Turn left: From the intersection[82], this walk follows Wakefield Road gently downhill[83], away from 'Rosina Rd'[84]. The walk continues for about 250m, passing the 'Wakefield Rural Fire Brigade' building[85], to find the 'Eddie Peterson Memorial Park'[86] (on the left) and a large 'The Great North Walk - Wakefield Trackhead' signpost[87] (on the far side of the park).
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Eddie Peterson Memorial Park
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Alt = 49 m |
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The Eddie Peterson Memorial Park on Wakefield Road is a fabulous place for a rest and a snack. There is a grassy area, toilet, water and shelter, all next to a community tennis court. Eddie Patterson Memorial Park is managed by the Lake Macquarie City Council as a public reserve. Near the memorial park there is a fire station and a school.
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(9.17 km)
Eddie Peterson Memorial Park
to
Int of Wakefield and Rhondda Roads
Walk: Easy - road |
Length = 2.12 km |
Time = 36 mins |
| Climb = 19 m |
Descent = -53 m |
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Continue straight: From Eddie Peterson Memorial Park, this walk follows the 'Teralba' sign[88] gently downhill along the grassy verge beside Wakefield Road. The road leads through the rural community of Wakefield for about 170m, to continue past 'Miller Rd'[89]. The walk then continues (undulating gently) for about 900m, bending right and leading past 'School Rd'[90] (on the right). Continuing straight, gently downhill for about 600m, this walk crosses Diega Creek on a concrete bridge[91], then follows the road for another 500m to a three-way intersection with 'Rhondda Road'[92] (on the right).
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(11.29 km)
Int of Wakefield and Rhondda Roads
to
Teralba Station
Walk: Easy - road |
Length = 3.55 km |
Time = 1 hr 9 mins |
| Climb = 104 m |
Descent = -103 m |
Turn right: From the intersection[93], this walk follows 'Teralba' sign[94] gently uphill along 'Rhondda Rd'. After about 300m, the road leads gently downhill[95] and continues for another 500m to a four-way intersection[96] with a private haul road (watch out for fast-moving quarry vehicles). The walk continues straight on, following the 'Teralba' sign gently uphill[97] for about 900m to pass the 'Teralba quarry main entrance'[98]. The walk then continues downhill[99] for another 1.5km (becoming moderately steep), until coming to a T-intersection[100] with 'Station St'[101], marked with a GNW arrow post[102].
Turn left: From the intersection[103], this walk follows the GNW arrow post gently up along 'Railway Rd'[104]. The walk follows Railway Rd for just shy of 250m, to another GNW arrow marker[105] and turns right. Here the walk heads up the steps on the railway pedestrian bridge to find 'Teralba' railway station[106].
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Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk
Public Transport links currently not working, sorry
Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk
| Store |
Address |
Phone |
Distance (straight line) |
| Lake Macquarie Kayaks & Camping | Unit 1 61 Alliance Ave, Morisset | (02) 4973 2028 | 16.7 km | Camping World | Cnr Hillsborough & Macquarie Rds, Warners Bay | (02) 4956 6183 | 16.3 km | East Lake Refrigeration | 511 Lake Rd , Argenton | (02) 4958 6255 | 14.5 km | Camping World | 3/ 276 Macquarie Rd , Warners Bay | (02) 4956 6183 | 16.6 km | Camping Country | 401 Pacific Hwy, Belmont North | (02) 4945 1555 | 18.5 km |
A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Heaton Gap to Teralba station.
Fire DangerThis walk passes Greater Hunter 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 7 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. Weather and ClimateWeather and Climate summary wx61242 | | °C (feels like °) | | km/h from the | | % humidity (as at ) |
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 Awaba State Forest A large parcel of land west of the northern end of lake Macquarie, Awaba state forest lines the side of part of the Sydney - newcastle freeway. The park is home to mostly native forest Region: I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment. |
Hiking near Sydney 
10 km
There is free parking available.
Check out the facilities at 
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times.
not too much longer now :)