Barrenjoey Headland Walk walking track

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Barrenjoey Headland Walk

Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Barrenjoey Headland Walk are found in each of the tabs below

Barrenjoey Headland Walk

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Time:	1 hr 30 mins Walking time Includes the time for the return leg Please allow extra time to rest and to explore	1.8 km NNE of Palm Beach
Length:	2.3 km Walk Length As this is a return style walk, the 2.3 km includes the return leg of this walk (ie back to the start)	Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Climb:	110 m Total Climbing This walk has a total cumulative climb of 110 m, this is the total of the elevation gains made in each of the walks uphill sections
Style:	Return

This is a fantastic walk for those wanting a great walk on Sydney's northern beaches. Features of this track include views of the central coast, Palm Beach and the South Pacific Ocean, and historic remnants of old lighthouses. Currently some track repairs are underway, however once completed this walk will revert to a circuit track. (open in app)

Today's Fire rating
LOW MODERATE (No fire ban)

Bushwalking track notes photographs, maps and camping spots for Barrenjoey Headland Walk

Map of Walk

Location

Sponsor of Barrenjoey Headland Walk bushwalking tracknotes

Map of Barrenjoey Headland Walk
Problem loading PDF Try here
Map Controls - Show Contours | Hide Path | Hide Distances | Hide Names
Map Scale

1 km

Base maps are used under licence and is © Department of lands Panorama Avenue Bathurst 2795 www.lands.nsw.gov.au

Maps that cover the walk area (please always carry maps of the area)

Print a map and track notes here

Broken Bay

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-91301N

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map

1:40 000 Map Series

CMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map

Sydney

1:100 000 Map Series

9130

Photo Gallery




	Track leading onto beach +




	Beach +




	track leading away from beach +




	First Lookout +




	Lighthouse +




	grave of George Mulhall +




	Site of the first lighthouse +




	View from the southern lookout +




	Trackwork preventing loop +

Terrain

Please note: This is a 'return' style walk and therefore these graphs only show the terrain for the first half of the walk (until the turn around point.)

Cross sectional view of the Barrenjoey Headland Walk bushwalking track

Cross Section of the Barrenjoey Headland Walk bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Barrenjoey Headland Walk bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the Barrenjoey Headland Walk 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	2.3km
		Time	1 hr 30 mins
		.
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, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

*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 680m of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 480m is very steep.

Quality of track
Around 790m of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 370m follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs
Around 680m of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 480m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required
Around 840m of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 310m requires some bushwalking experience.

Weather
This whole walk, 1.2km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
Around 790m of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 370m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Track Notes

Since this is a 'return' style walk once you have had enough of the walk, turn around and retrace your steps back to the start.

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Catch the bus to Barrenjoey Carpark (Palm Beach)
Catch the bus to Barrenjoey Carpark (Palm Beach)
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip to the end of this walk. (Links currently not working sorry) Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill\|Chatswood\|Dural\|Epping\|Gosford\|Hornsby\|Katoomba\|Manly\|Parramatta\|Penrith\|Strathfield\|Sutherland\|Sydney\|

Drive to Barrenjoey Carpark (Palm Beach)
Drive to Barrenjoey Carpark (Palm Beach)
Parking fees apply in the area. You can drive or ride to the start of this walk Use these links to plan your trip to the start of this walk. Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill\|Chatswood\|Dural\|Epping\|Gosford\|Hornsby\|Katoomba\|Manly\|Parramatta\|Penrith\|Strathfield\|Sutherland\|Sydney\|

(0 km) Barrenjoey Carpark (Palm Beach) to Beginning of Smugglers Track Walk: Easy - servicetrail	Length = 367 m	Time = 6 mins
	Climb = 1 m	Descent = -1 m
This walk starts from the car park at Station Beach (on the Pittwater side of the Palm Beach promontory, past the Palm Beach Golf Course and the ferry wharf) At the northernmost end of the car park, this walk passes the 'Barrenjoey Head Aquatic Reserve' sign, heading north along Station Beach (keeping Pittwater to the left). The walk passes two distinct tracks on the right before coming to an intersection with a less-defined track, also on the right (and a 'This way to Lighthouse' sign), just before a small house.

(0.37 km) Bottom of the Smugglers Track to Barrenjoey Lighthouse Track: Hard - bushtrack	Length = 476 m	Time = 17 mins
	Climb = 93 m	Descent = -3 m
Turn right: From the house, the walk follows the 'This way to Lighthouse' sign. The track becomes a wide, sandy trail that, after approximately 30m, turns to the left. Shortly after this, it narrows significantly and then uses a set of very steep carved rock steps to climb to the top of the headland. Approximately halfway up the climb, the walk passes a lookout with fantastic views over Palm Beach, which makes a good spot to take a break. From the top of the steps, the walk heads along the gravel trail up between the buildings and continues to the lookout, where there is a sundial just below the lighthouse.

Barrenjoey Lighthouse	Alt = 91 m
Barrenjoey Lighthouse
The Barrenjoey Lighthouse was the third light constructed on this headland, completed in 1881^[1]. Designed by James Barnet, the NSW Colonial Architect, and built for a cost of $13,695 plus $2,210 for the lamp^[2], the light is at an elevation of 113m and can be seen to a distance of 19 nautical miles (35 km) out to sea^[3].

(0.84 km) Barrenjoey Lighthouse to Southern Point Barrenjoey Headland Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 312 m	Time = 5 mins
	Climb = 3 m	Descent = -9 m
Turn right: From the sundial, this walk heads past the lighthouse (on the right) as it enters the thicker scrub of the headland. The track passes a few historical sites as it continues towards Palm Beach (on the right). The track leads out along the ridge of the headland to a lookout over Palm Beach and Sydney's northern beaches.

Site of the First Barrenjoey Lighthouses	Alt = 93 m
Site of the First Barrenjoey Lighthouses
In 1868, two wooden lighthouses, known as the Stewart Towers, were built at either end of the headland to guide ships in to port. These were later replaced by the current tower in 1881^[4]. Stewart Towers were tended by George Mulhall Snr and Jnr, the first principle keepers of the current lighthouse.

Grave Of George Mulhall	Alt = 93 m
Grave Of George Mulhall
George Mulhall was the first principal lighthouse keeper of Barrenjoey headland, working in the permanent lighthouse from 1881 until he was struck by lightning in 1885. His son, George Mulhall Jnr, succeeded him^[5].

Catch the bus from Barrenjoey Carpark (Palm Beach)
Catch the bus from Barrenjoey Carpark (Palm Beach)
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip from the end of this walk. (Links currently not working sorry) Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill\|Chatswood\|Dural\|Epping\|Gosford\|Hornsby\|Katoomba\|Manly\|Parramatta\|Penrith\|Strathfield\|Sutherland\|Sydney\|

Drive from Barrenjoey Carpark (Palm Beach)
Drive from Barrenjoey Carpark (Palm Beach)
Parking fees apply in the area. You can drive or ride from the end of this walk Use these links to plan your trip from the end of this walk. Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill\|Chatswood\|Dural\|Epping\|Gosford\|Hornsby\|Katoomba\|Manly\|Parramatta\|Penrith\|Strathfield\|Sutherland\|Sydney\|

Getting there

Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk

Public Transport links currently not working, sorry

Public Transport Timetables

	To the start of the walk From Castle Hill Chatswood Dural Epping Gosford Hornsby Katoomba Manly Parramatta Penrith Strathfield Sutherland Sydney	From the end of the walk To Castle Hill Chatswood Dural Epping Gosford Hornsby Katoomba Manly Parramatta Penrith Strathfield Sutherland Sydney
Driving Directions

	To the start of the walk Drive from:	From the end of the walk Drive to:

Near by

Campsites in the park
The Basin campground

Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk

Store	Address	Phone	Distance (straight line)
Paddlecraft	3B / 1714 Pittwater Road, Bayview	02 9997 8015	8.6 km
Outdoor Shack	1131 Pittwater Rd , Collaroy	(02) 9981 6933	16.4 km
Larry Adler Ski & Outdoor	1024 Pittwater Rd , Collaroy	(02) 9971 8711	17 km
Mannings Sports	172 Mann St , Gosford	(02) 4325 1617	17.9 km
BCF Australia Pty Ltd	354 Manns Rd , Gosford West	(02) 4322 5833	19 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Barrenjoey Headland Walk.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Barrenjoey Headland Walk Click to re-center search
8	MDC08	Gencom Site Lot 6 Wakefield Close KARIONG	17 km (to the N)
6	VMB7	CB Repeater Site 16 Alan Rd BEROWRA HEIGHTS	17 km (to the W)
3	VMB2	Tower Street BATEAU BAY	26 km (to the NNE)
5	SYD05	Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA Emergency use only	27 km (to the SW)
7	SYD07	7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN	44 km (to the WSW)

Weather and Park info

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.

Weather and Climate
Weather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here

°C (feels like °)

km/h from the

% humidity (as at )

Wed	29°	Showers. Likely storm developing.
Thu	19°\|25°	Possible shower.
Fri	18°\|30°	Partly cloudy.
Sat	16°\|24°	Possible late shower.

A graph displaying the average daily temperature range for the year

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Link to official closures and fire bans page
A largely untouched wilderness on the northern boundary of Sydney, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP is one of Australia's oldest national parks. Here at the head of the Hawkesbury River, you'll find Aboriginal engravings and sites, as well as sandstone escarpments,
Region: Sydney & Surrounds
Park fees Camping Facilities I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.

Walker Feedback

Comments

Add New

PS - Service Track

IP:218.185.86.xxx | 2013-12-30 06:31:12

Hi

The service track is now re opened for those who do not want to go climb through the stairs

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Loading the images

not too much longer now :)