This walk is a great way to see two major Aboriginal sites and up to three of Ku-ring-gai Chase's beaches. The circuit walk visits Red Hands Cave and some historic engravings, in addition to enjoying expansive views over Pittwater, with Barrenjoey Headland as a feature. The walk includes Resolute and West Head beaches and the option of a side trip to Mackerel Beach as well. To top it all off, this walk has an added bonus of a WWII gun emplacement to explore.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Headland track (Resolute track) bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Headland track (Resolute track) 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
3.5km
Time
1 hr 45 mins
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Very steep (4/6)
Quality of track
Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Signs
Minimal directional signs (4/6)
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
2.4km of this walk has short steep hills and another 630m is very steep. Whilst another 360m is flat with no steps and the remaining 120m has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
1.9km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.1km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (540m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
2.2km of this walk is clearly signposted and another 820m has minimal directional signs. The remaining (510m) has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 2.5km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1km requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 3.5km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
2km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 1km has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). The remaining (480m) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Resolute picnic area, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a large grassed area with benches, shelter, interpretive signs, electric BBQ's and an environmentally-friendly toilet block. The picnic area does not have drinking water, but does have a pay phone and wheelchair-accessible bathroom with baby-changing area. Resolute picnic area is a great place for lunch, with Red Hands Cave, West Head and Resolute Beach and West Head Lookout tracks starting from the picnic area. The picnic area has adequate parking and a bus turn-around area.
(0 km)
Resolute Picnic Area
to
Int. West Head Lookout Trk and Red Hands Cave Trk Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 132 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -6 m
From Resolute Picnic Area car park, the walk heads through the picnic area, away from the road, to follow the 'Red Hands Track 50m' sign. The walk then descends a flight of stairs to the intersection at the bottom.
(0.13 km)
Int. West Head Lookout Trk and Red Hands Cave Trk
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Red Hands Cave Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 22 m
Time =
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -1 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads down the hill, following the rocky outcrop to the right of the track. The walk follows this for approximately 30m to the interpretation signs for Red Hands Cave. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn right to continue along this walk.)
Red Hands Cave
Alt = 163 m
Red Hands Cave, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a small rock overhang just near Resolute Picnic Area. The red hands are made by ochre, clay, being blown over an outspread hand. This Aboriginal rock art has been given an estimation of approximately 2000 years in age.
(0.13 km)
Int. West Head Lookout Trk and Red Hands Cave Trk
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West Head Lookout Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 819 m
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 19 m
Descent = -70 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows steps down the hill following the sign to 'West Head Lookout'. The track continues to undulate along the hillside passing a sign pointing to 'West Head Lookout'. The track continues along the hillside to open out onto the sandstone paved area of West Head Lookout at a signposted intersection.
West Head Lookout
Alt = 104 m
West Head Lookout, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a large paved sandstone viewing area[1] with fantastic views and some interesting interpretive signs[2][3][4][5][6]. The view spans across the Hawkesbury River to Lion Island[7] to Patonga (Central Coast) also across the Pittwater to Barrenjoey Headland[8] and out to sea. The lookout has a series of bench seats[fac=8397][fac=8396] and a low (50cm[9]) stone wall. A lovely place to just sit and soak up the views, and history of the area.
(0.95 km)
West Head Lookout
to
Int. West Head Beach and West Head Lookout Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 348 m
Time = 13 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -76 m
Turn right: From West Head Lookout, this walk leads down the hill for 100m, following the 'West Head/ Resolute Beach' sign down into the bush. The track then passes an informal, unfenced lookout on the left, to then continue down the hill for approximately 300m. This walk then descends two sets of stairs, passing a prominent overhang on the right and a small creek waterfall on the left. From the stairs, the walk continues to the sign marked intersection for West Head Beach.
(1.3 km)
Int. West Head Beach and West Head Lookout
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West Head Beach Optional sidetrip: Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 103 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -33 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads down the staircases to the beach, approximately 100m below.
(Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn left to continue along this walk.)
West Head Beach
Alt = 7 m
West Head Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a small stretch of sand sitting on the West Head Peninsula. The beach has an easterly aspect, facing out of steep hills over Pittwater to the Barrenjoey Headland.
(1.3 km)
Int. Resolute AND West Head Beach Tracks
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Int. Resolute Bch Trk and Mackerel Bch Trk Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 632 m
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 66 m
Descent = -76 m
Veer right: From the top of the steps, this walk heads south (leaving the steps behind on the left), passing below the prominent rock faces for 200m as the track undulates around the contour of the hill. The track slowly turns right, following the curve of the spur, to pass a gun emplacement on the left. The track then continues heading down the cliffline (above the track on the right). The track then passes through a creek from which it leads to an unsignposted intersection with a downhill track on the left.
(1.93 km)
Int. Resolute AND West Head Beach Tracks
to
Resolute Beach Optional sidetrip: Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 95 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -25 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill towards the water, following the creek line to the beach. The track winds down the hill for approximately 30m to a small creek waterfall. The track is hidden in parts by grasses for approximately 20m before it heads down a few flights of stairs to where the track reaches the beach. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn left to continue along this walk.)
Resolute Beach
Alt = 3 m
Resolute Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a small stretch of sand sitting on the West Head Peninsula between steep headlands. The easterly aspect of the beach overlooks Barrenjoey Headland across the Pittwater.
(1.93 km)
Int. Resolute AND West Head Beach Tracks
to
Int. Resolute Bch Trk and Mackerel Bch Trk Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 38 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 6 m
Descent = -1 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads along the hillside, keeping the beach and water below to the left, before coming to the signposted intersection.
(1.97 km)
Int. Resolute Bch Trk and Mackerel Bch Trk
to
Palm Trees North end of Mackerel Beach Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 658 m
Time = 19 mins
Climb = 52 m
Descent = -85 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the signpost to 'Mackerel' heading along the hillside beneath a rocky outcrop on the headland. The track then meanders along the hillside, undulating slightly for approximately 400m to pass a 'Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park' sign. From the sign, the walk then heads down to two palm trees and a boulder painted with a black arrow on the beach. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn left to continue along this walk.)
Mackerel Beach
Alt = 2 m
Mackerel Beach, also known as Great Mackerel Beach, is a 600m stretch of sand facing east over Pittwater. The beach is backed by a lagoon and a small community of houses. Mackerel Beach has a wharf with public ferry access. Mackerel Beach and its southern neighbour, Little Mackerel or Currawong Beach, were originally purchased for farming in 1823 by John Clarke. The land was then subdivided and more than a hundred houses were built, many of which still stand today.
(1.97 km)
Int. Resolute Bch Trk and Mackerel Bch Trk
to
Int. Cave Trk and Resolute Beach Trk Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 122 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 45 m
Descent = -2 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads up a staircase for approximately 30m. The track then turns after the set of stairs. The track leads up the hill to the signposted intersection, with the cave to the right of the track in the cliffs.
(2.09 km)
Int. Cave Trk and Resolute Beach Trk
to
Cave Optional sidetrip: Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 22 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = 0 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads towards the rock formations, following the hillside. The track then enters an overhang of a cave. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then veer right to continue along this walk.)
(2.09 km)
Int. Cave Trk and Resolute Beach Trk
to
Int. Headland Track and Resolute Beach Trk Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 63 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 12 m
Descent = -2 m
Turn left: From the cave intersection, this walk heads up the steps, keeping the sea below on the left. The walk passes below a small cliffline before leading up more steps to an intersection and a sign pointing back to 'Resolute Beach'.
(2.15 km)
Int. Headland Track and Resolute Beach Trk
to
Int. Headland Track and Engravings Bushtrack Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 683 m
Time = 14 mins
Climb = 51 m
Descent = -8 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill following the sign to 'Resolute Picnic Area 1.5km'. The walk then winds up the management trail, passing up a steep slope in one area. The track then continues up to an unsignposted intersection on the right, in the heath.
(2.84 km)
Int. Headland Track and Engravings Bushtrack
to
Engravings Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 188 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 18 m
Descent = 0 m
Veer right: From the management trail, this walk heads away from the management trail and views of the water, to wind through the dense scrub for a short time. The track rises onto a rock shelf, clear of vegetation at the engravings.
Engavings
Alt = 151 m
The engravings on West Head were made by the indigenous Guringai people. The engravings depict a man, shark/whale and two eels.
(3.03 km)
Engravings
to
Resolute Picnic Area Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail
Length = 476 m
Time = 8 mins
Climb = 20 m
Descent = -3 m
Turn right: From the engravings, this walk follows the service trail up a hill, away from the information sign. The walk continues up the hill to the intersection with a signpost for Red Hands Cave. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the sandy service trail, leaving the 'Red Hands Cave 0.85km' sign and track behind on the right. The track continues for approximately 100m to the picnic area.
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 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.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National ParkLink 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 feesCampingFacilities I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Hard
1 km
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.
not too much longer now :)