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Home arrow Hiking near Sydney arrow Ku-Ring-Gai Chase arrow West Head lookout     

Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for West Head Lookout are found in each of the tabs below
West Head lookout
Time: 10 mins Walking time
Includes the time for the return leg
Please allow extra time to rest and to explore
13.6 km NNE of Terrey Hills
Length: 0.2 km Walk Length
As this is a return style walk, the 0.2 km includes the return leg of this walk (ie back to the start)
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Climb: 18 m Total Climbing
This walk has a total cumulative climb of 18 m, this is the total of the elevation gains made in each of the walks uphill sections
There is car access and parking near the start and end of this walk
Style: Return
Walk: Easy

This walk is all about the stunning views from the edge of West Head. After the lovely drive through the bushland along the West Head Rd you will love this gentle stroll down to what feels like the edge of the earth. There are great views across the Pittwater to Barenjoey Head as well as across the mouth of the Hawkesbury River. You will find plenty of information signs explaining some of the rich histories of the area, including about the gun emplacements that were built into the side of the cliffs here to protect from enemy ship invasion. Make a day of it by packing a picnic lunch and visiting Resolute picnic ground (and toilets) about 900m back along the road. (open in app)


Today's Fire rating
LOW MODERATE (No fire ban)
  Bushwalking track notes photographs, maps and camping spots for West Head Lookout

Map of Walk

Location

West Head Lookout bushwalking track notes
Map of West Head Lookout
Problem loading PDF Try here
Map Controls - Show Contours | Hide Path | Hide Distances | Hide Names
Map Scale 500 meters
End of West Head Rd
Lion Island View
Lion Island View
Starting point for this hiking track: End of West Head Rd

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

 
 
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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 West Head Lookout bushwalking track

Cross Section of the West Head Lookout bushwalking track



Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the West Head Lookout bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the West Head Lookout 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 240m
Time 10 mins
.


Grade 2/6

Walk: Easy
AS 2156.1 Gradient Flat, no steps (1/6)
Quality of track Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Signs Clearly signposted (1/6)
Experience Required No experience required (1/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
Infrastructure Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
*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
This whole walk, 120m is flat with no steps.

Quality of track
Around 70m of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 45m follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs
This whole walk, 120m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required
This whole walk, 120m requires no previous bushwalking experience.

Weather
This whole walk, 120m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
This whole walk, 120m 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.
Drive to End of West Head Rd
You can drive or ride to this start of this Bushwalk A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.
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) End of West Head Rd to Lion Island View
Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 47 m Time = 1 mins
Climb = 4 m Descent = -5 m
From the end of West Head Rd (Ku-Ring-Gai Chase)[fac=8398], this walk follows the flat sandstone paved path around the metal bollard[1], past the large 'West Head Lookout'[2] sign, ignoring the 'West Head Army Track'[3]. After about 20m the path widens significantly[4] and this walk continues gently downhill towards the views to come to the Lion Island viewing area[5] (at the top of set of steps[6]) with 4 seats[fac=8395], marked with a series of 'West Head Battery' signs[7].

Lion Island View Alt = 109 m
The upper viewing platform at West Head Lookout provides great views framed by trees to Lion Island[8] and surrounding waterways. There are a few bench seats[fac=8395] and some information signs about the 'West Head Battery'[9]. A lovely spot among the eucalypt and angophora forest[10].

(0.05 km) Lion Island View to West Head Lookout
Alternate Route: Walk: Easy - footpath ( Show detail)
Length = 30 m Time = 1 mins
Climb = 0 m Descent = -5 m
Continue straight: From the viewing area, this walk heads towards the main water views down the 7 sandstone stone steps[11] (each 10cm high). At the bottom of the steps, this walk leads past the 'Pacific Highway' information sign[12] and continues down the path for another 20m to come to the main West Head Lookout area[13][14].
Veer right to rejoin the main walk, following the notes from 0.05km 'Lion Island View'.

(0.05 km) Lion Island View to West Head Lookout
Walk: Easy - footpath
Length = 72 m Time = 2 mins
Climb = 2 m Descent = -7 m
Turn right: From the Lion Island viewing area[15], this walk heads directly away from the face of the 'West Head Battery' signs[16], past the top of the steps (initially keeping the steps to the left[17]). The walk soon veers left (at the seats) and follows the narrow (1.3m wide) stone path[18] as it gently winds downhill for about 40m to come to some more bench seats[fac=8396][19] at the southern edge of the main West Head Lookout. From here the walk veers left and heads along the wide stone lookout area[20], passing some more seats[fac=8397] and information signs[21][22][23][24] coming to a panoramic photo sign naming the key view points[25].

West Head Lookout Alt = 104 m
West Head Lookout, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a large paved sandstone viewing area[26] with fantastic views and some interesting interpretive signs[27][28][29][30][31]. The view spans across the Hawkesbury River to Lion Island[32] to Patonga (Central Coast) also across the Pittwater to Barrenjoey Headland[33] and out to sea. The lookout has a series of bench seats[fac=8397][fac=8396] and a low (50cm[34]) stone wall. A lovely place to just sit and soak up the views, and history of the area.

Drive from End of West Head Rd
You can drive or ride from this end of this Bushwalk A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.
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

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 9 km
Outdoor Shack 1131 Pittwater Rd , Collaroy (02) 9981 6933 17 km
Larry Adler Ski & Outdoor 1024 Pittwater Rd , Collaroy (02) 9971 8711 17.6 km
Mannings Sports 172 Mann St , Gosford (02) 4325 1617 17.4 km
BCF Australia Pty Ltd 354 Manns Rd , Gosford West (02) 4322 5833 18.4 km


A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to West Head Lookout.
Channel Call sign
(more info)
Site Distance and dir from West Head Lookout
Click to re-center search
8 MDC08 Gencom Site Lot 6 Wakefield Close KARIONG 16 km (to the N)
6 VMB7 CB Repeater Site 16 Alan Rd BEROWRA HEIGHTS 16 km (to the WSW)
5 SYD05 Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA
Emergency use only
26 km (to the SW)
3 VMB2 Tower Street BATEAU BAY 26 km (to the NNE)
7 SYD07 7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN 43 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 9 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.
Thu19°|25°Possible shower.
Fri18°|30°Partly cloudy.
Sat16°|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

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