A great, scenic walk along the shoreline at Norah Head, to the lighthouse with it's picturesque location and beautiful views. The walk along the beach and rockshelf is interesting, with lots of shapes and textures making the rockshelf interesting to explore. The Norah Head lighthouse is very picturesque and the views of the surrounding area from the lighthouse and lookout are fantastic. The very short sidetrip to the merchant mariners memorial adds some more interest.
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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 Rockpool to Norah Head Lighthouse bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Rockpool to Norah Head Lighthouse 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
2.6km
Time
1 Hr
.
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
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather
Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
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
1.2km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 75m is flat with no steps. The remaining (45m) has short steep hills.
Quality of track
1.1km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and another 75m follows a smooth and hardened path. Whilst another 75m follows a clear and well formed track or trail and the remaining 45m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
1.1km of this walk has minimal directional signs and another 150m is clearly signposted. The remaining (45m) has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 1.1km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 150m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
Around 850m of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 450m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
750m of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 360m has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). The remaining (200m) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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(0 km)
Boat ramp
to
Rock Pool Walk: Easy - footpath
Length = 75 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -2 m
From the boat ramp at the bottom of Bald St, Norah Head, this walk follows the concrete footpath towards the rock pool, keeping the ocean to the left. After a short distance, the walk goes down the concrete ramp and continues along the beach a little to the steps at the bottom of the Bush St Rock Pool Path, just below the toilet block.
Norah Head Rock Pool
Alt = 9 m
This tidal ocean pool is in Cabbage Tree Harbour at Norah Head. It is a beautiful, sheltered place to swim or to relax on the sand. There are public toilets nearby. More info
(0.08 km)
Rock Pool
to
Southern end of Lighthouse Beach Track: Hard - rockshelf,beach
Length = 746 m
Time = 14 mins
Climb = 15 m
Descent = -16 m
Continue straight: From the bottom of the steps, just below the toilet block, this walk goes along the water's edge, keeping the ocean pool to the left. The walk crosses the rock shelf using some steps and metal handrails before going around the headland on a concrete footpath with metal handrail. The walk then drops down a few steps and crosses the next section of rock shelf, keeping the ocean to the left, before arriving at the northern end of Lighthouse Beach[1]. Continue straight: From the northern end of Lighthouse Beach[2], this walk follows the beach south, keeping the ocean to the left, until reaching the southern end of the beach.
Norah Head rockshelf
Alt = 8 m
This rockshelf is at the tip of Norah Head, below the lighthouse. The general scenery in the area is beautiful and the rockshelves have a lot of interesting shapes and textures, making the area interesting to explore. The rockshelf can be reached from the nearby beaches or via steps from the lighthouse.
(0.82 km)
Southern end of Lighthouse Beach
to
Bottom of Norah Head steps Track: Hard - rockshelf
Length = 357 m
Time = 6 mins
Climb = 8 m
Descent = -7 m
Continue straight: From the southern end of Lighthouse Beach[3], this walk goes south, onto the extensive rock platform beneath the lighthouse. After exploring the rock platform, the walk continues south, around the headland, keeping the ocean to the left, and arriving at the bottom of the wooden staircase leading up to the lighthouse.
(1.18 km)
Bottom of Norah Head steps
to
Lighthouse Point lookout Track: Moderate - footpath
Length = 44 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = -1 m
Veer right: From the bottom of the steps, this walk goes up the steps to the viewpoint at the top, near the lighthouse.
Norah Head Lighthouse Point lookout
Alt = 13 m
This lookout, on the point of Norah Head, near the lighthouse, has amazing views in all directions, up and down the coastline, across the rockshelves and beaches below, and of the lighthouse itself.
(1.22 km)
Lighthouse Point lookout
to
Lighthouse Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 77 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -1 m
Turn left : From the lookout point, this walk follows the footpath gently up the hill, to the gate beside the lookout.
Norah Head Lighthouse
Alt = 18 m
The lighthouse was established in 1903 and was converted from a kerosene burner to mains electricity power in 1961[4]. Tours of the lighthouse are available on weekends [5], every half hour between 10am and 1:30pm [6]. More info
(1.3 km)
Lighthouse
to
Merchant Mariners memorial lookout Optional sidetrip: Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 217 m
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 16 m
Descent = -10 m
Continue straight: From the gate beside the lighthouse, this walk folllows the footpath gently up the hill, leaving the lighthouse to the right. The footpath continues past the cottages, on the right, to the car park beside the cottages. Continue straight: From the corner of the cottage yard, this walk follows the footpath away from the lighthouse, keeping the car park and driveway to the right. The walk passes an information board, to the left, then arrives at the merchant navy memorial lookout. There are numerous plaques in the footpath and set in rocks at the memorial, providing information about merchant ships and lives lost during times of war.
Merchant Mariners memorial and lookout
Alt = 23 m
This memorial and lookout point commemorates the loss of lives in the merchant navy, during times of war, primarily WWII [7]. There are several plaques with details of the ships and number of lives lost. The stunning views from the lookout take in the nearby Norah Head lighthouse and much of the coastline to the south.
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.
Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve is home to a small parcel of bushland and a lighthouse, north of The Entrance on the NSW Central Coast. The land and lighthouse is managed by the Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve Trust who was appointed by the NSW Minister for Lands in 2007. The trust maintains some walking track and the lighthouse. The lighthouse can be booked for overnight accommodation. The Lighthouse was opened on 15th November 1903 and is still in active use today. Region: I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.