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Hunter Lookout picnic area +
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Great North Walk bushtrack +
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looking out across a gully +
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track heading under a long rock overhang +
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path heading up out of the gully +
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rocky creek camping area +
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Cross sectional view of the Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop bushwalking track  Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop 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 |
6km |
| Time |
2 hrs 30 mins |
| . |
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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 |
Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6) |
| 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
3.6km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (1000m) is very steep.
Quality of track
3.2km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.7km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (720m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
Around 2.9km of this walk has minimal directional signs, whilst the remaining 2.8km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
3.7km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience and another 1km requires some bushwalking experience. The remaining (900m) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
3.7km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 1.4km has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). The remaining (530m) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Hunter Lookout
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Alt = 435 m |
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Hunter Lookout[1] can be found on Bakers Road, along the Great North Walk. This fenced lookout has everything you will need snack-stop, including toilets[2], picnic tables, chairs and wood-fired barbecues[3]. This lookout has fantastic views[4] over much of the Hunter region[5]. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so water is no longer available at Hunter Lookout.
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(0 km)
Hunter Lookout picnic area
to
Macleans Lookout
Track: Moderate - bushtrack,road,road |
Length = 703 m |
Time = 16 mins |
| Climb = 39 m |
Descent = -38 m |
From the picnic area, this walk heads north, past the metal gate to the intersection of Bakers Road.
Veer left: From the Hunter Lookout picnic area[6] (on Bakers Road), this walk follows Bakers Road north and gently downhill[7], while keeping Hunter Lookout on your left. The walk continues for about 400m until coming to a Y-intersection[8] (Bakers Road loop).
Continue straight: From the intersection[9] (Bakers Road Loop), this walk follows the track gently uphill[10], while keeping the other end of Bakers Road Loop to your right, gently downhill. The walk follows the road for about 130m until coming to Macleans Lookout[11].
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Mcleans Lookout
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Alt = 445 m |
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McLeans Lookout[12] offers magnificent views of the valleys[13] in Heaton State Forest. Located on Bakers Road, this fenced lookout also has picnic facilities including tables with seats[14] and open grassy areas.
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(0.7 km)
Maclean Lookout
to
Int of GNW track AND Glen Road
Track: Hard - road,servicetrail,bushtrack |
Length = 668 m |
Time = 17 mins |
| Climb = 26 m |
Descent = -86 m |
Veer right: From Mcleans Lookout[15], this walk follows Bakers Road gently downhill, while keeping Macleans Lookout behind you on your left. The walk continues for about 80m until coming to a three-way intersection[16] with a wide track and GNW arrow marker (on the left).
Continue straight: From the intersection[17], this walk follows the trail gently downhill[18], while keeping the 'Heaton Lookout' sign on your right. The walk continues (becoming moderately steep downhill) for about 280m until coming to a three-way intersection[19] with a track on the left.
Turn sharp right: From the intersection[20], this walk follows the track moderately steeply downhill[21], while keeping the GNW arrow marker on your left. The walk continues (descending moderately steeply into[22] and out[23] of a gully) for about 150m, until coming to a three-way intersection, Glen Road[24].
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(1.37 km)
Int of GNW track & Glen Road
to
Int of GNW track & a narrow road
Track: Hard - servicetrail,bushtrack |
Length = 856 m |
Time = 25 mins |
| Climb = 87 m |
Descent = -67 m |
Turn left: From the intersection[25], this walk follows the track gently downhill[26], while keeping the 'Glenn Rd' sign[27] on your right. The walk continues through forest[28] for about 120m, until coming to a three-way intersection[29] with a track and GNW arrow marker (on the left).
Turn left : From the intersection[30], this walk follows the GNW arrow marker[31] moderately steeply down along the track[32]. The walk continues for about 100m, to find a forested mossy creek[33] where the track bend right and continues close to the creek[34] for about 70m to then bend left and crossing the creek. The walk now follows the track undulating gently for about 280m before finding a large rock overhang[35]. The walk then continues moderately steeply uphill[36] for about 200m until coming to a T-intersection[37] with a wide trail and GNW arrow marker[38].
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(2.23 km)
Int of GNW track & a wide track
to
Int of GNW track and Hammonds Road
Track: Hard - servicetrail,bushtrack |
Length = 772 m |
Time = 24 mins |
| Climb = 89 m |
Descent = -85 m |
Turn right: From the intersection[39], this walk follows 'Watagan Forest Road' sign[40] uphill[41] along the trail for about 200m to a three-way intersection[42], with another 'Watagan Forest Road' sign[43] (on your left).
Continue straight: From the intersection[44], this walk follows the wide track gently downhill, while keeping the 'Macleans Lookout 2km' sign[45] on your right. The walk continues for about 140m to a three-way intersection[46], with Fosters Road on your right and 'Fosters Road' sign[47] on your left.
Continue straight: From the intersection[48], this walk follows the GNW arrow post down along the wide old trail[49], passing the 'Fosters Road' sign[50] on your left. The walk continues for about 100m, where the wide track then leads moderately steeply downhill[51] for about 150m more. The walk then crosses a gully[52] and heads up[53] over another rise for about 70m to where the track narrows then bends left at a GNW arrow post. About 180m past the post, the walk crosses a gully[54] then heads up the other side, past a termite mound[55] to an unfenced cliff with distance valley views[56]. Here the track bends right and leads up a short distance to a dirt road[57]. The walk turns left and follows the road down for just a few metres to the 'Hammonds Road' sign, where the 'MacLean Lookout' arrow[58] points back along the road.
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(3 km)
Int of Hammonds Road and Great North Walk bushtrack
to
Int of Hammonds and Fosters Roads
Track: Moderate - managementtrail |
Length = 399 m |
Time = 10 mins |
| Climb = 43 m |
Descent = 0 m |
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Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows Hammonds Road along the management trail and up the steady hill, through thick forest to the intersection with Fosters Road.
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(3.4 km)
Int of Hammonds and Fosters Roads
to
Int of Hammonds and Rockey Creek Roads
Track: Hard - road |
Length = 586 m |
Time = 11 mins |
| Climb = 11 m |
Descent = -12 m |
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads south-west down the long hill, following Hammonds Road along the edge of the plantation. Soon, the road heads up to the other side of the hill to the intersection with Hermits Road.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads west along Hammonds Road, following the edge of the plantation to the intersection with Rockey Creek Road.
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(3.98 km)
Int of Hammonds and Rockey Creek Roads
to
Rockey Creek Rest Area
Track: Hard - road |
Length = 509 m |
Time = 9 mins |
| Climb = 1 m |
Descent = -30 m |
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows Rockey Creek Road north-west down the long hill to the intersection with Hermits Road.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill along Rockey Creek Road, crossing a small stream on a rock platform and heading up the other side to the rest area on the north side of the road.
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Rocky Creek Campsite
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Alt = 421 m |
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This campsite provides ample room for a few tents and a campfire, and there is a small creek a short distance away, which often provides opportunity to boil up some drinking water (may dry out at times).
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(4.49 km)
Rockey Creek Rest Area
to
Int of Rockey Creek and Bakers Road
Track: Hard - road |
Length = 450 m |
Time = 10 mins |
| Climb = 31 m |
Descent = 0 m |
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Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up Rockey Creek Road, around the sharp left-hand bend and up the long and steady hill to the intersection with Bakers Road.
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(4.94 km)
Int of Bakers & Rocky Creek Roads
to
Int of Bakers & Glen Roads
Track: Moderate - road |
Length = 404 m |
Time = 7 mins |
| Climb = 8 m |
Descent = -3 m |
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Turn right: From the intersection[59], this walk follows Bakers Road north and gently uphill, while keeping Rocky Creek Road (no signpost) on your right. The walk continues, undulating gently for about 400m until coming to a three-way intersection with Glen Road[60] (on the right).
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(5.35 km)
Int of Bakers & Glen Roads
to
Hunter Lookout picnic area
Track: Moderate - road,bushtrack |
Length = 269 m |
Time = 4 mins |
| Climb = 1 m |
Descent = -14 m |
Continue straight: From the intersection[61], this walk follows Bakers Road gently uphill[62], while keeping Glen Road on your right. The walk continues, undulating gently for about 250m until coming to Hunter Lookout picnic area[63] (on the left).
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads off the road and up the hill following the Hunter Lookout picnic area sign, past the wooden gate and the public toilet, to the picnic area area and the lookout.
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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
Driving Directions |
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To the start of the walk
Drive from:
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From the end of the walk
Drive to:
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Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk
| Store |
Address |
Phone |
Distance (straight line) |
| Carneys Sport & Leisure | 137 Vincent St , Cessnock | (02) 4991 2208 | 15.1 km | Lake Macquarie Kayaks & Camping | Unit 1 61 Alliance Ave, Morisset | (02) 4973 2028 | 17.9 km | East Lake Refrigeration | 511 Lake Rd , Argenton | (02) 4958 6255 | 20.4 km | Camping World | Cnr Hillsborough & Macquarie Rds, Warners Bay | (02) 4956 6183 | 22.4 km | Camping World | 3/ 276 Macquarie Rd , Warners Bay | (02) 4956 6183 | 22.7 km |
A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop.
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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 Heaton State Forest Boardering Watagan national Park, Heaton State forest is home to many great lookouts. There sre many highpoints with cliff edges giving great views across the Hunter valley and Lake Macquarie. Region: I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment. |
Hiking near Sydney 
1 km
not too much longer now :)