Tallow Beach and Box Head
Download & Print Map and Notes
4 hrs
8.5 km Circuit
323 m
Hard track
(0km) Hawke Head Drive NE → Box Head Trail
2 km
44 mins
80m
-45m
Moderate track
From the start of Hawke Head Drive, this walk heads up the hill following the road and power lines. The walk winds up Hawke Head Drive, where the road becomes unsealed and has numerous speed bumps. The walk continues along the road to the intersection with a management trail, and gate on the right.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail up the hill, leaving the gated management trail behind on the right. The trail undulates along the ridge line for some time, with views to the right of the track over the Rip Bridge and Woy Woy. The trail then starts to head downhill, arriving at a car park, to the right, signposted ‘Tallow Beach 900m’.
Continue straight: From the car park, the walk follows the management trail past the ‘Tallow Beach 900m’ signpost. The walk soon passes around a gate and continues down the hill. The walk passes an unfenced cliff warning sign and (ignores) a track signpost (‘Tallow Beach’) before heading up the hill to the intersection, signposted ‘Tallow’ and ‘Killcare’.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Tallow’ arrow along the management trail, going down the hill. The trail tends right for approximately 30m, to the signposted intersection for ‘Box Head’ and ‘Tallow Beach’.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail up the hill, leaving the gated management trail behind on the right. The trail undulates along the ridge line for some time, with views to the right of the track over the Rip Bridge and Woy Woy. The trail then starts to head downhill, arriving at a car park, to the right, signposted ‘Tallow Beach 900m’.
Continue straight: From the car park, the walk follows the management trail past the ‘Tallow Beach 900m’ signpost. The walk soon passes around a gate and continues down the hill. The walk passes an unfenced cliff warning sign and (ignores) a track signpost (‘Tallow Beach’) before heading up the hill to the intersection, signposted ‘Tallow’ and ‘Killcare’.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Tallow’ arrow along the management trail, going down the hill. The trail tends right for approximately 30m, to the signposted intersection for ‘Box Head’ and ‘Tallow Beach’.
(2.01km) Box Head Trail → Int. Little Tallow Spur Trk and Service Trail
410 m
10 mins
1m
-37m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill towards the ocean. The track tends left as it descends over numerous speed bumps. After a short time, the track heads down the hill to reach an intersection with a bush track on the right. If the track turns left (north) down the hill you have gone too far.
(2.41km) Int. Little Tallow Spur Trk and Service Trail → Little Tallow Beach
160 m
6 mins
0m
-37m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill along the track, away from the management trail and towards the ocean. The track comes down onto the rock platform above Little Tallow Beach and continues to the right, then follows the creek down onto the beach.
Little Tallow Beach
Little Tallow Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a small 50m stretch of sand, wedged into a rocky outcrop. The beach is backed by a steep gully and rocky headwalls on all sides, and faces south-west out to the Tasman Sea and South Pacific Ocean.
(2.58km) Little Tallow Beach → Tallow Beach
560 m
11 mins
16m
-18m
Moderate track
Turn around: From Little Tallow Beach, this walk heads away from the ocean and towards the hill, following the creek bed. This soon comes upon two round boulders, at which this walk turns right, crossing the creek and then heading around the rocky northern headland of Little Tallow Beach. From the rocky platform at the point, this walk turns left up the bush track, leading across the hillside with the ocean on the right of the track. The track heads down the hill parallel to the sea for a little while before climbing slightly to the intersection.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill towards the beach. The walk winds down to an intersection with a small track, leading to the beach on the right.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sandy track to the top of Tallow Beach.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill towards the beach. The walk winds down to an intersection with a small track, leading to the beach on the right.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sandy track to the top of Tallow Beach.
Tallow Beach
Tallow Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a large 400m-long beach with a south-westerly aspect. The beach is set between two rocky headlands and backed by a large campsite.
(3.13km) Tallow Beach → Box Head Trail
870 m
21 mins
78m
-2m
Moderate track
Turn around: From Tallow Beach, this walk heads along the sandy track, away from the beach and ocean. The walk leads up the hill to the start of a management trail.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads away from the beach and up the hill. The track turns left as it climbs the hill for approximately 30m, to an intersection on the left, after a speed bump.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, away from the campsite and ocean. The track winds into a gully and then out to a bend in the track, where the bush track intersection can be found on the ocean side (left) of the service trail.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill away from the ocean. The track tends left as it separates the eucalypts on the left with the heath on the right. The track continues to rise over numerous speed bumps as it heads up to the signposted intersection.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads away from the beach and up the hill. The track turns left as it climbs the hill for approximately 30m, to an intersection on the left, after a speed bump.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, away from the campsite and ocean. The track winds into a gully and then out to a bend in the track, where the bush track intersection can be found on the ocean side (left) of the service trail.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill away from the ocean. The track tends left as it separates the eucalypts on the left with the heath on the right. The track continues to rise over numerous speed bumps as it heads up to the signposted intersection.
(4km) Box Head Trail → Box Head
1.3 km
25 mins
24m
-79m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Box Head’ sign along the track. The walk follows the track for a short time, then crosses a rocky area before passing through a small clearing. The track narrows and meanders for some time, crossing numerous rock surfaces and rocky outcrops, then follows the top of the cliff line of Box Head out to a point that overlooks Barrenjoey, Lion Island, Broken Bay and out across the ocean.
(5.26km) Box Head → Box Head Trail
1.3 km
25 mins
79m
-24m
Moderate track
Turn around: From Box Head, the walk follows the track away from the sea and the opposite headland, generally following the cliff line up the ridge. The track drops into a saddle, then climbs up the ridge for some time, crossing many rocky outcrops. The track then widens as it enters a small clearing and continues for a short time to the signposted intersection.
(6.52km) Box Head Trail → Hawke Head Drive NE
2 km
44 mins
45m
-80m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail up the hill away (following neither the ‘Box Head’ nor ‘Tallow Beach’ arrows). The walk continues away from these signposted trails, going down into a saddle and up the hill on the other side to the sign-marked intersection.
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Killcare’ arrow along the management trail. The walk passes (ignoring) a track signpost (‘Tallow Beach’) and passes an unfenced cliff warning sign before climbing a little. The walk passes around a gate and continues a short distance to a parking area, signposted ‘Tallow Beach 900m’.
Continue straight: From the car park, the walk follows the management trail up the slight hill, leaving the car park and signpost behind, to the left. The trail undulates for some time, with views of the Rip Bridge and Woy Woy to the left. The trail begins to go downhill and arrives at an intersection with a gated service trail, to the left.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill, with views of the water to the left. The walk continues for some time down the hill, passing over many speed bumps, and continuing when the road becomes a sealed surface. The walk passes a few houses on both sides of the road and soon comes to the intersection with Nukara Ave.
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Killcare’ arrow along the management trail. The walk passes (ignoring) a track signpost (‘Tallow Beach’) and passes an unfenced cliff warning sign before climbing a little. The walk passes around a gate and continues a short distance to a parking area, signposted ‘Tallow Beach 900m’.
Continue straight: From the car park, the walk follows the management trail up the slight hill, leaving the car park and signpost behind, to the left. The trail undulates for some time, with views of the Rip Bridge and Woy Woy to the left. The trail begins to go downhill and arrives at an intersection with a gated service trail, to the left.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill, with views of the water to the left. The walk continues for some time down the hill, passing over many speed bumps, and continuing when the road becomes a sealed surface. The walk passes a few houses on both sides of the road and soon comes to the intersection with Nukara Ave.
Maps for the Tallow Beach and Box Head walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
| Broken Bay | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91301N BROKEN BAY | NSW-91301N |
| Sydney | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9130 SYDNEY | 9130 |
Cross sectional view of the Tallow Beach and Box Head bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Tallow Beach and Box Head
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
| Length | 8.5 km | ||
| Time | 4 hrs | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 4/6 Hard track |
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 | No experience required (1/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
Around 8km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 970m has short steep hills.
Quality of track
6km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 2.8km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (160m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
Around 8km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 160m has minimal directional signs.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 9km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 9km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 8km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 160m has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Tallow Beach and Box Head walk starts and ends at the Hawke Head Drive NE (gps: -33.525931, 151.36028)Your main transport option to Hawke Head Drive NE is by;
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/tbabh
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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