The Lookout Circuit
Download & Print Map and Notes
1 Hr
2.4 km Circuit
91 m
Moderate track
Green Point Foreshore Reserve on Lake Macquarie
The Green Point Foreshore Reserve on Lake Macquarie is a great place for a bush walk, bicycle or picnic. The Green Point Foreshore reserve offers many historical and environmentally interpretative signs along its multi use pathways. There is an unformed foreshore pathway beside Lake Macquarie, or more physically demanding walks away from the lake foreshore and into rainforest.
Historically, the Green Point area was involved in a coal rush from the 1860’s. This coal rush was spearheaded by the Cardiff Coal Company. Coal was proposed to be transported by barge to Threlkeld’s old wharf at Reid’s Mistake (Swansea Heads) for shipping to Sydney. However, the coal was poor quality ‘boiler coal’ and used mostly for steamer boilers. This coal rush finished in 1870. Timber was also milled on site after the coal rush. The Lake Macquarie Council is undergoing extensive rehabilitation works to improve the area for recreation. For more information contact the Lake Macquarie Visitor Information Centre on (02) 4921 0740 More info.
The Car Park (off The Shores Way, Green Point)
The Shores Way park entrance[1] and car park[2] is a great place to start a walk within the Green Point Foreshore Reserve on Lake Macquarie. The park entrance offers a toilet[3], a water tap[4], seating and plenty of car parking. There are attractive grass slopes here dropping into the water, that make a fine spot to have a picnic.
(0km) The Shores Way Car Park → Int of Foreshore Track AND Jetty Picnic Area
550 m
10 mins
10m
-13m
Moderate track
From the car park[5](on The Shores Way, Green Point), this walk heads towards the lake[6] past the toilet block[7] and along the footpath for 25m, to a four-way intersection[8] with a ‘Welcome to Green Point Foreshore Reserve’ sign[9] (on the right).
Turn right: From the intersection[10], this walk follows the shared concrete cycle/footpath gently downhill, while keeping the Shores Way car park[11] on your right and the water[12] on your left. This walk continues, undulating[13] for about 500m, until coming to the Jetty picnic area[14] on the right and jetty[15] on your left.
Turn right: From the intersection[10], this walk follows the shared concrete cycle/footpath gently downhill, while keeping the Shores Way car park[11] on your right and the water[12] on your left. This walk continues, undulating[13] for about 500m, until coming to the Jetty picnic area[14] on the right and jetty[15] on your left.
Jetty Picnic Area
The Jetty Picnic area[16] in the Green Point Foreshore Reserve on Lake Macquarie offers a public jetty[17], a sheltered picnic table[18], seating[19][20], a drinking fountain[21] and historical interpretative signs[22]. The historical signs detail the ‘timber getting’ period of Green Point from 1860, with the timber used to build jetty’s, pit prop for coal mining, ships and boats. There is also an historical sign detailing ‘The Cardiff Coal Company’, which mined coal out of Green Point during a minor coal rush.
(0.55km) Jetty Picnic Area (Green Point Foreshore Reserve) → Int of Foreshore Track & Sea Eagle Park
260 m
5 mins
9m
-6m
Easy track
Sea Eagle Park
Sea Eagle Park in Green Point Foreshore Reserve on Lake Macquarie is a large grassed picnic area[27], with a toilet[28], sheltered picnic tables[29], water from a tap[30][31] and gas/electric barbeque’s[32]. This picnic area is particularly good for larger family group, for there is room to play ball games or just sit and look at the views. The short walk up to the Sea Eagle Lookouts is recommended for the commanding views south towards Swansea.
(0.8km) Int of Foreshore Track & Sea Eagle Park → Int of Foreshore & Lookout Tracks
80 m
2 mins
6m
-1m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection[33], this walk follows the footpath gently uphill[34], while keeping Sea Eagle Park[35] on your right. This walk continues for about 70m, until coming to a three-way intersection[36] with a track and ‘Lookout’ sign on your right and a ‘Getting about at Green Point’ sign[37] on your left.
(0.89km) Int of Foreshore & Lookout Tracks → Lower Lookout (Sea Eagle Park)
110 m
2 mins
16m
0m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection[38][39], this walk heads up timber steps, directly away from the face of the ‘Getting about at Green Point’ sign[40]. This walk continues gently uphill, with occasional timber steps (and passing a seat[41]) for about 110m, until coming to the Lower Lookout[42][43] above Sea Eagle Park (on the right).
Sea Eagle Park Lookouts (lower, middle & upper)
These three lookouts (lower, middle and upper lookouts) are above Sea Eagle Park in Green Point Foreshore Reserve on Lake Macquarie and give great views[44][45] across Lake Macquarie towards Swansea. The upper lookout has a picnic table[46] in the shade behind the lookout, which gives relief on a hot day. The upper lookout also a picnic table[47] at the lookout, offering fabulous views to the south. Each of these lookouts has a bench seat and interpretative signs[48]. White Bellied Sea Eagles have been known to nest nearby and are often seen flying in the area.
(1km) Lower Lookout (Sea Eagle Park) → Middle Lookout (Sea Eagle Park)
100 m
3 mins
7m
-7m
Moderate track
(1.14km) Upper Lookout (Sea Eagle Park) → Int of Lookout Track and Lookout Footpath
50 m
1 mins
8m
-2m
Very easy
(1.19km) Int of Lookout & Linkage Tracks → Int of The Shores Way & Crown St
870 m
17 mins
26m
-32m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection[65][66][67], this walk follows the gravel track gently uphill, while leaving the concrete foot path and keeping the viewpoint directly behind you. This walk continues through forest for about 60m, to veer right at a open gravel clearing[68] (with vandalized timber post). Then this walk continues, undulating along a forest[69] covered ridge (ignoring side tracks) and passing vandalized timber posts[70] for about 700m, until coming to a three-way intersection[71][72][73], with a faint track (into grassland[74] on the left).
Continue straight: From the intersection[75][76], this walk follows the track gently downhill, while initially keeping the faint track[77] (into grassland) on your left. This walk continues through forest (passing a leaf symbol post[78]) for about 100m, until coming down timber steps and coming to a four-way intersection[79][80], with Crown St and The Shores Way.
Continue straight: From the intersection[75][76], this walk follows the track gently downhill, while initially keeping the faint track[77] (into grassland) on your left. This walk continues through forest (passing a leaf symbol post[78]) for about 100m, until coming down timber steps and coming to a four-way intersection[79][80], with Crown St and The Shores Way.
(2.06km) Int of The Shores Way AND Crown St → The Car Park (off The Shores Way, Green Point)
320 m
8 mins
0m
-29m
Very easy
Turn right: From the corner of The Shores Way and Crown Street, [81], this walk follows The Shores Way moderately steeply downhill, while initially keeping the timber steps and ‘Lake Macquarie’ sign[82] on the right. This walk continues (passing The Capstan and The Mainsail streets) for 250m, to turn left into the Green Point Foreshore Reserve car park[83]. Then this walk continues gently downhill for 90m, until coming to the toilet block[84][85].
Maps for the The Lookout Circuit 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.
| Swansea | 1:25 000 Map Series | 92314N SWANSEA | NSW-92314N |
| Lake Macquarie | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9231 LAKE MACQUARIE | 9231 |
Cross sectional view of the The Lookout Circuit bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the The Lookout Circuit
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 | 2.4 km | ||
| Time | 1 Hr | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 3/6 Moderate track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Short steep hills (3/6) |
| Quality of track | Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) | ||
| Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
| Experience Required | Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
1.9km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 390m is flat with no steps. The remaining (100m) has short steep hills.
Quality of track
1.1km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 1km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (260m) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 1.5km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 890m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 2.3km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 100m requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 2.4km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 1.5km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 870m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The The Lookout Circuit walk starts and ends at the The Shores Way Car Park (gps: -33.029923, 151.64209)Your transport options to The Shores Way Car Park are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/tlc
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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