West Head Lookout
Download & Print Map and Notes
10 mins
238 m Return
18 m
Easy track
(0km) End of West Head Rd → Lion Island View
50 m
1 mins
4m
-5m
Very easy
From the end of West Head Rd (Ku-Ring-Gai Chase), 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, marked with a series of ‘West Head Battery’ signs[7].
Lion Island View
(0.05km) Lion Island View → West Head Lookout
30 m
1 mins
0m
-5m
Easy track
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]. Now Veer right to rejoin the main walk .
(0.05km) Lion Island View → West Head Lookout
70 m
2 mins
2m
-7m
Easy track
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[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 and information signs[21][22][23][24] coming to a panoramic photo sign naming the key view points[25].
West Head Lookout
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 and a low (50cm[34]) stone wall. A lovely place to just sit and soak up the views, and history of the area.
Maps for the West Head Lookout 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 |
| Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map | 1:40 000 Map Series | CMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map | CMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map |
| Sydney | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9130 SYDNEY | 9130 |
Cross sectional view of the West Head Lookout bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the West Head Lookout
Accessibility summary information for the West Head Lookout
Parking: There are 1 designated accessible parking areas on this walk.
Toilets: There are 0 designated accessible toilets on this walk.
Seats: There are 3 places to sit on this walk. They are on average 50m apart, with a maximum gap of 50m.
Hazards: There are 0 specific noteable accessability related hazards on this walk.
Toilets: There are 0 designated accessible toilets on this walk.
Seats: There are 3 places to sit on this walk. They are on average 50m apart, with a maximum gap of 50m.
Hazards: There are 0 specific noteable accessability related hazards on this walk.
Accessibility Details
Found 0m into this walk
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 | 238 m | ||
| Time | 10 mins | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 2/6 Easy track |
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) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining 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).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
810 m Circuit
30 mins
Moderate track
403 m Circuit
30 mins
Moderate track
1.1 km Circuit
45 mins
Moderate track
3.7 km Return
1 hr 30 mins
Hard track
3.5 km Circuit
1 hr 45 mins
Hard track
1.9 km Return
1 Hr
Moderate track
2.8 km Circuit
1 hr 30 mins
Very experienced only
2.1 km Return
1 Hr
Moderate track
1.9 km Return
1 Hr
Hard track
2.3 km Return
1 hr 30 mins
Hard track
1.4 km Circuit
45 mins
Moderate track
5.4 km Circuit
3 hrs
Hard track
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The West Head Lookout walk starts and ends at the End of West Head Rd (gps: -33.578828, 151.30857)Your main transport option to End of West Head Rd is by;
Car. A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/whlw
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 🙂
Comments