Belmont Lagoon Spit Walk
Download & Print Map and Notes
1 Hr
3.2 km Return
10 m
Moderate track
Belmont Lagoon
Belmont Lagoon is situated between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Macquarie in the community of Belmont. This reserve is a sanctuary for five distinct biotic areas – Swamp Forest, Swamp Heath, Reed Swamp, Sedge Land and Open Water. All these different areas interact and are important in allowing natural areas to be ecological sustainable. There is more information[1] on these biotic areas at the Belmont Lagoon car park (off Beach St, Belmont). Human history of the lagoon began with the Awabakal people who occupied the area for perhaps the last 6000 years. The ancient Awabakal legend of The Teardrop of the Moon tells how Belmont Lagoon was formed. During World War II, the Department of Defence dredged Cold Tea Creek to provide an anti-tank barrier and defence line. As part of these modifications, the lagoon was divided into two parts, and it now has a permanent connection to the saline waters of Lake Macquarie, thereby altering its salinity and circulation pattern. For more information, contact Lake Macquarie Visitor Information Centre on (02) 4921 0740.
More info.
Belmont Lagoon Car Park
The Belmont Lagoon car park (access from corner Beach St and Ocean Park Rd, Belmont) is an open grassed car park[2], with an information sign[3] detailing existing and proposed walking tracks at the lagoon. There is a water tap[4] available about 100m north of the car park (adjacent to the cricket oval). Please respect the private houses[5] that abutt onto the car park.
More info.
(0km) Belmont Lagoon (Beach St Car Park) → Int of Cold Tea Walkway & Ocean Park Trail
960 m
15 mins
4m
-2m
Moderate track
From the Belmont Lagoon car park[6] (off Ocean Park Road, Belmont), this walk passes around the locked metal gate[7] and crosses the cricket oval[8], passing the ‘Belmont Lagoon Reserve Map’ sign[9] and keeping the houses to your left. This walk continues for about 200m across the oval and then across a footbridge[10][11] over Cold Tea Creek[12], to come to a three-way intersection[13][14] with a track (on the Cold Tea Walkway[15][16]).
Turn right: From the intersection[17][18], this walk follows the trail, initially keeping the footbridge and creek on your right[19] and Belmont Lagoon on your left. This walk continues for about 700m, until coming to a four-way intersection[20] with a large trail, and a faint trail[21] directly ahead.
Turn right: From the intersection[17][18], this walk follows the trail, initially keeping the footbridge and creek on your right[19] and Belmont Lagoon on your left. This walk continues for about 700m, until coming to a four-way intersection[20] with a large trail, and a faint trail[21] directly ahead.
(0.96km) Int of Cold Tea Walkway & Ocean Park Trail → Belmont Lagoon Car Park
1.2 km
19 mins
2m
-3m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection[22][23], this walk follows the trail south, while keeping the overhead power lines[24] on your right and the ocean on your left. This walk continues along the trail, gently undulating through regrowth bush[25] and wetlands[26] for about 500m, until passing through a large metal gate[27]and coming to a three-way intersection[28] with the sealed Ocean Park Road.
Veer right: From the intersection[29], this walk follows Ocean Park Road gently uphill, while initially keeping the large metal gate[30] and Ocean Park Trail on your right. This walk continues for about 500m to pass Green Street[31] on your left. Then this walk continues for about 120m, passing William Street and some houses[32] on your left, until coming to a three-way intersection with a trail and ‘Belmont Lagoon Reserve’ sign[33][34] on the right (as Ocean Park Road[35] turns left).
Veer right: From the intersection[36][37], this walk follows the trail, while keeping the ‘Belmont Lagoon Reserve’ sign[38][39] on the right and the houses on the left. This walk continues for about 150m, until coming to a car park[40] with a low metal locked gate[41], and a ‘Belmont Lagoon Reserve Map’ sign[42] on the right (with cricket oval[43] beyond).
Veer right: From the intersection[29], this walk follows Ocean Park Road gently uphill, while initially keeping the large metal gate[30] and Ocean Park Trail on your right. This walk continues for about 500m to pass Green Street[31] on your left. Then this walk continues for about 120m, passing William Street and some houses[32] on your left, until coming to a three-way intersection with a trail and ‘Belmont Lagoon Reserve’ sign[33][34] on the right (as Ocean Park Road[35] turns left).
Veer right: From the intersection[36][37], this walk follows the trail, while keeping the ‘Belmont Lagoon Reserve’ sign[38][39] on the right and the houses on the left. This walk continues for about 150m, until coming to a car park[40] with a low metal locked gate[41], and a ‘Belmont Lagoon Reserve Map’ sign[42] on the right (with cricket oval[43] beyond).
(0.96km) Int of Cold Tea Walkway & Ocean Park Trail → Belmont Lagoon Spit
650 m
10 mins
1m
-3m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection[44], this walk follows the trail, keeping the overhead power lines[45] on your left and the ocean to your right. This walk continues for about 280m until coming to a three-way intersection[46] with a trail[47] on the left and large pile of concrete rubble directly ahead.
Continue straight: From the intersection[48], this walk follows the trail gently downhill[49], while keeping the large pile of concrete rubble[50] initially on your right. This walk continues, undulating gently[51] with the lagoon[52] on both sides for about 400m, until coming to the end of the spit[53] and two derelict buildings[54].
Continue straight: From the intersection[48], this walk follows the trail gently downhill[49], while keeping the large pile of concrete rubble[50] initially on your right. This walk continues, undulating gently[51] with the lagoon[52] on both sides for about 400m, until coming to the end of the spit[53] and two derelict buildings[54].
Belmont Lagoon Spit
The Belmont Lagood spit is surrounded by water and bird life. This is a fabulous place to enjoy in the early morning or evening, when bird life is most active. Birds you are likely to see include the Black Swan, Royal Spoonbill, Superb Blue Wren, Variegated Wren, Blackfaced Cuckoo Shrike, Eastern Whip Bird, Welcome Swallow and the international migatory waders, such as the Bar-Tailed Godwit. At the end of the spit, there are two derelict buildings[55] and a burnt-out car[56]. The spit is a good place to see the main biotic areas, including reed swamp, swamp heath, swamp forest, sedge land and open water. More info.
Maps for the Belmont Lagoon Spit Walk 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 Belmont Lagoon Spit Walk bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Belmont Lagoon Spit 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 | 3.2 km | ||
| Time | 1 Hr | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 3/6 Moderate track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6) |
| Quality of track | Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6) | ||
| Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
| 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
Around 880m of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 730m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
This whole walk, 1.6km follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
This whole walk, 1.6km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 1.6km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 1.6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 1.6km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
7.7 km Circuit
3 hrs
Hard track
2.9 km One way
1 hr 15 mins
Hard track
2.4 km Circuit
1 Hr
Moderate track
3.4 km Circuit
2 hrs 45 mins
Moderate track
3 km Return
1 hr 15 mins
Moderate track
2.4 km Return
1 Hr
Moderate track
3.8 km Circuit
1 hr 30 mins
Hard track
666 m Circuit
30 mins
Moderate track
1.3 km Return
30 mins
Very easy
3.2 km Circuit
1 Hr
Hard track
3.2 km Return
1 Hr
Moderate track
1.2 km Circuit
30 mins
Hard track
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Belmont Lagoon Spit Walk walk starts and ends at the Belmont Lagoon (Beach St Car Park) (gps: -33.048223, 151.65833)Your transport options to Belmont Lagoon (Beach St Car Park) are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/blsw
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