The Ken and Audrey Owens Walkway
Download & Print Map and Notes
1 Hr
2.4 km Return
20 m
Very easy
Ken & Audrey Owens Walkway
The Ken & Audrey Owens Walkway on Cain St, Redhead is a community made coastal walkway[1] through restored bushland[2]. The walkway has two halves – one direction visits the Redhead Lagoon and a timber bridge viewpoint, and the other way visits Webb Park near the Redhead shops. The walkway was made in coordination with the Redhead Landcare group. Volunteers are always needed for working bee’s on the last Sunday morning of each month. For more information, contact 49447403. The boardwalk is made of concrete and timber, and the tracks are suitable for wheelchairs and prams. There are also well positioned rest areas along the boardwalk. There is a dog walking area just off the walkway. More info.
Webb Park Car Park and Picnic Area
Webb Park picnic area is located on Beach Rd, Redhead, and has a small car park within it. It offers tap water[3], a toilet[4], picnic tables[5], sheltered electric barbecues[6] and a children’s playground[7]. The area is just 200m walk from Redhead surf beach[8] and also its large car park and Surf Life Saving Club. More info.
(0km) Webb Park Car Park and Picnic Area → Webb Park Four-Way Intersection
160 m
3 mins
1m
-2m
Very easy
From the Webb Park car park and picnic area[9][10](off Beach St, Redhead), this walk follows the timber walkway gently uphill[11], following the ‘Ken & Audrey Owens Walkway’ sign[12] (on your right). This walk conintues along the timber boardwalk for about 130m passing a bench seat[13] part way (on the right) to come to a four-way intersection[14], with a gravel track[15] (on the left), a sandy track[16] (directly ahead) and a timber walkway[17] and ‘Keep dogs on leads’ sign[18] on the right.
(0.16km) Webb Park Four-Way Intersection → Owens Walkway Intersection
450 m
8 mins
5m
-9m
Very easy
Turn right: From the intersection[19][20], this walk follows the timber walkway gently uphill[21], while keeping the ‘Keep dogs on leads’ sign[22] and ocean (in the distance) on your left. This walk continues through the low coastal vegetation[23][24] (passing two bench seats[25][26]) for about 400m to come to a concrete footpath[27]. This walk continues along the footpath for about 50m, to a three-way intersection[28], with a footpath (on the left) and a ‘Dog Exercise Area’ sign[29] (on the right).
Continue straight: From the intersection[30][31], this walk follows the concrete footpath gently uphill[32], while leaving the ‘Dog Exercise Area’ sign[33] on your right. This walk continues for about 40m, until passing between timber posts[34][35] and coming to a three-way intersection with a gently uphill footpath[36] (on your right).
Continue straight: From the intersection[30][31], this walk follows the concrete footpath gently uphill[32], while leaving the ‘Dog Exercise Area’ sign[33] on your right. This walk continues for about 40m, until passing between timber posts[34][35] and coming to a three-way intersection with a gently uphill footpath[36] (on your right).
(0.61km) Owens Walkway Intersection → Owens Walkway Car Park (Off Cain Street)
30 m
1 mins
1m
0m
Very easy
Turn right: From the intersection[37][38], this walk follows the concrete footpath gently uphill[39], leaving the ocean directly behind you. This walk continues through coastal forest (passing a water tap[40] on the right), until coming to the Owens Walkway car park[41][42], with an elevated lookout[43] on your left.
Owens Walkway Car Park & Viewpoint
The Owens Walkway car park (off Cain St, Redhead) offers easy access to the Ken & Audrey Owens Walkway[44]. The car park has a water tap[45] and seat[46]. The viewpoint at the car park is gained via an elevated boardwalk[47] and offers views down the coast to Norah Head. From the viewpoint, surfers and whales can be seen (Northern whale migration from June to July, southern migration from Sept to Oct) . More info.
(0.61km) Owens Walkway Intersection → Owens Wetland Lookout
130 m
2 mins
0m
0m
Very easy
Continue straight: From the intersection[48], this walk follows the concrete footpath gently downhill[49][50], while keeping the ocean and wetland[51] to your left. This walk continues through coastal forest[52] for about 130m, to find an elevated timber lookout[53] and stone monument[54][55] (on your left).
Owens Wetland Viewpoint
This wetlands viewpoint[56] on the Owens Walkway (in Redhead) offers good views out over water, reeds and a large wetland. In the distance are large sand dunes, with Redhead Beach behind them. This viewpoint is easily accessible via the Owens Walkway and has wheelchair access. Wildlife, particularly birds, use the wetland as a breeding site and you are likely to see birds here. There is also a stone monument[57], dedicated to the ‘Cain St Landcare Project[58]’. The viewpoint is fenced[59] and has a timber seat[60].
(0.74km) Owens Wetland Lookout → Int of Owens Walkway & Cain St Trail
340 m
5 mins
2m
0m
Very easy
Continue straight: From the lookout, this walk follows the concrete footpath whilst keeping the wetland to your left. The footpath undulates gently as it leads through the coastal forest[61] for about 300m, until coming to a T-intersection[62], marked with some concrete posts, a drinking fountain[63] and a trail[64] (on the right).
(1.08km) Int of Owens Walkway & Cain St Trail → Elevated Timber Bridge
140 m
2 mins
0m
-1m
Very easy
Turn left: From the intersection[65], this walk follows the concrete footpath gently downhill[66], while leaving the Cain St trail directly behind and initially keeping the drinking fountain[67] on your right. This walk continues through dense coastal forest[68] for about 140m until coming to an elevated timber foot bridge[69][70] over Owens Creek[71].
Maps for the The Ken and Audrey Owens Walkway 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 Ken and Audrey Owens Walkway bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the The Ken and Audrey Owens Walkway
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 1/6 Very easy |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Flat, no steps (1/6) |
| Quality of track | Smooth and hardened path (1/6) | ||
| 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, 1.2km is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
This whole walk, 1.2km follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
This whole walk, 1.2km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 1.2km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 1.2km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 1.2km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The The Ken and Audrey Owens Walkway walk starts and ends at the Webb Park Car Park and Picnic Area (gps: -33.013028, 151.71603)Your transport options to Webb Park Car Park and Picnic Area are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/wtbvw
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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