Patonga to Pearl Beach

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Time 1 hr 45 mins
One way 4.3 km One way
Climb 189 m
Grade 3 Moderate track
Ferry Bus Car
no_pets
This walk explores a section of Brisbane Water National Park between the villages of Patonga and Pearl Beach. From Patonga, this walk takes you up a track following the Great North Walk route, and then a wider trail brings you to a short (and very worthwhile) side trip to Warrah Lookout. From here, the walk follows the wide trail down to Pearl Beach for lunch at the cafe or a dip at the beach. Enjoy the wildflowers in spring and also great water views on sunny days.

Patonga Village

Patonga Village
Patonga Village is a lovely small township on the Hawkesbury River. Just near the ferry wharf are a few helpful facilities: The Eve Williams Memorial Oval[1], where you will find a large pavilion[2], drinking water[3] and public toilets[4]. A fish and chips shop (and general store)[5] is open reasonable hours, where you can buy lunch, a coffee[6] and basic supplies (fishing needs, milk, canned food)[7]. Patonga Beach Hotel[8] is available for a cold drink at the bar[9] or a meal on the deck[10], or even overnight accommodation[11] (from $242 a couple) ph: 02 4379 1111.

(0km) Patonga Wharf car park → Warrah Reserve boat ramp

distance 360 m time 7 mins climb 12m descent -12m Easy track
From the car park[12] at Patonga wharf[13], this walk follows the footpath beside Patonga Drive[14], keeping the water on the right. The road leads out of town passing beside 'Eve Williams Memorial Oval'[15][16][17] for 70m to find a large 'The Great North Walk' sign[18] opposite the toilet block[19]. Soon after this sign, this walk turns right following the 'Boat Ramp' sign and GNW arrow post[20] down along a side road[21] for 220m to find a parking area beside Patonga's boat ramp[22]. (Alternatively it is possible to walk along the sandy beach[23] from the wharf to the boat ramp.)

Warrah Reserve boat ramp

Warrah Reserve boat ramp
Warrah Reserve boat ramp provides a large car park and access to both the boat ramp and Patonga Beach. There are garbage bins, a picnic table and information board. The boat ramp offers good views along the beach to 'Dark Corner', found at the eastern end of Patonga Beach.

(0km) Warrah Reserve boat ramp → Eastern end of Patonga Beach

distance 170 m time 3 mins climb 2m descent -1m Easy track
Continue straight: From the boat ramp, this walk follows the power lines across the car park, keeping the water to the right. The walk heads around the gate and continues to follow the power lines across the sand, coming to the eastern end of Patonga Beach and the 'Brisbane Water National Park' sign[24]. This area of the beach is also know as 'Dark Corner'.

(1km) Eastern end of Patonga Beach → Broken Bay View

distance 590 m time 21 mins climb 122m descent 0m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the eastern end of Patonga beach, this walk follows the 'Warrah Trig 1.7km' sign[26] up the steps. The track winds up the side on the hill, turning left and following the ridge line uphill. Soon after passing up some stairs between the rock, the track comes to a lovely view across the water. Here, the track turns left and climbs up more steps before flattening out and passing a few more GNW arrows. Just after passing two GNW arrows next to each other (at the end of a large crack in the rock), the track passes a few large Sydney Red Gums and comes to an unfenced rock platform on the right - Broken Bay view.

Broken Bay View

Broken Bay View
Broken Bay View is an informal, unnamed and unfenced vantage point at the top of the cliffs, east of Patonga. The large rock platform has a number of large Sydney Red Gums, providing some shade. There are great views across the Hawkesbury River, along Cowan Creek and to West Head. The views to the left extend past Lion Island to Barrenjoey Head and out to the Pacific Ocean.

(1km) Broken Bay View → Int of Pearl Beach / Patonga fire trail and Patonga track

distance 330 m time 6 mins climb 14m descent 0m Moderate track
Veer left: From the Broken Bay view, this walk follows Great North Walk arrows uphill along the track. The track winds gently through the bush, with the occasional water glimpse to the right. After a short time, the track comes to a clear intersection with the Pearl Beach / Patonga fire trail with a sign pointing back to 'Patonga'[27].

(1km) Int of Pearl Beach / Patonga fire trail and Patonga track → Warrah Lookout intersection

distance 370 m time 9 mins climb 12m descent -26m Easy track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the Great North Walk arrow downhill along the wide management trail. After about 250m, the trail passes a track on the right (marked with 5 large boulders - this informal track leads to an unfenced view). The walk continues along the management trail for another 100m and comes to an intersection near the Warrah Lookout, and a sign pointing back to 'Patonga'[28].

(2km) Warrah Lookout intersection → Warrah Lookout

distance 70 m time 2 mins climb 0m descent -12m Easy track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads between the timber posts and follows the 'Warrah Lookout' sign[29] along the sandstone footpath. The path leads through the bush for a short distance, coming to the fenced Warrah Lookout. (Beware of informal side tracks that lead to unfenced sections of cliff.) At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.

Warrah Lookout

Warrah Lookout
Warrah Lookout is a mostly fenced lookout on a large sandstone platform. The lookout provides fantastic views across the Hawkesbury River. From left to right, you can see along the escarpment which forms the southern boundary of Brisbane Water National Park, out to the Pacific Ocean, Barrenjoey Headland, West Head, along Cowan Creek, Juno Point and along the escarpment to Patonga. This is a great place to spend some time soaking up the views.

(2km) Warrah Lookout intersection → Pearl Caves

distance 1.2 km time 23 mins climb 14m descent -89m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Pearl Beach' sign[30] downhill along the management trail. The trail leads down the hill and bends right soon after some filtered water views over Pearl Beach. The trail then start to bend around the side of a steep gully and, about 70m after passing between two large rocks, the trail rounds a left-hand bend, just below a long cliff face with several sandstone caves.

Pearl Caves

Pearl Caves
Pearl Caves is an informal name for a couple of caves found on the Pearl Beach / Patonga fire trail. The two large overhangs are found near the base of a cliff. The caves look north and have outward-sloping floors. One cave has a few small columns and stalagmite/stalactite decorations growing at the back. To protect the caves (and yourself), the caves are best viewed from a distance.

(3km) Pearl Caves → Lower end of Pearl Beach / Patonga fire trail

distance 460 m time 10 mins climb 9m descent -50m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the caves, this walk heads downhill along the management trail, keeping the steep valley to the left. There is a distinct change in vegetation as the trail winds down the hill. About 100m after seeing the house, the trail leads around a locked gate and a 'Pearl Beach / Patonga fire trail' sign[31] onto Crystal St (about 60m up from the end of the sealed section of road).

(3km) Lower end of Pearl Beach / Patonga fire trail → Pearl Beach Cafe

distance 730 m time 12 mins climb 4m descent -10m Easy track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads east along the dirt Crystal Ave, keeping the downhill slope (valley) on the left. After about 40m, the road becomes sealed and the walk continues past the houses, turning left onto Diamond Rd. The walk then crosses Green Point Creek on a bridge (with a detailed risk warning sign[32]) and after a further 120m, the walk turns right to follow Tourmaline Ave. Soon, the walk comes to some shops, turning left onto Pearl Parade, coming to the front of the cafe[33].

Pearl Beach General Store and Cafe

Pearl Beach General Store and Cafe
The Pearl Beach General Store and Cafe (ph 02 4343 1222) is found at 1 Pearl Pde, Pearl Beach, and is open 7 days. The cafe provides breakfast, lunch and dinners for about $20 a meal. The general store[34] provides cheaper take-away meals and general supplies (including ice-creams). Across the road is Pearl Beach and some children's play equipment[35]. Alternatively for a more refined dining experience, 'Pearls on the Beach' is found on the other side of the road, open Thursday to Sundays for lunch and dinner (ph 02 4342 4400)[36]. More info.

(4km) Pearl Beach Cafe → Pearl Beach (Amethyst Ave access)

distance 120 m time 2 mins climb 0m descent -1m Easy track
Continue straight: From the cafe, this walk follows Pearl Pde, keeping the water to the right. The footpath leads past a bus stop[37], crossing the road and heading past the play equipment[38]. The walk comes to a toilet block[39] and wide entrance to Pearl Beach, almost opposite Amethyst Ave.

Pearl Beach

Pearl Beach
Pearl Beach is a 1.2km long crescent-shaped, yellow sand beach. The beach has rocky points at either end - the southern end is home to an ocean pool and the northern end has the old Pearl Beach Road carved through the rock (no longer in use for cars). The beach has many access points and is popular for sunbathers, picnickers, and swimmers, although there is no surf life saver presence. The south-east facing beach is lined with houses in the northern section, and shade-providing trees in the south.

Maps for the Patonga to Pearl Beach 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 Bay1:25 000 Map Series91301N BROKEN BAYNSW-91301N
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map1:40 000 Map SeriesCMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist MapCMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map
Sydney1:100 000 Map Series9130 SYDNEY9130

Cross sectional view of the Patonga to Pearl Beach bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Patonga to Pearl Beach

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Patonga to Pearl Beach

Altitude analysis for Patonga to Pearl Beach

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.

Length4.3 km
Time1 hr 45 mins
.




Grade 3/6



Moderate track
AS 2156.1GradientShort steep hills (3/6)
Quality of trackClear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
SignsDirectional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience RequiredNo experience required (1/6)
WeatherWeather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
InfrastructureLimited 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

2.2km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1.5km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (530m) is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

This whole walk, 4.3km follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 2.3km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 1.9km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 4.3km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 4.3km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 3.4km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 920m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Patonga to Pearl Beach walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Patonga to Pearl Beach walk.

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Brisbane Water National Park

Brisbane Waters National Park is situated south west of Gosford perched on the Hawkesbury River. The park is characterised by sandstone features, Aboriginal engravings, flowery heaths, bird life and spectacular water views. Brisbane Waters NP has many bushwalks through the are with the Great North Walk passing through the middle of the park.

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