Finchs Line viewpoint

Download & Print Map and Notes

2 hrs 15 mins

4.4 km Return

373 m

Moderate track

This pleasant walk follows part of the historic Finchs Line road, the original route for the Great North Road up the hills just north of Wisemans Ferry. The walk starts in moist, fern covered scenery and climbs to drier forest and some stunning views over the Hawkesbury river and Wisemans Ferry area from the unfenced Finchs Line viewpoint. There are other great views along the way too.

Views from Finchs Line over Wisemans Ferry

Viewpoint on a rock outcrop along Finchs Line

Old Great North Road

The historic Great North Road was built using convict labour between 1826 and 1836 (this section south of Wollombi was completed in 1832). The road formed a link between Sydney and the Hunter Valley, including Newcastle. There are visible remnants of the original work in bridges, retaining walls and other structures along the way. The 'Convict Trail Project' has member groups involved in the conservation of historical remnants along the road. The Convict Trail Project and the NPWS have erected information signs at various points to illustrate the history. The Convict Trail Project has an excellent website for further reading. More info.

Wisemans Ferry

Wisemans Ferry village is on the banks of the Hawkesbury river, NSW. The town, and nearby car ferry, is named after Solomon Wiseman, a former convict who received a land grant in the area and established the ferry service. The town is a popular day trip and weekend destination from Sydney. There are several good spots to eat in town, including bistros at the Wisemans Ferry Inn and the Wisemans Ferry Bowling club, and takeaway food from Bush Bites cafe. The Riverbend Restaurant can be found in the 'Retreat at Wisemans' for finer dining. The area has some great walking and interesting history surrounding the convict built Old Great North Road. More info.

(0km) Int of Finchs Line and Wisemans Ferry Rd → Walk Bikes Signpost

1.2 km

32 mins

189m

-42m Moderate track

From the signposted track head, marked as 'Finchs Line Walking Track', beside Wisemans Ferry Rd (about 1.8 km east of the car ferry), the walk follows the bush track, going up the hill. There is an information sign after a short distance and the track starts to climb, increasingly steeply, as it zigzags up a steep hill, along the path of Finchs Line Road. There are some beautiful views away from the track and a lot of ferns, grasstrees and vines surrounding the track. After winding up the hill for quite a while the walk arrives at an intersection with a management trail, marked with a sign indicating bikes must be walked (when going back down the hill).

(1km) Walk Bikes Signpost → Finchs Line Sth viewpoint

970 m

25 mins

63m

-79m Moderate track

Turn right: From the signpost, the walk follows the management trail steeply up the hill. After a while, the trail levels out and offers some fantastic views across the valleys on the northern side of the ridge. The trail then switches back to the Hawkesbury side of the ridge arrives at a beautiful rock outcrop with stunning views down across the Hawekesbury and Wisemans Ferry township.

Finchs Line viewpoint

This informal, unfenced (and unnamed) lookout is on the trail along the historic Finchs Line Rd near Wisemans Ferry, NSW. The viewpoint sits on a beautiful outcrop of boulders and provides stunning views down across the Hawkesbury river and Wisemans Ferry township.

Maps for the Finchs Line viewpoint 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.

Gunderman	1:25 000 Map Series	91313S GUNDERMAN	NSW-91313S
Lower Portland	1:25 000 Map Series	90312S LOWER PORTLAND	NSW-90312S
Gosford	1:100 000 Map Series	9131 GOSFORD	9131
St Albans	1:100 000 Map Series	9031 ST ALBANS	9031

Cross sectional view of the Finchs Line viewpoint bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Finchs Line viewpoint

Altitude analysis for Finchs Line viewpoint

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	4.4 km
		Time	2 hrs 15 mins
		.
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

Around 1.2km of this walk has short steep hills, whilst the remaining 970m has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

Around 1.2km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 970m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

This whole walk, 2.2km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 1.2km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 970m requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 2.2km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

This whole walk, 2.2km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Finchs Line viewpoint walk.

Devines Hill and Finchs Line circuit

9.9 km Circuit, 4 hrs 30 mins

A great walk with a mixture of historic remnants of the Old Great North Rd, and some beautiful views over the Hawkesbury river and other valleys. Most of this walk follows parts of the convict built road, and a number of information signs along the way give a good insight into the construction and h

Total climbing: 547m

Moderate track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Finchs Line viewpoint walk.

Western Commission Track to Dubbo Gully

28.3 km One way, 2 Days

This two day walk follows a series of historic roads along clear and wide management trails. This walk explores the great views from Western Commission Track, the sandstone handicraft on the Old Great North Road and the farming history of Ten Mile Hollow, and also offers a side trip to Clare's Bridg

Total climbing: 1249m

Moderate track

Devines Hill

3.6 km Return, 2 hrs

A great walk with some really nice scenery and plenty of history. This walk follows the well formed Devines Hill ascent portion of the Old Great North Road. The convict built road is impressive and there are good information signs along the trail. The visible remnants of the Old Great North Road inc

Total climbing: 257m

Moderate track

Great North Road and Dubbo Gully

27.3 km One way, 2 Days

This walk follows a section of the Old Great North Road along the borders of the rugged Yengo and Dharug National Parks, to then visit more historic sites in Dubbo Gully. This is more of a historic journey than you typical bushwalk. There is a campsite at Ten Mile Hollow providing a comfortable pla

Total climbing: 1372m

Hard track

Hangmans Rock

2.2 km Return, 1 hr 15 mins

A relatively short walk with some really nice scenery and some of the historic highlights of the Old Great North Road. This walk climbs part of the well formed Devines Hill ascent. The remnants of the convict built road are impressive and there are good information signs along the trail. The visible

Total climbing: 176m

Moderate track

11km Circuit

8.2 km Circuit, 4 hrs 15 mins

This excellent circuit walk offers a lot of beautiful scenery and views. Although shorter than the name suggests, it is a reasonably tough walk, with some steep rocky sections. The sections in the gullies and valleys are mostly very moist with lots of ferns, while the higher sections are through dri

Total climbing: 634m

Hard track

Grass Tree circuit

1.7 km Circuit, 1 Hr

This beautiful circuit walk goes through a range of dry and wet forest along the valley, and offers some great views. There are plenty of grasstrees along the way to add to the scenery and the creek crossings are very picturesque. The optional side trip adds some beautiful rock overhangs to the scen

Total climbing: 109m

Moderate track

Shepherds Gully

4.3 km Return, 2 hrs

The long, gentle climb along Shepherd's Gully has some beautiful scenery and some historic remnants of the Old Great North Road. While the remnants of the road construction are not as impressive as those on the main Devines Hill ascent, they are still interesting. The optional side trip to Hangmans

Total climbing: 244m

Moderate track

Shepherds Gully and Devines Hill

4 km One way, 2 hrs

A great one-way walk which offers some beautiful scenery in the moist and shaded parts of Shepherds Gully, some bigger views on Devines Hill and plenty of Old Great North Road history. There are plenty of information signs along the way giving some good background on the convict build roads, making

Total climbing: 257m

Moderate track

248 Track

8.3 km Return, 3 hrs 15 mins

A nice walk through Popran National Park with good views along the way. The optional side trip to Mt Olive adds some great views and scenery. If you have a car with good ground clearance, you could drive to Ironbark picnic area and start the walk from there.

Total climbing: 255m

Moderate track

Emerald Pool circuit from Ironbark Rd

10.8 km Circuit, 4 hrs 15 mins

A great circuit walk in Popran National Park, to the beautiful Emerald Pool. This walk passes through a variety of vegetation and offers some great views along the way. Emerald Pool is a really beautiful spot and it is well worth spending some time exploring around the creek. The optional side trips

Total climbing: 344m

Hard track

Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley

10.1 km Return, 4 hrs 15 mins

This walk, mostly in Popran National Park, passes through a great variety of scenery and beautiful views. The early part of the walk, along a ridgetop, is through relatively dry forest with some great views, while the steep but beautiful descent to Glenworth Valley is through moist, fern filled fore

Total climbing: 492m

Hard track

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Finchs Line viewpoint walk starts and ends at the Int of Finchs Line and Wisemans Ferry Rd (gps: -33.392443, 150.99746)

Bus. Wisemans Ferry Dialacar provides a taxi style mini-bus service based in Wisemans Ferry. The cost is typically about $1 per km (ex Wisemans Ferry). They will pick-up and drop-off from Sydney or the Central Coast and will happily drop walkers off or pick them up from tracks in the area. The cost for a pick-up from Gosford and drop off near Wisemans Ferry would be approximately $150 (please call for up-to-date pricing) and the minivan can carry up to 13 passengers. Phone: 0448 122 374 (get details)

Car. There is free parking available.<br /> (get details)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Dharug National Park

Named after the traditional custodians (the Darug People), this park has much history and some great sandstone formations. The wildflowers in spring add a wonderful touch of colour to the bushland. The Old Great North Road including its quarries, bridges and other features improves access and provides a great deal of interest for visitors. Close to Sydney and Gosford, it feels like stepping back in time when visiting this park.

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