Congewai East Track Head to Watagan Forest Motel via Forestry HQ Campsite
(0km) Congewai Valley east trackhead → Property Gate
Continue straight: From here[7], this walk climbs over the fence using the stile and follows the track gently uphill[8], keeping the more open farmland[9] on your left. The walk continues for about 300m to an intersection with a wide dirt trail, just before a vehicular gate[10], marked with a GNW arrow post.
(1km) Property Gate → Int on GNW bushtrack
(2km) Int on GNW bushtrack → Int of Georges Rd & GNW bushtrack
(4km) Int of Georges Rd AND GNW track → Old Loggers Hut
Old Loggers Hut
(4km) Old Loggers Hut → Georges Rd rest area
Georges Road Rest Area
(4km) Georges Rd rest area → Barraba Campsite
Continue straight: From the intersection[39], this walk follows the 'Barraba Trig Rest Area' sign[40] north-east, gently uphill along the trail[41]. Following a few GNW arrow markers over about 90m, this trail then comes to a large flat clearing[42][43] signposted as 'Barraba campsite'[44], with some lovely large grass trees[45].
Barraba Campsite
(4km) Barraba Campsite → Saddle Rest Area
Continue straight: From the locked gate[53], this walk heads downhill along the wide dirt trail, directly away from the 'Barraba Trig' sign[54]. The trail leads down for about 400m, moderately steeply for a while. As the trail mostly flattens out, the walk climbs over another fence beside a locked gate[55] using the stile[56]. The walk continues down along this trail for almost 200m to pass 'The Barbara Lowes Conservation area' sign[57]. Here, the walk climbs over the fence using the stile[58] beside the vehicular gate[59]. There are filtered valley views to your left[60].
Continue straight: From the locked gate[61], this walk follows the trail gently downhill[62], while keeping the views on your left (and ignoring the trail on your left). This walk undulates gently up and down the side of the hill for about 1 km, until coming to a saddle[63], with views on the left and dam[64] on the right.
Saddle Rest Area
(6km) Saddle Rest Area → Int of Georges Rd AND Watagans National Park boundary gate
Great North Walk Rest Area
(7km) Int of Georges Rd AND Watagans National Park boundary gate → Top of the 125r Lookout trail
(8km) Top of the 125r Lookout trail → 125r Lookout Rest Area
125r Lookout
(8km) Top of the 125r Lookout trail → Northern rest area
Great North Walk Rest Area
(10km) Northern rest area → Narrow Place Lookout
Narrow Place Lookout
(11km) Narrow Place Lookout → Int of Georges Road & Congewai Creek track
(13km) Int of Georges Road AND Congewai Creek track → Int of Georges AND Heaton Rds
(16km) Int of Georges & Heaton Rds → Forestry H.Q campsite
Veer left: From the intersection[113], this walk follows the 'Hunters Lookout' sign[114] gently uphill along Bakers Road[115]. The walk continues along this road for a bit over 150m, coming to a three-way intersection[116], just in front of the signposted 'Watagan Headquarters' campsite[117].
Watagan Headquarters
End of day 1
(17km) Forestry H.Q campsite → Hunter Lookout picnic area
Continue straight: From the intersection[128], this walk follows Bakers Road north and gently uphill, while keeping Rocky Creek Road (no signpost) on your right. The walk continues, undulating gently for about 400m until coming to a three-way intersection with Glen Road[129] (on the right).
Continue straight: From the intersection[130], this walk follows Bakers Road gently uphill[131], while keeping Glen Road on your right. The walk continues, undulating gently for about 250m until coming to Hunter Lookout picnic area[132] (on the left).
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads off the road and up the hill following the Hunter Lookout picnic area sign, past the wooden gate and the public toilet, to the picnic area area and the lookout.
Hunter Lookout
(19km) Hunter Lookout picnic area → Macleans Lookout
Veer left: From the Hunter Lookout picnic area[138] (on Bakers Road), this walk follows Bakers Road north and gently downhill[139], while keeping Hunter Lookout on your left. The walk continues for about 400m until coming to a Y-intersection[140] (Bakers Road loop).
Continue straight: From the intersection[141] (Bakers Road Loop), this walk follows the track gently uphill[142], while keeping the other end of Bakers Road Loop to your right, gently downhill. The walk follows the road for about 130m until coming to Macleans Lookout[143].
Mcleans Lookout
(19km) Maclean Lookout → Int of GNW track & a wide track
Continue straight: From the intersection[149], this walk follows the trail gently downhill[150], while keeping the 'Heaton Lookout' sign on your right. The walk continues (becoming moderately steep downhill) for about 280m until coming to a three-way intersection[151] with a track on the left.
(20km) Int of GNW track AND a wide track → Int of GNW track AND Glen Road
(20km) Int of GNW track & Glen Road → Int of GNW track & a wide bushtrack
(20km) Int of GNW track & a wide bushtrack → Int of GNW track & a narrow road
(21km) Int of GNW track & a wide track → Int of GNW track and Fosters Road south
Continue straight: From the intersection[176], this walk follows the wide track gently downhill, while keeping the 'Macleans Lookout 2km' sign[177] on your right. The walk continues for about 140m to a three-way intersection[178], with Fosters Road on your right and 'Fosters Road' sign[179] on your left.
(21km) Int of GNW track and Fosters Road south → Int of GNW track and Wallis Creek
Continue straight: From the intersection[191], this walk follows the 'Heaton Lookout' sign[192] downhill along the road a few metres, then veers left to follow the GNW arrow down the old trail[193]. The walk leads fairly steeply down for about 180m then passes around a timber barrier[194]. Here the track narrows and continues more steeply downhill[195] through forest for about 250m to a gully and creek crossing[196] (with many fallen dead trees[197]).
Continue straight: This walk crosses the creek[198] and follows the track, while keeping the valley on your left. The walk follows the track steeply up for a short distance, then follows along the base of a cliff[199] for about 120m to pass through a long sandstone cave[200]. The rocky track leads steeply down through the dense rainforest for 700m, following a series of GNW arrow posts to the bottom of the gully beside Wallis Creek[201].
(23km) Int of GNW track and Wallis Creek → Int of GNW track and Heaton Lookout
Continue straight: From the intersection[210], this walk follows the GNW arrow east, directly away from the face of the 'Barniers Road' sign[211]. The walk continues along the old trail for about 450m to find an intersection[212] with a track (on the right). Here the walk turns right, following the 'The Great North Walk' sign[213] moderately steeply down the narrow track[214] for about 220m and then crosses a creek[215]. The walk continues moderately steeply uphill[216] around another gully and after about 500m, comes to a T-intersection[217] with Heaton trail and Heaton Lookout[218] directly ahead.
Heaton Lookout
(25km) Heaton Lookout. → Heaton Communications Tower
(28km) Heaton Communications Tower → Heaton Gap Lookout
Heaton Gap Lookout
(28km) Heaton Gap Lookout → Heaton Gap Track Head
Veer left: From the intersection[252], this walk follows the GNW arrow post and power lines[253] steeply downhill[254] along the trail. The walk continues for about 180m to find a three-way intersection[255], with a GNW arrow marker on the right (where the power line trail bends left). The walk turns right, leaving the power lines and following the GNW arrow marker steeply down a narrower forested track[256]. The track winds down some timber steps, towards the sound of traffic for about 160m then down a timber staircase[257] to the edge of Freemans Drive. Here the walk crosses Freemans Drive[258] (busy road, please be careful to look and listen for traffic) and comes to the Watagan Forest Motel[259], petrol station (on the left), picnic area[260] and signposted 'Heaton Gap Track Head'[261] (on the right).
Watagan Forest Motel
Maps for the Congewai East Track Head to Watagan Forest Motel via Forestry HQ Campsite 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.
| Quorrobolong | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91322S QUORROBOLONG | NSW-91322S |
| Cessnock | 1:50 000 Map Series | 91322 CESSNOCK | CW-91322 |
| Cessnock | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9132 CESSNOCK | 9132 |
Cross sectional view of the Congewai East Track Head to Watagan Forest Motel via Forestry HQ Campsite bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Congewai East Track Head to Watagan Forest Motel via Forestry HQ Campsite

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 | 29.7 km | ||
| Time | 2 Days | ||
| . | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track | AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
| Signs | Minimal directional signs (4/6) | ||
| Experience Required | Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6) | ||
| Weather | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
12km of this walk has short steep hills and another 10km is very steep. The remaining (8km) has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
16km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 9km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (4.5km) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
26km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 3.7km has minimal directional signs. The remaining (170m) is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
15km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience and another 12km requires some bushwalking experience. The remaining (2.6km) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 28km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 1.7km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
20km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 6km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats). The remaining (3.9km) has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).
Similar walks
A list of walks that share part of the track with the Congewai East Track Head to Watagan Forest Motel via Forestry HQ Campsite walk.
Other Nearby walks
A list of walks that start near the Congewai East Track Head to Watagan Forest Motel via Forestry HQ Campsite walk.
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Congewai East Track Head to Watagan Forest Motel via Forestry HQ Campsite walk starts at the Congewai Valley east trackhead (gps: -32.995219, 151.30044)
The Congewai East Track Head to Watagan Forest Motel via Forestry HQ Campsite ends at the Heaton Gap Track Head (gps: -32.965275, 151.47939)
Weather Forecast
This walk starts in the Hunter weather district.
Current Alerts
Park Information
Watagans National Park
Heaton State Forest
Boardering Watagan national Park, Heaton State forest is home to many great lookouts. There sre many highpoints with cliff edges giving great views across the Hunter valley and Lake Macquarie.
Awaba State Forest
A large parcel of land west of the northern end of lake Macquarie, Awaba state forest lines the side of part of the Sydney - newcastle freeway. The park is home to mostly native forest