Teralba to Charlestown Park track head

Download & Print Map and Notes

4 hrs 30 mins

13.3 km One way

220 m

Moderate track

This section of the Great North Walk starts from the Teralba train station and winds down and around the edge of Lake Macquarie. The walk passes through the Cockle reserve, and continues to Warners bay and up along the roads, before cutting through the bush to Charlestown, where it winds around the golf course and finishes at the Charlestown Park track head.

Looking through the trees to William street

Sight seeing while walking down Anzac Parade

Walking next to Five Island Road looking at Cockle Creek

Nice Picnic area on the side of Creek Reserve Road

Great North Walk sign post pointing to; Newcastle Warners bay Sydney Cove and Teralba Rail

looking at Lake Maquarie at Warners reserve

Dippin' Dots Ice creamery at Warners bay

The Great North Walk track heading towards Newcastle

service road for telegraph and phone line maintenance

There is always time to stop and smell the flowers

Following the Great North Walk Next to Waratah Avenue

Continuing The Great North Walk near Waratah Avenue

Great North Walk leading into Charlestown

On The Great North Walk behind Park Street

Just a few steps on The Great North walk

Corner of Lincoln Close and the Pacific Highway

(0km) Teralba Train Station → Teralba Lakeside Caravan Park on Anzac Parade

360 m

6 mins

-10m Easy track

From Teralba station[1] (at the top of the overpass steps), this walk follows the railway bridge steps[2] south, initially keeping the station building on your right. This walk follows the steps down and heads along the footpath for about 30m, to find a 'Great North Walk' sign[3]. This walk then follows the 'Newcastle' arrow[4] across William St[5], coming to a GNW arrow post on the intersection of William St and Anzac Parade, opposite the 'The Great Northern Hotel'[6].
Continue straight: From the intersection[7], this walk follows the footpath alongside Anzac Parade gently downhill, past 'Teralba Fire Station'[8] (on your left). The walk follows the footpath for about 80m to pass 'Anzac Park'[9] (and toilets[10] opposite the road on your right), then continues straight ahead for about 200m crossing York and Margaret St, to come beside 'Teralba Lakeside Caravan Park'[11] (on your left).

Teralba Lakeside Caravan Park on Anzac Parade

Teralba Lakeside Caravan Park at 21 Anzac Parade, Teralba has unpowered tent sites ($20/night), standard cabins ($90 for 5 people) and deluxe cabins ($125 for 7 people). The manager is available from 8am till 8.30pm. For more information, phone (02)49585370. You can grab a meal or beverage from the 'Great Northern Hotel'[12] or grab a snack from the local servo, just up the road.

(0km) Teralba Lakeside Caravan Park on Anzac Parade → Int of Five Islands Rd & Speers Point footpaths

1.5 km

24 mins

-8m Very easy

Continue straight: From the 'Teralba Lakeside Caravan Park', this walk follows Anzac Parade gently downhill[13], initially keeping the caravan park on your left. After 160m this walk then turns left (following the GNW arrow post[14]) into 'Lake Crescent'[15] (just before the larger Five Islands Road[16]). This walk follows 'Lake Crescent'[17] for 130m, until coming to the end of the road[18] and a shared footpath/cycleway[19].
Continue straight: From the end of Lake Crescent[20], this walk follows the footpath[21], keeping the large Five Islands Rd[22] up to your right. The walk follows the footpath for about 250m, until coming to a T-intersection[23] with another footpath (beside the 'Raymond Smith' concrete monument[24]).
Turn right: From the intersection[25], this walk follows the GNW arrow post along the footpath and through the underpass[26]. Just after the underpass, this walk heads gently up the ramp to come beside[27] Five Islands Rd. Here, the walk turns right[28] to follow a footpath for about 900m, crossing over a two bridges[29] and an island (two arms of Cockle Creek[30]). On the far side the second bridge (Watkins Bridge[31]), this walk comes to the intersection[32] with another footpath, marked by a GNW arrow post[33].

(2km) Int of Five Islands Rd & Speers Point footpaths → Int of Warners Bay footpath & The Esplanade footpath

4 km

1 hr 6 mins climb

31m

-31m Very easy

Turn right: From the intersection[34], this walk follows the GNW arrow post gently downhill along the footpath[35] towards the water, while keeping the playing fields[36] on the left. The walk continues on the footpath (beside the bridge), to then bend left and lead along side a small road and Cockle Creek[37] (on your right), until coming to a road crossing[38] with Creek Reserve Rd, on the far side of 'Macquarie Field'.
Continue straight: From the intersection[39], this walk follow the GNW arrow post[40] across Creek Reserve Rd and follows the footpath through Speers Point Park[41] passing the 'Walk Safe' sign[42] (on your right). The walk continues through Speers Point Park for about 500m, past picnic shelters[43], a stage[44], a wharf[45] to then cross the road beside 'Speers Point Swimming Pool'[46]. The walk continues on the footpath, with the water on the right[47] for about 300m to pass the War Memorial[48]. Here the walk continues along the waters edge for 2.5km to pass a car park then cross 'North Creek'[49] on the road bridge[50]. Continue for another 100m, through the park, then just past the toilet block the footpath leads to a large 'Great North Walk - Warners Bay Trackhead' sign, beside the traffic lights.

Warners Bay

Warners Bay is a large, open bay[51] on Lake Macquarie, with a public park[52] and small shopping centre[53] nearby. There are cafes and restaurants with alfresco dining, the 'Centro' shopping centre, specialty shops, boutiques and a post office. The public park on the lakeshore has a shared bike/walking path[55], picnic tables, barbeques[56], toilets[57] and water. A-must-stop ice cream shop on the Esplanade is Dippin Dots[58], they have a unique ice cream that has been made using super-cold freezing methods to make little beads[59] of ice cream.

(6km) Int of Warners Bay footpath AND The Esplanade footpath → Queen St (near King Street crossing)

500 m

10 mins

14m

-3m Very easy

Turn left : From the intersection[61], near the toilet block this walk follows the 'Charlestown Park' sign[62] across The Esplanade[63] using the pedestrian crossing[64]. On the other side this walk turns right[65] and follows the footpath[66] for about 160m (past 'Dippin Dots' ice cream shop[67]) until coming to the intersection of The Esplanade and King Street[68](at the large roundabout[69]).
Turn left: From the intersection[70], this walk follows the footpath gently uphill[71] alongside 'King St', heading directly away from the water[72]. The walk follows King St (passing traffic lights[73] and a roundabout[74]) and heads towards Cardiff for about 300m, to find a set of traffic lights[75], at the Caltex Servo. Here the walk crosses King St (using the pedestrian lights[76]) and follows the footpath through the nature strip to find Queen St[77] and a GNW arrow post[78] (Queen St is a minor street running parallel to King St) .

(6km) Queen St (near King Street Crossing) → Int of Myles Avenue AND Vermont Place

1.5 km

25 mins

13m

-9m Easy track

Turn left: From the intersection, (near the King Street crossing[79]), this walk follows the footpath beside Queen Street[80], past the fruit store [81], keeping King St to your left. The walk continues along Queen St for about 500m, crossing 'Pring St'[82] to the grassy area at the end of road. From here the walk follows GNW arrow post along the footpath[83], along the grassy verge to come to the northern section of 'Queen St'[84]. The walk follows 'Queen St' for another 170m, to turn right and follow 'Myles Ave'[85] for about 80m, until coming to a three-way intersection[86] with Yorston St[87] (on the right).
Continue straight: From the intersection[88], this walk follows the grassy verge beside Myles Rd gently uphill[89], initially keeping Yorston St on your right. This walk continues to follow Myles Rd and GNW arrow posts[90] for about 700m, first crossing 'Bonarius St', then crossing a few few more side streets until coming to an intersection[91], with 'Vermont Place' (on the right).

(8km) Int of Myles Avenue AND Vermont Place → End of Vermont Place

110 m

2 mins

0m Very easy

Turn right: From the intersection[92], this walk the footpath down a small dip then gently uphill alongside 'Vermont Place'[93] for about 100m, until coming to the end of the street[94] on the edge of of a grassy park[95].

Vermont Place Park

Vermont Place Park, at the end of Vermont Place in Warners Bay, is an open grassed park[96] surrounded by native forest. The park has a children's playground[97], picnic table[98], a shelter and water fountain[99] (water may not be available).

(8km) End of Vermont place → Int of GNW AND Charlestown Golf Course Tracks

1.2 km

23 mins

46m

-18m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the end of Vermont Place[100], this walk follows the GNW arrow post, along the footpath[101] through the gate[102] and into the park. The footpath leads around the edge of the park, past a playground[103] then continues around the back of the oval[104] for another 80m, to an intersection[105] with a management trail, marked with a gate[106] and a 'Great North Walk' sign[107].
Turn right: From the edge of the park[108], this walk follows the 'The Great North Walk' sign[109] through the locked gate[110] heading moderately steeply uphill[111] along the management trail, through forest. The walk follows GNW arrow markers[112] (ignoring side tracks) for about 350m, to an intersection[113], with a track[114] on the right.
Turn right: From the intersection[115], this walk follows the GNW arrow post east gently uphill[116] along the eroded track. The walk continues for about 220m, to find an open area[117] with overhead power lines[118]. This walk then crosses underneath the power lines (following the GNW arrow markers) and leads gently downhill[119] for about 500m, until coming to an intersection[120], with a track on the left (about 10m after a deeply eroded section of track[121]).

(9km) Int of GNW & Charlestown Golf Course Tracks → Int of Charlestown Golf Course Track & E K Ave

2.2 km

38 mins

26m

-41m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection[122], this walk follows the GNW arrow post south, gently downhill[123] along the narrow track[124]. This walk continues to follow the track for about 250m, passing views of the golf course[125] (on the left), to cross a timber footbridge[126]. Here the walk continues alongside the golf course for about 1.3km, to then lead down through the West Charlestown Bypass underpass[127]. On the other side of this road the walk continues gently uphill[128] for about 500m, to an intersection[129], with E K Ave[130].

(11km) Int of Charlestown golf course track AND E K Avenue → Int of Park Street and GNW Arrow Post

570 m

9 mins

14m

-2m Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection[131], this walk follows the GNW arrow post gently downhill[132] along the concrete footpath, beside E K Avenue. After about 70m this walk comes to GNW arrow post[133] at the signposted bus stop[134]).
Turn right: From the bus stop, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[135], across E K Ave[136] to then follow the indistinct track[137] alongside a new development[138] (on your left). The walk follows the forested creek[139] (on your right) and the edge of the development for about 160m, to veer right at an intersection[140] marked with a GNW arrow post[141]. The walk follows this track gently downhill for about 120m, to cross a timber footbridge[142], then continues alongside the creek[143] for almost 200m, to find the end of Park St[144].
Continue straight: From the end of Park St[145], this walk follows the footpath gently uphill[146] for about 70m, past three houses to come to an intersection with a track[147] (between the houses), on your right, marked with a GNW arrow post[148].

(12km) Int of Park Street & GNW Arrow Marker → Int of Anjon St & GNW Arrow Post

750 m

17 mins

49m

-10m Moderate track

Turn right: From no. 72 Park St, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[149] between the house following the grassy track gently downhill[150]. The track leads down timber steps[151] through dense forest[152] for about 130m, to cross an flat concrete footbridge[153]. The track then leads up the moderately steep hill[154] (with the creek on your left) for about 150m, then leads more gently uphill[155] for a further 250m, to cross the creek at an flat timber footbridge[156]. The walk continues (with the creek now on the right) for about 170m, to come to grass clearing behind some houses[157]. Here the walk turn right, following the GNW arrow post[158] gently uphill for about 80m, until coming to a T-intersection[159], with Anjon St[160].

(13km) Int of Anjon St & GNW Arrow Post → Charelstown Park

550 m

10 mins

19m

-2m Easy track

Turn right: From the dip in Anjon St[161], this walk follows the GNW arrow post[162] south along the grassy verge beside the street, initially keeping the bush reserve to your right. At the top of the hill, this walk crosses 'Patricia Ave'[163] and turns left to follow the footpath for about 250m, to turn then right at a roundabout[164] into 'Lincoln St'. This walk continues uphill along side 'Lincoln St'[165] for about 170m, over a rise and crosses 'Carl Cl' to head gently downhill[166] for about 50m, until coming to an intersection[167], with traffic lights at 'Pacific Highway', [168] beside 'Charlestown Park'.

Charlestown Park

'Charlestown Park'[169], by the Pacific Highway in Charlestown, offers a picnic table[170], shelter[171], barbeque[172] and war memorial[173]. Charlestown Park is also known and signposted as 'Anniversary Grove'[174].

Maps for the Teralba to Charlestown Park track head 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.

Wallsend	1:25 000 Map Series	92323S WALLSEND	NSW-92323S
Newcastle	1:100 000 Map Series	9232 NEWCASTLE	9232

Cross sectional view of the Teralba to Charlestown Park track head bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Teralba to Charlestown Park track head

Altitude analysis for Teralba to Charlestown Park track head

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	13.3 km
		Time	4 hrs 30 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

8km of this walk is flat with no steps and another 3.9km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (1.1km) has short steep hills.

Quality of track

8km of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path and another 4km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (1.1km) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 9km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 4.4km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 12km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.4km requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 13km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 12km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 1km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Teralba to Charlestown Park track head walk.

Teralba to Newcastle via Glenrock Scout Camp

25.7 km One way, 2 Days

This walk follows the most northern section of the Great North Walk, from the Teralba station along Macquarie lake, to Warners Bay. Most of the walking is along footpaths, through park land, or along the road side. After Charlestown, the walk heads through the bush to the old Belmont railway and al

Total climbing: 489m

Hard track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Teralba to Charlestown Park track head walk.

Charlestown Park track head to Merewether

7.9 km One way, 2 hrs 45 mins

Starting from a small park in Charlestown you will follow the Great North Walk through a few reserves and along a Burwood Beach, past the heads to Merewether Beach. Exploring bush around Glenrock lagoon on the Yuelarbah Track, including the Leichhardt’s Lookout are highlights. From this lookout th

Total climbing: 183m

Hard track

Charlestown Park trackhead to Newcastle station

12.1 km One way, 5 hrs 30 mins

This section of the Great North Walk starts from the Charleston Park track head and winds through the streets and the bush to the Glenrock State Conservation Area. Following a section of the Yuelarbah management trail, this walk also heads to the coast and down to the beaches. From near Glenrock La

Total climbing: 289m

Hard track

Yuelarbah walking track to Flaggy Creek

1.3 km Return, 40 mins

A great way to explore the tree canopy and valley in one easy walk. From the car park, you will be lead along a 100m long elevated timber boardwalk that brings you eye level with the tree canopy. Continue into the valley following the gently undulating wide track to cross Flaggy Creek using a solid

Total climbing: 52m

Easy track

Northern Green Point Circuit

3.8 km Circuit, 1 hr 30 mins

This walk visits two lovely foreshore locations on Lake Macquarie, before gaining height and traveling through eucalyptus forest and then finally descending again to the foreshore. The forest walking is mostly along fire trails adjacent to houses and it is possible to shorten the walk by exiting on

Total climbing: 140m

Hard track

Rocky-high Circuit Walk

666 m Circuit, 30 mins

This short circuit walk offers elevated views over Lake Macquarie from Rocky-high Viewpoint. This walk offers pleasant walking beside Lake Macquarie, as well as on a quiet track inland through eucalyptus forest. If possible, complete this walk close to sunset to take advantage of the views across

Total climbing: 27m

Moderate track

Heaton Gap to Teralba station

14.8 km One way, 6 hrs

This section of the Great North Walk starts from Heaton Gap near the Watagan Forest Motel, and winds east, towards Newcastle. The walk passes through the Awaba State Forest and past the Sugarloaf range, down into Wakefield and on to Teralba, a pleasant town on the edge of Lake Macquarie. Accommodati

Total climbing: 460m

Hard track

Leichhardt's Green Point Walk

2.4 km Return, 1 Hr

This walk offers the shortest way of walking to Green Point. Starting from the elevated Leichhardt Road in Valentine, the walk descends through eucalyptus forest with some pleasant clearings on the way. Green Point is a great place for picnics and feels as if you can see the entire Lake Macquarie

Total climbing: 84m

Moderate track

Blackbutt Wildlife Exhibit

480 m Circuit, 15 mins

A must do at Blackbutt Reserve. This wheelchair accessible elevated boardwalk gets you in amongst the trees, as you amble through enclosure after enclosure of native flora and fauna. There are even close encounters with Koalas!. This free walk is open 9am to 5pm every day (closed Christmas Day, G

Total climbing: 14m

Very easy

Main Ridge Circuit Walk

2.5 km Circuit, 1 Hr

This walk follows a wide trail along eucalyptus lined broad ridges as it circumnavigates Black Duck Creek. This walk starts and finishes at Carnley Reserve and while there, why not enjoy a picnic and/or visit to the Wildlife Exhibits. Combined with the excellent facilities at Carnley Reserve, thi

Total climbing: 92m

Moderate track

Rod Earp Rainforest Circuit (from Carnley Ave)

2 km Circuit, 1 Hr

This walk takes the walker into a dense cool rainforest that seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of Newcastle city. You're likely to see flying foxes in the trees and, if you're lucky, a Powerful Owl. Starting and finishing at the Carnley Ave Reserve, this walk can easily be combined wit

Total climbing: 99m

Moderate track

Rod Earp Rain Forest Circuit (from Lookout Rd)

1.9 km Circuit, 1 Hr

This quiet and secluded walk is an easy amble through attractive rainforest. This walk circumnavigates Rainforest Creek and takes the walker into cool dense forest. You are likely to see flying foxes in the trees and if you are lucky, a Powerful Owl. Accessed from the quieter Lookout Road car par

Total climbing: 104m

Moderate track

Black Duck Creek Circuit Walk

2.1 km Circuit, 1 Hr

This walk circumnavigates Black Duck Creek by following the shady Blueberry Ash trail. The walk then returns to Carnley Reserve using the Main Ridge Walking Trail. This relatively short walk has a good combination of shady moist forest and more exposed ridge forest. Make sure you visit the Wildli

Total climbing: 89m

Moderate track