Resolute Track

Download & Print Map and Notes

1 hr 30 mins

3.7 km Return

201 m

Hard track

The Resolute Track, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a great way to see two major Aboriginal sites and Resolute Beach. The return-style walk starts from Resolute picnic area and heads down to Resolute Beach, passing a Red Hands Cave and an Aboriginal engraving site. The Resolute Track uses management trails and bush tracks which have views over the sea as they pass through heath, rainforest and bushland.

Resolute Picnic Area

Resolute picnic area, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a large grassed area with benches, shelter, interpretive signs, electric BBQ's and an environmentally-friendly toilet block. The picnic area does not have drinking water, but does have a pay phone and wheelchair-accessible bathroom with baby-changing area. Resolute picnic area is a great place for lunch, with Red Hands Cave, West Head and Resolute Beach and West Head Lookout tracks starting from the picnic area. The picnic area has adequate parking and a bus turn-around area.

(0km) Resolute Picnic Area → Int. West Head Lookout Trk and Red Hands Cave Trk

130 m

3 mins

-6m Moderate track

From Resolute Picnic Area car park, the walk heads through the picnic area, away from the road, to follow the 'Red Hands Track 50m' sign. The walk then descends a flight of stairs to the intersection at the bottom.

(0km) Resolute Picnic Area → Int. West Head Trk and Red Hands Cave Trk

120 m

2 mins

-3m Moderate track

Continue straight: From Resolute Picnic Area, this walk follow the signs for 'Red Hands Cave' away from the picnic area. The track heads down the sandy service trail for approximately 100m to the intersection marked by the sign on the left. Now Continue straight to rejoin the main walk .

(0km) Int. West Head Lookout Trk and Red Hands Cave Trk → Red Hands Cave

20 m

-1m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads down the hill, following the rocky outcrop to the right of the track. The walk follows this for approximately 30m to the interpretation signs for Red Hands Cave.

Red Hands Cave

Red Hands Cave, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a small rock overhang just near Resolute Picnic Area. The red hands are made by ochre, clay, being blown over an outspread hand. This Aboriginal rock art has been given an estimation of approximately 2000 years in age.

(0km) Red Hands Cave → Int. West Head Trk and Red Hands Cave Trk

130 m

2 mins

0m Moderate track

Continue straight: From Red Hands Cave, this walk heads along the bottom of the rocky outcrop, keeping it to the right of the track. The walk then ascends some stairs, passing up and around the rock shelf. After this, the track turns left as it continues, climbing slightly to the signposted intersection with the service trail.

(0km) Int. West Head Trk and Red Hands Cave Trk → Engravings

360 m

6 mins

-17m Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill for a short time, to the information sign on the left of the track.

Engavings

The engravings on West Head were made by the indigenous Guringai people. The engravings depict a man, shark/whale and two eels.

(1km) Engravings → Int. Headland Track and Engravings Bushtrack

190 m

4 mins

-18m Hard track

Turn left : From the engraving of the man, this walk heads off the rock shelf near a vegetation-covered sign indicating the 'Headland Track'. The track winds through dense scrub for about 200m to the intersection with the management trail, the Headland Track.

(1km) Int. Headland Track and Engravings Bushtrack → Int. Headland Track and Resolute Beach Trk

680 m

14 mins

-51m Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill towards the water for some time. After a few turns in the service trail, the track winds down a steep slope for approximately 300m to the intersection, where there is a sign indicating the way to 'Resolute Beach'.

(2km) Int. Headland Track and Resolute Beach Trk → Int. Cave Trk and Resolute Beach Trk

60 m

2 mins

-12m Hard track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads down a flight of stairs following the sign to 'Resolute Beach'. The walk then turns left down more steps to head below a small cliffline, and comes to a sign at an intersection with a track on the left (which heads down to a cave).

(2km) Int. Cave Trk and Resolute Beach Trk → Cave

20 m

1 mins

0m Hard track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads towards the rock formations, following the hillside. The track then enters an overhang of a cave. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer left.

(2km) Int. Cave Trk and Resolute Beach Trk → Resolute Beach

260 m

8 mins

-76m Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill for approximately 50m towards the sea. The track then heads down a flight of stairs and continues down another staircase to the intersection, marked 'Mackerel' and 'Resolute' beaches.
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Resolute' Beach arrow along the hillside to an un-signposted intersection.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill towards the water, following the creek line to the beach. The track winds down the hill for approximately 30m to a small creek waterfall. The track is hidden in parts by grasses for approximately 20m before it heads down a few flights of stairs to where the track reaches the beach.

Resolute Beach

Resolute Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, is a small stretch of sand sitting on the West Head Peninsula between steep headlands. The easterly aspect of the beach overlooks Barrenjoey Headland across the Pittwater.

Maps for the Resolute Track 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 Bay	1:25 000 Map Series	91301N BROKEN BAY	NSW-91301N
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map	1:40 000 Map Series	CMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map	CMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map
Sydney	1:100 000 Map Series	9130 SYDNEY	9130

Cross sectional view of the Resolute Track bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Resolute Track

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	3.7 km
		Time	1 hr 30 mins
		.
Grade 4/6 Hard track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
		Signs	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
		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

1.3km of this walk has short steep hills and another 360m is flat with no steps. The remaining (150m) has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

1km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 600m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (190m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.

Signs

1.4km of this walk is clearly signposted and another 260m has directional signs at most intersection. The remaining (190m) has minimal directional signs.

Experience Required

Around 1.3km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 510m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 1.8km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

1km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 510m has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). The remaining (290m) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Resolute Track walk.

Red Hands Cave

403 m Circuit, 30 mins

This is a short walk down to Red Hands Cave from the Resolute Picnic Area. The walk loops from the picnic area through the heath and down to the overhang of the cave. The Aboriginal rock art is quite faded but is estimated to be over 2000 years old. This makes for an interesting historic walk, great

Total climbing: 9m

Moderate track

Aboriginal Heritage Track

1.1 km Circuit, 45 mins

The Aboriginal Heritage Track takes in one of the most popular rock art sites in Ku-ring-gai National Park, and an amazing Aboriginal engraving site. The walk leads out from Resolute Picnic Area to pass by the caves and then continues down the management trail to the engravings. The walk then retur

Total climbing: 27m

Moderate track

West Head Lookout Track

1.9 km Return, 1 Hr

From Resolute Picnic Area, this walk heads out to West Head Lookout, with magnificent views across the Hawkesbury River and Lion Island. The track is a direct route which passes through classic Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park bushland. This walk offers a great way to avoid competing for parking at W

Total climbing: 96m

Moderate track

Headland track (Resolute track)

3.5 km Circuit, 1 hr 45 mins

This walk is a great way to see two major Aboriginal sites and up to three of Ku-ring-gai Chase's beaches. The circuit walk visits Red Hands Cave and some historic engravings, in addition to enjoying expansive views over Pittwater, with Barrenjoey Headland as a feature. The walk includes Resolute an

Total climbing: 243m

Hard track

Mackerel Beach and Resolute Loop

5.4 km Circuit, 3 hrs

This walk is another great walk in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, accessed by ferry. From the Mackerel Beach wharf, this walk uses the Resolute Loop track to round the headland, enjoying a few secluded beaches and excellent, historic Aboriginal sites. This walk features Mackerel Beach and communit

Total climbing: 384m

Hard track

Mackerel Beach, West Head Loop

8.6 km Circuit, 5 hrs

The Mackerel Beach, West Head Loop is a walk which explores a large part of the West Head. The journey starts and finishes with a ferry across Pittwater. The walk heads around West Head, taking in views on the Broken Bay side, with Lion Island featuring as a prominent sight. The walk follows section

Total climbing: 422m

Hard track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Resolute Track walk.

Koolewong Track

810 m Circuit, 30 mins

Probably the best word to describe this walk is 'cute'. The circuit walk starts with a few steep steps, but soon flattens out, following a well-defined track through an open forest, via some natural sandstone sculptures. The lookout is notable for wonderful views to Patonga, Lion Island and out thr

Total climbing: 32m

Moderate track

West Head Lookout

238 m Return, 10 mins

This walk is all about the stunning views from the edge of West Head. After the lovely drive through the bushland along the West Head Rd you will love this gentle stroll down to what feels like the edge of the earth. There are great views across the Pittwater to Barenjoey Head as well as across the

Total climbing: 18m

Easy track

Flint and Steel Beach and bay loop

2.8 km Circuit, 1 hr 30 mins

This track creates a loop between Flint and Steel Beach and Bay by traversing the headland between them. The walk explores Flint and Steel Beach and the McGaw ruins, while providing scenic views across the Hawkesbury River to landmarks such as Lion Island.

Total climbing: 227m

Car. A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.<br /> (get details)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Metropolitan weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

A largely untouched wilderness on the northern boundary of Sydney, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP is one of Australia's oldest national parks. Here at the head of the Hawkesbury River, you'll find Aboriginal engravings and sites, as well as sandstone escarpments,

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