West Head Lookout Track

Download & Print Map and Notes

1 Hr

1.9 km Return

96 m

Moderate track

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 West Head Lookout, while enjoying more of the park.

Barrenjoey Headland from West Head Lookout

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) 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. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.

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

820 m

20 mins

19m

-70m Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows steps down the hill following the sign to 'West Head Lookout'. The track continues to undulate along the hillside passing a sign pointing to 'West Head Lookout'. The track continues along the hillside to open out onto the sandstone paved area of West Head Lookout at a signposted intersection.

West Head Lookout

West Head Lookout, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is a large paved sandstone viewing area[1] with fantastic views and some interesting interpretive signs[2][3][4][5][6]. The view spans across the Hawkesbury River to Lion Island[7] to Patonga (Central Coast) also across the Pittwater to Barrenjoey Headland[8] and out to sea. The lookout has a series of bench seats

[Seat]

and a low (50cm[9]) stone wall. A lovely place to just sit and soak up the views, and history of the area.

Maps for the West Head Lookout 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 West Head Lookout Track bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the West Head Lookout Track

Altitude analysis for West Head Lookout 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	1.9 km
		Time	1 Hr
		.
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	Clearly signposted (1/6)
		Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
		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

This whole walk, 950m has short steep hills.

Quality of track

Around 820m of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 130m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

This whole walk, 950m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 950m requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 950m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 820m of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 130m 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 West Head Lookout 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

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

Resolute Track

3.7 km Return, 1 hr 30 mins

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 manage

Total climbing: 201m

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 West Head Lookout 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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