Norah Head Lighthouse and Rockshelf walk

Download & Print Map and Notes

45 mins

1.6 km Return

56 m

Hard track

A very interesting and very scenic walk, taking in the merchant mariners memorial, and lookout, and the Norah Head lighthouse before exploring the rockshelf below Norah Head. The lighthouse is very picturesque and the setting is beautiful, with some fantastic views along the coastline from the paths around the area. The merchant mariners memorial adds some more historic interest to the walk. The rockshelf is interesting to explore, with plenty of shapes and textures in the rock.

(0km) Lighthouse car park → Merchant Mariners memorial lookout

90 m

2 mins

-7m Very easy

From the end of the car park, this walk crosses the car park, tending to the left, then crosses Bush St to the Merchant Mariners memorial and lookout. There are numerous plaques in the footpath and set in rocks at the memorial, providing information about merchant ships and lives lost during times of war.

Merchant Mariners memorial and lookout

This memorial and lookout point commemorates the loss of lives in the merchant navy, during times of war, primarily WWII [1]. There are several plaques with details of the ships and number of lives lost. The stunning views from the lookout take in the nearby Norah Head lighthouse and much of the coastline to the south.

(0km) Merchant Mariners memorial lookout → Cottage car park

120 m

3 mins

-11m Very easy

Turn sharp left: From the lookout, this walk follows the footpath towards the lighthouse, passing an information board, to the right, and keeping the driveway to the left. The walk soon arrives at the corner of the lighthouse cottage yard, beside the car park.

Lighthouse cottages and weddings

The cottages at the Norah Head Lighthouse can be booked as accommodation (ph: 1300 132 975) and the Lighthouse grounds can be booked for weddings (ph: (02) 4396 4102). More info.

(0km) Cottage car park → Lighthouse

100 m

2 mins

-5m Very easy

Continue straight: From the corner of the cottage yard, this walk follows the footpath past the lighthouse cottages, to the left, to the gate beside the lighthouse.

Norah Head Lighthouse

The lighthouse was established in 1903 and was converted from a kerosene burner to mains electricity power in 1961. Tours of the lighthouse are available on weekends [5], every half hour between 10am and 1:30pm [6]. More info.

(0km) Lighthouse → Lighthouse Point lookout

80 m

1 mins

-4m Very easy

Continue straight: From the gate beside the lighthouse, this walk follows the footpath, gently down the hill, towards the ocean. The walk soon reaches a viewing point at the top of the beach access steps.

Norah Head Lighthouse Point lookout

This lookout, on the point of Norah Head, near the lighthouse, has amazing views in all directions, up and down the coastline, across the rockshelves and beaches below, and of the lighthouse itself.

(0km) Lighthouse Point lookout → Bottom of Norah Head steps

40 m

1 mins

-2m Moderate track

Turn right: From the top of the steps, this walk goes down the timber steps to the beach at the bottom.

(0km) Bottom of Norah Head steps → Southern end of Lighthouse Beach

360 m

6 mins

-8m Hard track

Veer left: From the bottom of the steps, this walk crosses the end of the sandy beach and explores the extensive rock platform before heading north around the headland, keeping the ocean to the right. Soon after going around the headland, the walk reaches the southern end of Lighthouse Beach[7].

Norah Head rockshelf

This rockshelf is at the tip of Norah Head, below the lighthouse. The general scenery in the area is beautiful and the rockshelves have a lot of interesting shapes and textures, making the area interesting to explore. The rockshelf can be reached from the nearby beaches or via steps from the lighthouse.

Maps for the Norah Head Lighthouse and Rockshelf walk 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.

Toukley	1:25 000 Map Series	92313N TOUKLEY	NSW-92313N
Lake Macquarie	1:100 000 Map Series	9231 LAKE MACQUARIE	9231

Cross sectional view of the Norah Head Lighthouse and Rockshelf walk bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Norah Head Lighthouse and Rockshelf walk

Altitude analysis for Norah Head Lighthouse and Rockshelf walk

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	1.6 km
		Time	45 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	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

380m of this walk is flat with no steps and another 360m has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (45m) has short steep hills.

Quality of track

380m of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path and another 360m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. The remaining (45m) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

380m of this walk is clearly signposted and another 360m has minimal directional signs. The remaining (45m) has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 400m of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 380m requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 430m of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 360m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

Around 430m of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 360m 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 Norah Head Lighthouse and Rockshelf walk walk.

Norah Head Lighthouse walk

762 m Return, 30 mins

A short, interesting and very scenic walk. The Norah Head lighthouse is very picturesque and the setting is beautiful, with some fantastic views along the coastline from the paths around the area. The merchant mariners memorial adds some more historic interest to the walk.

Total climbing: 38m

Very easy

Norah Head Nature Trail

2.2 km Return, 1 Hr

A beautiful walk with a great variety of scenery. The walk starts with some beautiful forest scenery, visits an interesting memorial to the merchant navy, wanders past the scenic Norah Head lighthouse with its stunning coastline views, and finishes with some exploration of the rockshelf below the li

Total climbing: 65m

Moderate track

Norah Head Lighthouse Loop

2.5 km Circuit, 1 Hr

A fantastic loop walk with a great variety of excellent scenery. The walk covers the Norah Head Nature Trail with it's beautiful forest scenery, the merchant navy memorial and Norah Head lighthouse before returning via the shoreline. There are plenty of stunning coastline views and some exploration

Total climbing: 66m

Hard track

Rockpool to Norah Head Lighthouse

2.6 km Return, 1 Hr

A great, scenic walk along the shoreline at Norah Head, to the lighthouse with it's picturesque location and beautiful views. The walk along the beach and rockshelf is interesting, with lots of shapes and textures making the rockshelf interesting to explore. The Norah Head lighthouse is very picture

Total climbing: 60m

Hard track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Norah Head Lighthouse and Rockshelf walk walk.

Norah Head Rockpool

150 m Return, 15 mins

A very short walk to the Norah Head rockpool in Cabbage Tree Harbour. The rockpool is a great, sheltered spot to swim and relax on a sunny day. You could also happily spend some time exploring the nearby rockshelves. A great spot for a lazy afternoon with plenty of interesting scenery.

Total climbing: 6m

Easy track

Wetland trail to Rainforest

4.8 km One way, 1 hr 45 mins

A great one-way walk covering some of the highlights of this part of Wyrrabalong National Park. The walk starts off through some beautiful wetland forest, before passing through areas of fantastic, twisted Sydney Redgums and Burrawang cycads. A couple a lookouts provide great views and spots to rela

Total climbing: 79m

Moderate track

Wetland Trail to Redgum Lookout

3.1 km Return, 1 hr 15 mins

A very nice walk through some wetland forest and some of the beautiful Sydney Redgum forest, a feature of the area. The unnamed Redgum Lookout, at the return point of the walk, has some great views and is an atmospheric spot to spend some time before returning. Much of the walk is on sandy tracks. T

Total climbing: 54m

Moderate track

Redgum trail

3.4 km Circuit, 1 hr 15 mins

An excellent loop walk through areas of beautiful Sydney Redgums. In several places these twisted trees lean over the track, creating great scenery and atmosphere. Two lookout platforms along the way provide some fantastic views over the surrounding areas and Tuggerah Lake. Much of the walk is on sa

Total climbing: 48m

Moderate track

Wyrrabalong Figure 8

6.9 km Circuit, 2 hrs 15 mins

A great walk covering much of the excellent scenery in this area. This walk includes great views over Tuggerah lake, some beautiful areas of littoral rainforest, very picturesque, twisted Sydney Redgums leaning over the track and plenty of Burrawangs (a cycad). The lookouts along the way provide goo

Total climbing: 104m

Moderate track

Lillypilly Loop Trail

3.6 km Circuit, 1 hr 15 mins

This beautiful loop walk passes through a great variety of forest scenery, including some lovely rainforest, dominated by cabbage palms and other trees. There are some beautiful views across Tuggerah Lake, and parts of the track feature twisted Sydney Redgums leaning over the track, and the shorter

Total climbing: 62m

Moderate track

Tuggerah Lake vista and Rainforest

1.8 km Return, 45 mins

A beautiful, short walk passing through a variety of scenery, featuring an area of littoral rainforest, dominated by big cabbage palms. There are beautiful views across Tuggerah lake at the return point. Much of the walk is on sandy tracks and several sections of wooden boards keep the track in good

Total climbing: 28m

Moderate track

Tea Tree Picnic Area to Birdie Beach

444 m Return, 10 mins

Starting at Tea Tree Picnic Area, this short walk follows a beach access track to Birdie Beach. Along the way, the walk visits Bird Island Lookout, providing a great view of Bird Island, and up and down Birdie Beach. The walk continues down the timber path and steps, across the sand to the edge of

Total climbing: 18m

Easy track

Tea Tree Picnic Area to Bird Island Lookout

136 m Return, 3 mins

This short walk leads from the Tea Tree car park and Picnic Area to the Bird Island Lookout. The view from the fenced platform looks up and down Birdie Beach, and out to sea to Bird Island. The walk starts from the car park and heads across the compacted dirt and gravel track, before leading up a t

Total climbing: 3m

Very easy

Freemans camping area to Birdie Beach

1.2 km Return, 25 mins

A short walk to access the beach from Freemans camping area. This easy walk takes campers along a wide path to Birdie Beach car park, then to Birdie Beach. The campsite is far enough back from the beach to be protected from the sea breeze, so this walk saves the longer trip via the road. Further n

Total climbing: 12m

Easy track

Campbell Dr to Birdie Beach View (Geebung Track)

3.3 km Return, 1 hr 15 mins

This walk follows the Geebung Track to the sweeping views of Birdie Beach. From Campbell Dr, you will follow a management trail down to a creek where the Geebung Track narrows and winds through the heath to the top of the hill, where there is a view to Birdie Beach. The views south along Birdie Bea

Total climbing: 65m

Moderate track

Campbell Drive to Snapper Point

4.2 km One way, 1 hr 45 mins

This walk follows the Coast Track to Frazer Beach, along the Geebung and (overgrown) Grass Tree Tracks. From the northern end of Frazer Beach, the walk heads across the exposed rockshelf to Snapper Point Beach, then on to Snapper Point (consider tide and sea conditions before setting out). From Sna

Total climbing: 135m

Experienced only

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Norah Head Lighthouse and Rockshelf walk walk starts and ends at the Lighthouse car park (gps: -33.282140, 151.57357)

Bus. (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

Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve

Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve is home to a small parcel of bushland and a lighthouse, north of The Entrance on the NSW Central Coast. The land and lighthouse is managed by the Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve Trust who was appointed by the NSW Minister for Lands in 2007. The trust maintains some walking track and the lighthouse. The lighthouse can be booked for overnight accommodation. The Lighthouse was opened on 15th November 1903 and is still in active use today.

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