Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop

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Time 2 hrs 30 mins
Circuit 5.6 km Circuit
Climb 336 m
Grade 4 Hard track
Car
This loop track starts from the Hunter Lookout picnic area and follows the Great North Walk around the edge of the ridge via the Macleans Lookout, Rocky Creek gully and the cliffs around the eastern edge of the ridge. This walk provides great views across the valley and much of the Hunter to the north. On the return, the walk takes a leisurely stroll along the dirt roads, passing the pines plantation area and the rocky creek camping area.

Hunter Lookout

Hunter Lookout
Hunter Lookout[1] can be found on Bakers Road, along the Great North Walk. This fenced lookout has everything you will need snack-stop, including toilets[2], picnic tables, chairs and wood-fired barbecues[3]. This lookout has fantastic views[4] over much of the Hunter region[5]. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so water is no longer available at Hunter Lookout.

(0km) Hunter Lookout picnic area → Macleans Lookout

distance 700 m time 16 mins climb 39m descent -38m Moderate track
From the picnic area, this walk heads north, past the metal gate to the intersection of Bakers Road.
Veer left: From the Hunter Lookout picnic area[6] (on Bakers Road), this walk follows Bakers Road north and gently downhill[7], while keeping Hunter Lookout on your left. The walk continues for about 400m until coming to a Y-intersection[8] (Bakers Road loop).
Continue straight: From the intersection[9] (Bakers Road Loop), this walk follows the track gently uphill[10], 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[11].

Mcleans Lookout

Mcleans Lookout
McLeans Lookout[12] offers magnificent views of the valleys[13] in Heaton State Forest. Located on Bakers Road, this fenced lookout also has picnic facilities including tables with seats[14] and open grassy areas.

(1km) Maclean Lookout → Int of GNW track AND Glen Road

distance 670 m time 17 mins climb 26m descent -86m Hard track
Veer right: From Mcleans Lookout[15], this walk follows Bakers Road gently downhill, while keeping Macleans Lookout behind you on your left. The walk continues for about 80m until coming to a three-way intersection[16] with a wide track and GNW arrow marker (on the left).
Continue straight: From the intersection[17], this walk follows the trail gently downhill[18], 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[19] with a track on the left.
Turn sharp right: From the intersection[20], this walk follows the track moderately steeply downhill[21], while keeping the GNW arrow marker on your left. The walk continues (descending moderately steeply into[22] and out[23] of a gully) for about 150m, until coming to a three-way intersection, Glen Road[24].

(1km) Int of GNW track & Glen Road → Int of GNW track & a narrow road

distance 860 m time 25 mins climb 87m descent -67m Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection[25], this walk follows the track gently downhill[26], while keeping the 'Glenn Rd' sign[27] on your right. The walk continues through forest[28] for about 120m, until coming to a three-way intersection[29] with a track and GNW arrow marker (on the left).
Turn left : From the intersection[30], this walk follows the GNW arrow marker[31] moderately steeply down along the track[32]. The walk continues for about 100m, to find a forested mossy creek[33] where the track bend right and continues close to the creek[34] for about 70m to then bend left and crossing the creek. The walk now follows the track undulating gently for about 280m before finding a large rock overhang[35]. The walk then continues moderately steeply uphill[36] for about 200m until coming to a T-intersection[37] with a wide trail and GNW arrow marker[38].

(2km) Int of GNW track & a wide track → Int of GNW track and Hammonds Road

distance 770 m time 24 mins climb 89m descent -85m Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection[39], this walk follows 'Watagan Forest Road' sign[40] uphill[41] along the trail for about 200m to a three-way intersection[42], with another 'Watagan Forest Road' sign[43] (on your left).
Continue straight: From the intersection[44], this walk follows the wide track gently downhill, while keeping the 'Macleans Lookout 2km' sign[45] on your right. The walk continues for about 140m to a three-way intersection[46], with Fosters Road on your right and 'Fosters Road' sign[47] on your left.
Continue straight: From the intersection[48], this walk follows the GNW arrow post down along the wide old trail[49], passing the 'Fosters Road' sign[50] on your left. The walk continues for about 100m, where the wide track then leads moderately steeply downhill[51] for about 150m more. The walk then crosses a gully[52] and heads up[53] over another rise for about 70m to where the track narrows then bends left at a GNW arrow post. About 180m past the post, the walk crosses a gully[54] then heads up the other side, past a termite mound[55] to an unfenced cliff with distance valley views[56]. Here the track bends right and leads up a short distance to a dirt road[57]. The walk turns left and follows the road down for just a few metres to the 'Hammonds Road' sign, where the 'MacLean Lookout' arrow[58] points back along the road.

(3km) Int of Hammonds Road and Great North Walk bushtrack → Int of Hammonds and Fosters Roads

distance 400 m time 10 mins climb 43m descent 0m Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows Hammonds Road along the management trail and up the steady hill, through thick forest to the intersection with Fosters Road.

(3km) Int of Hammonds and Fosters Roads → Int of Hammonds and Rockey Creek Roads

distance 590 m time 11 mins climb 11m descent -12m Hard track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads south-west down the long hill, following Hammonds Road along the edge of the plantation. Soon, the road heads up to the other side of the hill to the intersection with Hermits Road.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads west along Hammonds Road, following the edge of the plantation to the intersection with Rockey Creek Road.

(4km) Int of Hammonds and Rockey Creek Roads → Rockey Creek Rest Area

distance 510 m time 9 mins climb 1m descent -30m Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows Rockey Creek Road north-west down the long hill to the intersection with Hermits Road.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill along Rockey Creek Road, crossing a small stream on a rock platform and heading up the other side to the rest area on the north side of the road.

Rocky Creek Campsite

Rocky Creek Campsite
This campsite provides ample room for a few tents and a campfire, and there is a small creek a short distance away, which often provides opportunity to boil up some drinking water (may dry out at times).

(4km) Rockey Creek Rest Area → Int of Rockey Creek and Bakers Road

distance 450 m time 10 mins climb 31m descent 0m Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up Rockey Creek Road, around the sharp left-hand bend and up the long and steady hill to the intersection with Bakers Road.

(5km) Int of Bakers & Rocky Creek Roads → Int of Bakers & Glen Roads

distance 400 m time 7 mins climb 8m descent -3m Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection[59], 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[60] (on the right).

(5km) Int of Bakers & Glen Roads → Hunter Lookout picnic area

distance 270 m time 4 mins climb 1m descent -14m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection[61], this walk follows Bakers Road gently uphill[62], while keeping Glen Road on your right. The walk continues, undulating gently for about 250m until coming to Hunter Lookout picnic area[63] (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.

Maps for the Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop 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.

Quorrobolong1:25 000 Map Series91322S QUORROBOLONGNSW-91322S
Cessnock1:50 000 Map Series91322 CESSNOCKCW-91322
Cessnock1:100 000 Map Series9132 CESSNOCK9132

Cross sectional view of the Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop

Altitude analysis for Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop

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.

Length5.6 km
Time2 hrs 30 mins
.




Grade 4/6



Hard track
AS 2156.1GradientVery steep (4/6)
Quality of trackRough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
SignsMinimal directional signs (4/6)
Experience RequiredModerate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
WeatherWeather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
InfrastructureLimited 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

3.6km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (1000m) is very steep.

Quality of track

3.2km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.7km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (720m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.

Signs

Around 2.9km of this walk has minimal directional signs, whilst the remaining 2.8km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

3.7km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience and another 1km requires some bushwalking experience. The remaining (900m) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

3.7km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 1.4km has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). The remaining (530m) 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 Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop walk starts and ends at the Hunter Lookout picnic area (gps: -32.962577, 151.41383)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

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.

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