Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout

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Time 4 hrs
One way 8.1 km One way
Climb 571 m
Grade 4 Hard track
Car
This scenic walk includes dramatic lookouts and time spent in moist cool forest. The walk initially travels on dirt road past Hunter and MacLean’s Lookout, before descending into the Wallis Creek catchment. Here the walk traverses underneath many cliffs before crossing Wallis Creek and arriving at Heaton Lookout. A recommended walk with car access either end.

Watagan Headquarters

Watagan Headquarters
Watagan Headsquarters campsite[1] (aka Forestry HQ) is located in the Heaton State Forest, beside Bakers Rd, near Heaton Rd. This campsite has wood fired barbecues[2], picnic tables[3] and a garbage bin[4]. The large, flat, cleared area[5] allows plenty of room to pitch a tent. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so there is no longer water available.

(0km) Forestry H.Q campsite → Hunter Lookout picnic area

distance 1.6 km time 27 mins climb 21m descent -38m Moderate track
From the intersection (Forestry H.Q. campsite)[6], this walk follows Bakers Road gently downhill[7], while keeping the GNW arrow marker on your right[8] and the large 'Great North Walk' sign[9] on your left. The walk continues, undulating gently for about 900m until coming to a three-way intersection with Rocky Creek Road[10] (on the right).
Continue straight: From the intersection[11], 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[12] (on the right).
Continue straight: From the intersection[13], this walk follows Bakers Road gently uphill[14], while keeping Glen Road on your right. The walk continues, undulating gently for about 250m until coming to Hunter Lookout picnic area[15] (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.

Hunter Lookout

Hunter Lookout
Hunter Lookout[16] can be found on Bakers Road, along the Great North Walk. This fenced lookout has everything you will need snack-stop, including toilets[17], picnic tables, chairs and wood-fired barbecues[18]. This lookout has fantastic views[19] over much of the Hunter region[20]. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so water is no longer available at Hunter Lookout.

(2km) Hunter Lookout picnic area → Int of GNW track & Bakers Road

distance 670 m time 15 mins climb 39m descent -35m Moderate track
Continue straight: 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[21] (on Bakers Road), this walk follows Bakers Road north and gently downhill[22], while keeping Hunter Lookout on your left. The walk continues for about 400m until coming to a Y-intersection[23] (Bakers Road loop).
Veer right: From the intersection[24] (Bakers Road loop),this walk follows the Bakers Road loop gently downhill, while keeping the gently uphill Bakers Road loop on your left. The walk continues through forest for about 210m until coming to a three-way intersection[25] with a wide track and 'The Great North Walk/Maclean Lookout' sign[26] on the right.

(2km) Int of GNW track & Bakers Road → Maclean Lookout

distance 100 m time 2 mins climb 3m descent -5m Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection[27], this walk follows Bakers Road gently uphill, while keeping the GNW arrow marker and views on your right. The walk continues for about 80m until coming to Mcleans Lookout[28] (on the right). At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Continue straight.

Mcleans Lookout

Mcleans Lookout
McLeans Lookout[29] offers magnificent views of the valleys[30] in Heaton State Forest. Located on Bakers Road, this fenced lookout also has picnic facilities including tables with seats[31] and open grassy areas.

(2km) Int of GNW track & Bakers Road → Int of GNW track AND Glen Road

distance 570 m time 15 mins climb 21m descent -83m Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection[32], this walk follows the trail gently downhill[33], 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[34] with a track on the left.
Turn sharp right: From the intersection[35], this walk follows the track moderately steeply downhill[36], while keeping the GNW arrow marker on your left. The walk continues (descending moderately steeply into[37] and out[38] of a gully) for about 150m, until coming to a three-way intersection, Glen Road[39].

(3km) 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[40], this walk follows the track gently downhill[41], while keeping the 'Glenn Rd' sign[42] on your right. The walk continues through forest[43] for about 120m, until coming to a three-way intersection[44] with a track and GNW arrow marker (on the left).
Turn left : From the intersection[45], this walk follows the GNW arrow marker[46] moderately steeply down along the track[47]. The walk continues for about 100m, to find a forested mossy creek[48] where the track bend right and continues close to the creek[49] 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[50]. The walk then continues moderately steeply uphill[51] for about 200m until coming to a T-intersection[52] with a wide trail and GNW arrow marker[53].

(4km) 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[54], this walk follows 'Watagan Forest Road' sign[55] uphill[56] along the trail for about 200m to a three-way intersection[57], with another 'Watagan Forest Road' sign[58] (on your left).
Continue straight: From the intersection[59], this walk follows the wide track gently downhill, while keeping the 'Macleans Lookout 2km' sign[60] on your right. The walk continues for about 140m to a three-way intersection[61], with Fosters Road on your right and 'Fosters Road' sign[62] on your left.
Continue straight: From the intersection[63], this walk follows the GNW arrow post down along the wide old trail[64], passing the 'Fosters Road' sign[65] on your left. The walk continues for about 100m, where the wide track then leads moderately steeply downhill[66] for about 150m more. The walk then crosses a gully[67] and heads up[68] 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[69] then heads up the other side, past a termite mound[70] to an unfenced cliff with distance valley views[71]. Here the track bends right and leads up a short distance to a dirt road[72]. The walk turns left and follows the road down for just a few metres to the 'Hammonds Road' sign, where the 'MacLean Lookout' arrow[73] points back along the road.

(4km) Int of GNW track and Hammonds Road → Int of GNW track and Wallis Creek

distance 1.4 km time 44 mins climb 113m descent -214m Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection[74], this walk follows the 'Heaton Lookout' sign[75] downhill along the road a few metres, then veers left to follow the GNW arrow down the old trail[76]. The walk leads fairly steeply down for about 180m then passes around a timber barrier[77]. Here the track narrows and continues more steeply downhill[78] through forest for about 250m to a gully and creek crossing[79] (with many fallen dead trees[80]).
Continue straight: This walk crosses the creek[81] and follows the track, while keeping the valley on your left. The walk follows the track steeply up for a short distance, then follows along the base of a cliff[82] for about 120m to pass through a long sandstone cave[83]. The rocky track leads steeply down through the dense rainforest for 700m, following a series of GNW arrow posts to the bottom of the gully beside Wallis Creek[84].

(6km) Int of GNW track and Wallis Creek → Int of GNW track and Barniers Road

distance 1 km time 30 mins climb 143m descent 0m Hard track
Continue straight: From here, the walk crosses Wallis Creek[85], and follows the GNW arrows south gently uphill along the track. The walk continues (crossing over a tree trunk[86] with carved steps) and after about 500m, comes to a creek and a tree trunk with a directional arrow carving[87]. Then the walk follows the track[88] for about 130m (crossing the creek a number[89] of times) to find the track leaving the creek[90]. The track is followed moderately steeply uphill[91] through forest for about 400m, until coming to a level four-way intersection[92] with a 'Barniers Road/Mt Faulk Road' sign on your right.

(7km) Int of GNW track and Barniers Road → Int of GNW track and Heaton Lookout

distance 1.2 km time 29 mins climb 58m descent -115m Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection[93], this walk follows the GNW arrow east, directly away from the face of the 'Barniers Road' sign[94]. The walk continues along the old trail for about 450m to find an intersection[95] with a track (on the right). Here the walk turns right, following the 'The Great North Walk' sign[96] moderately steeply down the narrow track[97] for about 220m and then crosses a creek[98]. The walk continues moderately steeply uphill[99] around another gully and after about 500m, comes to a T-intersection[100] with Heaton trail and Heaton Lookout[101] directly ahead.

Heaton Lookout

Heaton Lookout
Heaton Lookout[102] is one of the larger lookouts located on Heaton Road. This fenced lookout faces south-east. There are wood fired barbecues[103], picnic tables[104] and a pit toilet[105]. Heaton Lookout is a great place to stop for a snack, and the amazing view[106] feels like a bonus. This lookout was named after Richard Heaton, a timber cutter who came to Australia as a convict. There is a water tank here, due to vandalism in the area this is not a reliable water source.

Maps for the Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout 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 Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout

Altitude analysis for Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout

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.

Length8.1 km
Time4 hrs
.




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)
WeatherStorms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
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 is very steep and another 2.7km has short steep hills. The remaining (1.8km) has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

3.2km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and another 2.8km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (2.1km) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 4.4km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 3.7km has minimal directional signs.

Experience Required

3km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience and another 2.6km requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience. The remaining (2.6km) requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 6km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 1.7km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

4km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 3.9km has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). The remaining (270m) 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 Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout walk starts at the Forestry H.Q campsite (gps: -32.975600, 151.41170)

The Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout ends at the Int of GNW track and Heaton Lookout (gps: -32.983668, 151.45483)

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.

Watagans National Park

Awaba State Forest

A large parcel of land west of the northern end of lake Macquarie, Awaba state forest lines the side of part of the Sydney - newcastle freeway. The park is home to mostly native forest

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