Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout
Watagan Headquarters
(0km) Forestry H.Q campsite → Hunter Lookout picnic area
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
(2km) Hunter Lookout picnic area → Int of GNW track & 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
Mcleans Lookout
(2km) Int of GNW track & Bakers Road → Int of GNW track AND Glen Road
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
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
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
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
(7km) Int of GNW track and Barniers Road → Int of GNW track and Heaton Lookout
Heaton Lookout
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.
| Quorrobolong | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91322S QUORROBOLONG | NSW-91322S |
| Cessnock | 1:50 000 Map Series | 91322 CESSNOCK | CW-91322 |
| Cessnock | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9132 CESSNOCK | 9132 |
Cross sectional view of the Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the 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.
| Length | 8.1 km | ||
| Time | 4 hrs | ||
| . | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track | AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
| Signs | Minimal directional signs (4/6) | ||
| Experience Required | Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6) | ||
| 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
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.
Congewai East Track Head to Watagan Forest Motel via Forestry HQ Campsite
29.7 km One way, 2 Days
Hard track
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
Comments
Short URL: http://wild.tl/whthl