Bateau Bay Picnic Area to Crackneck lookout

Download & Print Map and Notes

1 hr 30 mins

1.7 km One way

99 m

Moderate track

A short version of the Wyrrabalong Coast Walking Track, this walk covers some of the highlights through this long thin strip of beautiful coastal forest, with fantastic views of the coastline from many vantage points along the way. Crackneck Lookout, at the end of the walk, has stunning views and would be a great spot for a picnic lunch.

Bateau Bay Beach picnic area and lookout

This unnamed picnic area and lookout is within Wyrrabalong National Park, at the intersection of Reserve Dr and Harbour St, Bateau Bay. The picnic area overlooks Bateau Bay and the beach. There are large grass areas, plenty of shade and facilities including picnic tables, garbage bins, and beach access steps. There are beautiful views along the coast and out to sea from the picnic area. There are free electric BBQs at Sutton Reserve, a block further south along Reserve Dr. Takeaway food is available at a small shopping centre near the intersection of Harbour St and Bateau Bay Rd, one block from the picnic area.

(0km) Top of northern Bateau Bay Beach access steps → South end of Bateau Bay Beach picnic area

100 m

2 mins

-1m Moderate track

Starting from the track intersection beside the beach access steps, this walk follows the faint track a very short distance across the picnic area, keeping Reserve Dr to the right. The walk soon arrives at some seats and an open viewing area, to the left, with stunning views across the water.
Continue straight: From the viewpoint, this walk goes south across the picnic area, keeping Reserve Dr to the right. The walk passes a fenced viewing area just before reaching an intersection at the end of the picnic area, with a concrete beach-access track to the left.

(0km) South end of Bateau Bay Beach picnic area → Rushby St car park

260 m

5 mins

10m

-1m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track past the 'Wyrrabalong National Park Service Trail Walkers Only' sign, keeping Reserve Dr to the right. This walk passes through a nice strip of forest, passing a number of fenced viewing points, to the left, with great views out to sea. After a while, the walk emerges at another picnic area, next to a toilet block, and continues across the picnic area and car park, reaching an intersection signposted 'Coast Track', with a gated concrete driveway and beach access steps to the left.

Southern Bateau Bay beach picnic area

This picnic area, near the intersection of Reserve Dr and Rushby St, Bateau Bay, overlooks the southern end of Bateau Bay and the beach. The facilities include toilets, picnic tables, garbage bins and some slides for the kids. There are great views along the coast and out to sea. There is plenty of shade.

(0km) Rushby St car park → Crackneck Lookout

1.3 km

29 mins

88m

-12m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Coast Track' arrow along the bush track, keeping Reserve Dr to the right. The walk climbs gently and passes a number of side tracks on either side, which go a short distance to ocean viewing spots or the nearby road. After a while, the walk reaches an intersection in the middle of a grassy clearing, with more ocean views.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track south, keeping Reserve Dr to the right. The walk soon passes a bench seat with a commemorative plaque, and continues through the bush on the sandy track. Ignoring a track to the right (which goes to the nearby street), the walk continues along sections of track with retaining boards, for some time before arriving beside Hilltop St. The walk continues along the bush track close to Hilltop St, going along sections of boardwalk before climbing some wooden steps and emerging at the northern edge of Crackneck Lookout (at the end of Hilltop St).

Crackneck Lookout

This lookout, at the end of Hilltop St, Bateau Bay, has stunning views up and down the coastline, and out to sea. There are picnic tables and an information board about marine mammals. There is a hangliding launch spot beside the lookout.

Maps for the Bateau Bay Picnic Area to Crackneck 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.

Gosford	1:25 000 Map Series	91312S GOSFORD	NSW-91312S
Gosford	1:100 000 Map Series	9131 GOSFORD	9131

Cross sectional view of the Bateau Bay Picnic Area to Crackneck lookout bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Bateau Bay Picnic Area to Crackneck lookout

Altitude analysis for Bateau Bay Picnic Area to Crackneck 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	1.7 km
		Time	1 hr 30 mins
		.
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	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
		Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
		Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

890m of this walk has short steep hills and another 400m has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (360m) is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

Around 1.6km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 95m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

This whole walk, 1.7km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 1.7km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 1.7km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

This whole walk, 1.7km 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 Bateau Bay Picnic Area to Crackneck lookout walk.

Bateau Bay Beach loop

892 m Circuit, 30 mins

A short and very scenic walk around the beautiful Bateau Bay, taking in the stunning views from the hilltop picnic areas, as well as a walk along the beach. There are well-built steps and paths to make the beach access easier. Lunch at one of the picnic areas would really enhance this walk and its s

Total climbing: 25m

Hard track

Wyrrabalong Coast Walking Track

3.8 km One way, 1 hr 30 mins

An excellent walk in the southern section of Wyrrabalong National Park. This walk runs through a long thin strip of beautiful coastal forest, with fantastic views of the coastline from many vantage points along the way. The two main lookouts along the way, Crackneck and Wyrrabalong, have stunning vi

Total climbing: 178m

Moderate track

Wyrrabalong Coast Walk circuit

9.1 km Circuit, 3 hrs 30 mins

A fairly tough but fantastic walk in the southern section of Wyrrabalong National Park. This walk runs through a long, thin strip of beautiful coastal forest, with fantastic views of the coastline from many vantage points along the way, and returns via the boulder-strewn shoreline and beaches. There

Total climbing: 348m

Experienced only

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Bateau Bay Picnic Area to Crackneck lookout walk.

Bateau Bay Beach to Crackneck Beach

3.4 km Return, 1 hr 15 mins

A great walk along the beach and rocky shoreline near Bateau Bay. The unnamed, rocky beach below Crackneck Lookout is a beautiful spot and there are plenty of interesting shapes and textures in the rocks and rockshelf along the way. There is a bit of rockhopping, but much less than when approaching

Total climbing: 99m

Experienced only

Wyrrabalong Shoreline walk

4.6 km One way, 2 hrs

This walk runs along the shoreline from Bateau Bay to Forresters Beach, in the southern section of Wyrrabalong National Park. The walk is very exposed to the ocean and should not be done at high tide or during rough seas. Much of the shoreline is strewn with boulders, which makes the walking harder

Total climbing: 183m

Experienced only

Stephenson Rd to Crackneck Lookout

646 m One way, 15 mins

A great short walk through some beautiful coastal forest, with some brilliant coastal views along the way. Crackneck Lookout, at the end of the walk, is a great spot for a picnic lunch, enjoying the views and atmosphere of this part of Wyrrabalong National Park. If you are doing this as a return wal

Total climbing: 17m

Moderate track

Wyrrabalong lookout

382 m Return, 15 mins

A short walk to Wyrrabalong Lookout, at the top of Cromarty Hill, with stunning views along the coastline near Forresters Beach. There are picnic tables and plenty of grassy area. Hang gliders and paragliders using the adjacent launch point, when the weather permits, add some interest.

Total climbing: 20m

Moderate track

Wyrrabalong Lookout to Crackneck Lookout

1.6 km One way, 45 mins

The fantastic scenic walk includes some of the highlights of the longer Wyrrabalong Coast Walking Track. The walk passes through a variety of beautiful forest landscapes, and there are excellent views of the coastline from many spots along the way, including the lookouts at the start and finish of t

Total climbing: 56m

Moderate track

Forresters Beach to Crackneck Beach

5.8 km Return, 2 hrs 30 mins

A great walk along the boulder strewn shoreline to the unnamed beach below Crackneck Lookout. Much of this walk is very exposed to the ocean and should not be attempted at high tide or during rough seas. Plenty of rock hopping over the boulders makes the walking harder but also makes the scenery mor

Total climbing: 254m

Experienced only

St Johns Lookout

166 m Return, 10 mins

This is a very short walk across the picnic area to the lookout - you can see the end of the walk from the start. The council has installed a sandstone footpath that arcs around the picnic area and leads to St Johns Lookout. The path also leads to picnic tables and accessible toilets. You will als

Total climbing: 13m

Very easy

Katandra Circuit

4.8 km Circuit, 2 hrs 15 mins

This walk explores many highlights in Katandra Reserve. Starting from St Johns Lookout, this walk winds down the hill into the much denser forest of the valley, enjoy many interesting rock formations on the way. Once in the valley, you walk past some fantastic examples of strangler figs before hea

Total climbing: 308m

Moderate track

Toomeys Walk

2.9 km One way, 1 hr 30 mins

This walk is a great way to explore the diverse forests of Katandra Reserve. Starting with the views from St Johns Lookout, this walk heads through the open forest, past many mossy rocks, then heads into the valley and rainforest. On the valley floor, the walk gently meanders past some great examp

Total climbing: 135m

Moderate track

Guringai Walk

1.2 km Circuit, 45 mins

This is a surprisingly spectacular walk, following the base of the cliff below St Johns Lookout. From the car park, you will follow a gentle track through the bush before heading down some stairs to the cliff face. Handrails and timber walkways have been installed to make this walk more accessible.

Total climbing: 80m

Moderate track

Graves Walk

1.5 km One way, 45 mins

On this walk, you follow the signposted Graves Walk between the two main picnic area in Katandra Reserve. Starting near St Johns Lookout, this walk follows Graves Walking track down the ridge. You will see some valley views, open drier forest, some faint Aboriginal markings and plenty of interesti

Total climbing: 13m

Moderate track

Mouat Trail (Katandra to Rumbalara)

4.1 km One way, 2 hrs

This walk follows a series of tracks and management trails along the top of the ridge between Katandra and Rumbalara Reserves. You will at times think you are a million miles from anywhere and other times enjoy views across the suburbs of the Central Coast and out to sea. In spring and early summe

Total climbing: 139m

Hard track

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Bateau Bay Picnic Area to Crackneck lookout walk starts at the Top of northern Bateau Bay Beach access steps (gps: -33.382053, 151.48403)

Bus. (get details)

Car. There is free parking available.<br /> (get details)

The Bateau Bay Picnic Area to Crackneck lookout ends at the Crackneck Lookout (gps: -33.394202, 151.48302)

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

Wyrrabalong National Park

Wyrrabalong National park on the NSW Central Coast is divided into two main sections. The northern section sits between the South Pacific Ocean and Tuggerah Lake (with the Central Coast Hwy cutting up the middle) south of Norah Head. The south section covers a coastal strip from Forresters Beach to Bateau Bay. The park is rich with great views, sandy beaches and the last significant coastal rainforest in the area. A great place for walking, swimming, fishing and relaxing.

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