Mackerel Beach, West Head Loop

  4 h 15 min to 5 h

20.8 km
Circuit

Climb : 558m
Descent : 557m

Hard track


The Mackerel Beach, West Head Loop is a walk which explores a large part of the West Head. The journey starts and finishes with a ferry across Pittwater. The walk heads around West Head, taking in views on the Broken Bay side, with Lion Island featuring as a prominent sight. The walk follows sections of road that connect some fantastic bush tracks together. This is a solid day walk if allowing time to relax and have a dip at one of the many beaches along the way.
Turn map Directions & comments
x
(0 km) Palm Beach Start heading along Palm Beach - Bennetts.
x
(1.9 km) After another 1.9 km (Bennets Wharf) turn right, to head along Bennetts - Bonnie Doon.
(2.7 km) After another 780 m come to the "The Basin Campground" (270 m on your right).
W:www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
There is a fee to use this campsite. This campsite has showers.
x
(2.6 km) Bonnie Doon Wharf turn sharp right, to head along Bonnie Doon - Basin.
x
(2.8 km) After another 215 m (The Basin Wharf) continue straight (a footpath).
(3 km) After another 165 m pass the toilet (135 m on your right).
(2.9 km) Then pass the shelter (85 m on your left).
(3 km) After another 35 m find the "The Basin Campsite" (25 m on your right).
(3 km) After another 35 m find the "Beechwood Function and Convention Centre" (30 m on your left).
x
(3 km) From the Basin Trail continue straight, to head along Basin Trail.
x
(3.8 km) After another 800 m (at the intersection of Basin Trail & Euro Track) continue straight, to head along Basin Trail.
x
(5 km) After another 1.2 km (at the intersection of Mackerel Trail & Basin Trail) continue straight, to head along Basin Trail.
x
(5.2 km) After another 210 m (from the Basin Trail) continue straight, to head along Basin Trail.
(5.3 km) After another 110 m find the "The Basin Track Aboriginal Engravings" (35 m on your left).

Start of an alternate route: An alternative route linking Int. Basin Trk and Aboriginal Engraving Trk Entry to Int. Basin Trk and Aboriginal Engraving Trk Exit.
Turn map Directions & comments
x
(0 km) To take the alternate route turn left here.From the Basin Trail Start (a walking track).
(0.1 km) After 90 m find the "The Basin Track Aboriginal Engravings" (on your right).
x
(0.1 km) After another 15 m (from the Basin Trail) turn right, to head along Basin Trail (a vehicle track).
x
(0.1 km) After another 10 m come to the end.
(0.1 km) At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

Turn map Directions & comments
x
(5.3 km) From the Basin Trail continue straight, to head along Basin Trail.
x
(5.6 km) After another 350 m (at the intersection of West Head Road & Basin Trail) turn right, to head along West Head Road (a road).

Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip to Flint and Steel beach.
Turn map Directions & comments
x
(0 km) To start this optional side trip turn left here.From the West Head Road Start (a service road).
(0 km) After 20 m to find the car park.
x
(0.3 km) After another 315 m (at the intersection of Flint and Steel Track & Flint & Steel Bay Track) continue straight, to head along Flint and Steel Track.
x
(1 km) After another 660 m come to the end.
(1 km) About 20 m past the end is "Flint and Steel Beach".
(1 km) About 80 m past the end is "Flint and Steel Beach".
(1 km) Turn around and retrace your steps back the 990 m to the main route.
(0 km) Back at the main route turn sharp left and follow on from the 7.1 km waypoint.
(0 km) Back at the main route ERROR >360 and follow on from the 12.4 km waypoint.

Turn map Directions & comments
x
(7.1 km) After another 1.5 km (from the West Head Road) continue straight, to head along West Head Road.
(7.4 km) After another 235 m pass the car park (10 m on your left).
x
(8.1 km) After another 790 m (from the West Head Road) turn right (a service road).
(8.2 km) After another 75 m pass the toilet (15 m on your right).
(8.2 km) Then pass the helipad (65 m on your right).
x
(8.2 km) After another 15 m turn right.
(8.3 km) After another 35 m to find the car park.
(8.3 km) After another 15 m find the "Resolute Picnic Area" (5 m on your left).
x
(8.3 km) After another 15 m (from the West Head Track) turn right, to head along West Head Track (a vehicle track).
x
(8.3 km) After another 10 m (from the West Head Track) turn left (a walking track).
x
(8.4 km) After another 75 m (from the Resolute Track) continue straight, to head along Resolute Track.
(8.5 km) After another 75 m find the "Red Hands Cave" (40 m on your right).
x
(8.8 km) After another 315 m (from the Resolute Track) veer right.
x
(9.1 km) After another 325 m (from the Resolute Track) veer right.
x
(9.2 km) After another 65 m (from the Resolute Track) continue straight, to head along Resolute Track.
(9.3 km) After another 145 m find the "West Head Beach" (70 m on your left).
(9.5 km) After another 160 m pass the shelter (on your left).
(9.7 km) After another 255 m find the "Resolute Beach" (85 m on your left).
x
(9.7 km) After another 20 m (from the Resolute Track) continue straight, to head along Resolute Track.

Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip to Cave.
Turn map Directions & comments
x
(0 km) To start this optional side trip turn right here.From the Resolute Track Start heading along Resolute Track (a walking track).
(-0.1 km) Resolute Beach (about 95 m back from the start).
x
(0.1 km) After another 200 m (from the Resolute Track) turn right.
x
(0.1 km) After another 15 m come to the end.
(0.1 km) Turn around and retrace your steps back the 145 m to the main route.
(0 km) Back at the main route ERROR >360 and follow on from the 9.8 km waypoint.

Turn map Directions & comments
x
(9.8 km) After another 25 m (from the Resolute Track) turn around, to head along Resolute Track.
x
(9.8 km) After another 25 m (from the Resolute Track) continue straight, to head along Resolute Track.
x
(10.4 km) After another 580 m (from the Resolute Track) continue straight, to head along Resolute Track.
x
(10.4 km) After another 65 m (from the Resolute Track) veer left.
x
(10.8 km) After another 325 m (from the Resolute Track) veer left, to head along Resolute Track.
x
(11.1 km) After another 390 m (from the Resolute Track) continue straight.
(11.2 km) After another 65 m pass the car park (35 m on your right).
x
(11.2 km) After another 7 m (from the West Head Track) turn right, to head along West Head Track (a vehicle track).
x
(11.2 km) After another 10 m (from the West Head Track) turn left (a service road).
x
(11.3 km) After another 65 m turn left.
x
(11.4 km) After another 90 m (from the West Head Road) turn left, to head along West Head Road (a road).

Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip to Flint and Steel beach.
Turn map Directions & comments
x
(0 km) To start this optional side trip turn right here.From the West Head Road Start (a service road).
(0 km) After 20 m to find the car park.
x
(0.3 km) After another 315 m (at the intersection of Flint and Steel Track & Flint & Steel Bay Track) continue straight, to head along Flint and Steel Track.
x
(1 km) After another 660 m come to the end.
(1 km) About 20 m past the end is "Flint and Steel Beach".
(1 km) About 80 m past the end is "Flint and Steel Beach".
(1 km) Turn around and retrace your steps back the 990 m to the main route.
(0 km) Back at the main route turn sharp left and follow on from the 7.1 km waypoint.
(0 km) Back at the main route ERROR >360 and follow on from the 12.4 km waypoint.

Turn map Directions & comments
x
(12.4 km) After another 1 km (from the West Head Road) continue straight, to head along West Head Road.
x
(13.9 km) After another 1.5 km (at the intersection of West Head Road & Basin Trail) turn left, to head along Basin Trail (a vehicle track).

Start of an alternate route: An alternative route linking Int. Basin Trk and Aboriginal Engraving Trk Entry to Int. Basin Trk and Aboriginal Engraving Trk Exit.
Turn map Directions & comments
x
(0 km) To take the alternate route turn right here.From the Basin Trail Start (a walking track).
(0.1 km) After 90 m find the "The Basin Track Aboriginal Engravings" (on your right).
x
(0.1 km) After another 15 m (from the Basin Trail) turn right, to head along Basin Trail (a vehicle track).
x
(0.1 km) After another 10 m come to the end.
(0.1 km) At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

Turn map Directions & comments
x
(14.2 km) After another 350 m (from the Basin Trail) continue straight, to head along Basin Trail.
x
(14.3 km) After another 80 m (from the Basin Trail) continue straight, to head along Basin Trail.
x
(14.5 km) After another 210 m (at the intersection of Basin Trail & Mackerel Trail) continue straight, to head along Basin Trail.
x
(15.8 km) After another 1.2 km (at the intersection of Euro Track & Basin Trail) continue straight, to head along Basin Trail.
x
(15.8 km) After another 35 m (at the intersection of Basin Trail & Euro Track) turn around, to head along Basin Trail.
(16.5 km) After another 730 m come to the "The Basin Campground" (75 m on your left).
W:www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
There is a fee to use this campsite. This campsite has showers.
(16.6 km) After another 60 m pass the toilet (20 m on your right).
x
(16.6 km) After another 4 m (from the Basin Trail) continue straight.
x
(16.7 km) After another 160 m (The Basin Wharf) turn left, to head along Basin - Currawong (a highway|).
x
(17.5 km) After another 790 m (at the intersection of Bennetts - Currawong & Basin - Currawong) continue straight, to head along Basin - Currawong.
x
(17.8 km) After another 265 m (Currawong Wharf) turn right, to head along Currawong - Mackeral.
(17.8 km) After another 30 m find the "Currawong Beach Cottages" (125 m on your left).
x
(18.9 km) After another 1.1 km (Mackerel Beach Wharf) continue straight (a footpath).
x
(19 km) After another 70 m (from the Ross Smith Parade) turn around.
(19 km) After another 10 m pass the pay phone (on your right).
(19 km) After another 20 m find the "Mackerel Beach" (25 m on your right).
x
(19 km) After another 40 m (Mackerel Beach Wharf) continue straight, to head along Mackeral - Palm Beach (a highway|).
x
(20.8 km) After another 1.7 km (Palm Beach) continue straight (a walking track).
(20.9 km) After another 90 m come to "Pittwater Park".
x
(20.8 km) The end.
(21.1 km) A car park.
(21.1 km) About 45 m past the end is a toilet.
(21.1 km) About 60 m past the end is a car park.


AS 2156.1-2001 - Walking tracks Classification

The main spine of this walk follows a rough track that is unclear in places, you will require a moderate level of bushwalking experience and to be self sufficient.
Length 20.8 km
Time 4 h 15 min to 5 h




Class 4/6



Hard track 		Quality of track Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient Very steep (4/6)
Signage Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Getting to the start

GPS coordinates for the start: -33.5957478,151.3189623

Weather Details

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