Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Bare Island to Henry Head hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Bare Island to Henry Head
Time
Distance
Climb
Style
2 Hrs
4 km
92 m
Return
0.7 km S of La Perouse
Botany Bay National Park
Track: Moderate
Historical sites, a beautiful beach and great views - this walk has it all. It follows well maintained, signposted bushtracks. Allow extra time to enjoy the scenery - the sidetrips are all worthwhile. Be aware that Little Congwong Beach is nudist.
Bushwalking can be fun and interesting when you are well prepared. Please ensure you and your group are well prepared and equipped for all possible dangers. The authors, staff and owners of wildwalks take care in preparing these notes but do not accept responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained when using these notes. Please take care and feel free to provide feedback through our website. Please note that side trips and alternate routes mentioned in these notes are not included in the tracks overall rating, distance or time estimate. The notes also only describe the side trip and alternate routes in one direction.
Please note: This is a 'return' style walk and therefore these graphs only show the terrain for the first half of the walk (until the turn around point.)
Cross sectional view of the Bare Island to Henry Head bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Bare Island to Henry Head bushwalking track
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(0 km) Bare Island Fortification to Western end of Congwong Beach Track: Moderate - footpath
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -4 m
From the Bare Island Fortifications in the middle of the clearing the track heads north east to the connection of the Anzac Parade Loop. On the other side of the road there a set of stairs lead down to the western end of Congwong Beach.
The Barrack Tower (aka The Macqarie Watch Tower)
Alt = 10
Built in 1820 under Governor Macquarie's orders the Barrack Tower looks over Botany Bay and is Australia's first customs building. The original purpose of the building was to house a small quantity of soldiers in order to watch for smugglers and stray ships. The building remained in use until 1904 where is was decommisioned. Unfortunately, in 1960 the building was damaged by fire but since then restoration work has been carried out.
Tombstone of Pere Receveur
Alt = 10
Receveur died on 17th February 1788 shortly after leaving Somoa and this grave is therefore the first known European grave on Australia's soil. Receveur was a botanist serving under De La Pereuse on the French scientific expedition to the Pacific. The tomb itself dates from 1829 but has since been restored several times.
Monument to De La Perouse
Alt = 9
This monument is named after Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse (1741-88), who landed on the northern shore of Botany Bay on 26 January 1788. Perouse's ships the Astrolabe and the Boussole disappeared shortly after visiting Australia with no surviving crew making the landing in Botany Bay the last known point of contact of the scientific expedition.
(0.2 km) Western end of Congwong Beach to Eastern end of Congwong Beach Track: Moderate - beach
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = -4 m
From the western end of Congwong Beach at the bottom of the footpath the track heads east along the beach until reach the end where there is an intersection signposted as the way to Little Congwong Beach.
(0.35 km) Eastern end of Congwong Beach to Little Congwong Beach Optional Side Trip: Track: Moderate - footpath
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 13 m
Descent = -12 m
From Congwong Beach the trail heads south-east along the asphalted footpath. After a short while the footpath changes to a sandy trail that continues until reaching Little Congwong Beach, which is a nude beach.
(0.35 km) Eastern end of Congwong Beach to Int of Henry Head Track and Congwong Beach Servicetrail Track: Moderate - beach
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 9 m
Descent = 0 m
From the intersection at the east end of Congwong Beach the track heads north up the wide sandy servicetrail. Due to the instability of the sandy trail sections of wooden pailings have been laid in the sand to make the walking easier on both people and the environment. The track continues up the hill until reaching an intersection signposted as the way to Little Congwong Beach.
(0.52 km) Int of Henry Head Track and Congwong Beach Servicetrail to Int of Henry Head and Browns Rock Tracks Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.8 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 33 m
Descent = -6 m
From the intersection the track heads east along the wide bushtrack. The track passes over a few small footbridges until reaching an intersection with a sign pointing towards 'Congwong Beach/ Henry Head'. From the intersection the track heads south-east along the bushtrack passing by the fenced in National Parks Maintenance Building until coming to up to the intersection of the current track and the trails leading to Browns Rock and Henry Head.
(1.32 km) Int of Henry Head and Browns Rock Tracks to Browns Rock Optional Side Trip: Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -36 m
From the intersection the track follows the direction of the sign heading south-west along the narrow bushtrack. This continues with the track steadily going down until going down to waterlevel with excellent waterside views over Botany Bay. Unfortunately, this area suffers from littering and pollution to a great extent.
(1.32 km) Int of Henry Head and Browns Rock Tracks to Int of Henry Head Track and Henry Head service Trail Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.5 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 9 m
Descent = -9 m
From the intersection the track heads south-east along the bushtrack following the signs to Henry Head. Passing by the small intersection at the power lines the track continues south-east past the large concrete building aong the bushtrack until coming to the Henry Head Management Road.
(1.86 km) Int of Henry Head Track and Henry Head service Trail to Henry Head Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -15 m
From the intersectio the track heads 100m before turning left off the road onto a bushtrack which goes for a very short period of time before coming to Henry Head Lookout. The lookout offers fantastic views over the Pacific Ocean, Botany Bay and the coastline.
Hiking near Sydney 
1 km
