This walk is a great one way walk to do after spending some time at Putty Beach. The walk uses Hawke Head Drive to head along the ridge to Box Head. The headland has superb views over Broken Bay to Barrenjoey Headland and out to sea. Lobster Beach is another great beach in the area with views over to Woy Woy. A great walk from beach to beach.
Cross sectional view of the Putty Beach, Box Head, Lobster Beach to Pretty Beach bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Putty Beach, Box Head, Lobster Beach to Pretty Beach bushwalking track
Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length
7km
Time
3 hrs 30 mins
.
Grade 3/6
Track: Moderate
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
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing
Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk. Gradient
Around 6km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 1.7km has short steep hills.
Quality of track
6km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 1.1km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (770m) follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 7km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 970m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 7km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 7km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 6km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 1.9km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Putty Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a large south-easterly facing beach that is almost completely framed by National Park. On the north-eastern end of the beach is the Bouddi Trail, and a large car park and campsite. At the south-western end of the beach is the Killcare Surf Lifesaving Club. Putty Beach is a patrolled beach and and locals enjoy it for a surf, swim or dive.
(0 km)
Putty Beach
to
Hawke Head Drive NE Track: Moderate - bushtrack,road
Length = 827 m
Time = 17 mins
Climb = 47 m
Descent = -6 m
From the beach, this walk heads up the hill along a stony path, to the car park behind the beach. Continue straight: From the car park, this walk walks onto Beach Drive and turns right to head up and away from the beach, to the intersection with The Scenic Road. A short distance up the hill, this walk soon takes the first left onto Nukara Ave. The walk continues up Nukara Ave to the second road on the left, Hawke Head Drive.
(0.83 km)
Hawke Head Drive NE
to
Box Head Trail Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 2.01 km
Time = 44 mins
Climb = 80 m
Descent = -45 m
Continue straight: From the start of Hawke Head Drive, this walk heads up the hill following the road and power lines. The walk winds up Hawke Head Drive, where the road becomes unsealed and has numerous speed bumps. The walk continues along the road to the intersection with a management trail, and gate on the right. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail up the hill, leaving the gated management trail behind on the right. The trail undulates along the ridge line for some time, with views to the right of the track over the Rip Bridge and Woy Woy. The trail then starts to head downhill, arriving at a car park, to the right, signposted 'Tallow Beach 900m'. Continue straight: From the car park, the walk follows the management trail past the 'Tallow Beach 900m' signpost. The walk soon passes around a gate and continues down the hill. The walk passes an unfenced cliff warning sign and (ignores) a track signpost ('Tallow Beach') before heading up the hill to the intersection, signposted 'Tallow' and 'Killcare'. Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Tallow' arrow along the management trail, going down the hill. The trail tends right for approximately 30m, to the signposted intersection for 'Box Head' and 'Tallow Beach'.
(2.84 km)
Box Head Trail
to
Box Head Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.26 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 24 m
Descent = -79 m
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Box Head' sign along the track. The walk follows the track for a short time, then crosses a rocky area before passing through a small clearing. The track narrows and meanders for some time, crossing numerous rock surfaces and rocky outcrops, then follows the top of the cliff line of Box Head out to a point that overlooks Barrenjoey, Lion Island, Broken Bay and out across the ocean.
(4.09 km)
Box Head
to
Hawke Head Drive Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail
Length = 1.32 km
Time = 27 mins
Climb = 87 m
Descent = -24 m
Turn around: From Box Head, the walk follows the track away from the sea and the opposite headland, generally following the cliff line up the ridge. The track drops into a saddle, then climbs up the ridge for some time, crossing many rocky outcrops. The track then widens as it enters a small clearing and continues for a short time to the signposted intersection. Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail up the hill away (following neither the 'Box Head' nor 'Tallow Beach' arrows). The walk continues away from these signposted trails, going down into a saddle and up the hill on the other side to the sign-marked intersection.
(5.42 km)
Hawke Head Drive
to
Water tank Int. Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 956 m
Time = 21 mins
Climb = 28 m
Descent = -72 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, following the sign towards 'Lobster Beach' and 'Wagstaff'. The track climbs the knoll heading right, then swings left rounding the back of the knoll for approximately 100m to the signposted intersection. Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Lobster Bch. - Wagstaff' sign along the ridgeline. The track then winds to the left of a knoll, towards the sea, and leads along the fenceline. The track undulates down the hill to a sign 'Pretty Beach, Wagstaff'. The track turns left here, following the sign down the rocky surface for a short time, before coming to the intersection above some houses and two large green water tanks, on the right.
(6.37 km)
Water tank Int.
to
House Int. Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 280 m
Time = 8 mins
Climb = 22 m
Descent = -29 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads steeply down the hill to the left, with the water tanks below to the right. The track passes a set of gates on the left, to continue away from the houses. The track heads past a house with a steep roof (on the left) to continue over a driveway. The walk then leads along the back fence of a house, to the corner at the sign marked intersection.
(6.65 km)
House Int.
to
Lobster Beach Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 346 m
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 17 m
Descent = -55 m
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk heads up the stairs following the sign to 'Lobster Beach'. The walk follows the many stairs up the hill, to the ridge line with a house on the left. Continue straight: From the ridge, this walk heads down the hill towards the beach. The track heads steeply down to a lookout platform above the beach. The track then continues along the hillside to a set of boardwalked stairs which tend right, down to Lobster Beach.
Lobster beach
Alt = 1 m
Lobster Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a 300m long, west-facing beach on Broken Bay. The beach, backed by a steep hill and edged by rocky shores, provides westerly views over Broken Bay to Pearl and Ocean beaches. The beach has toilet and garbage facilities just above the sand.
(7 km)
Lobster Beach
to
Wagstaff Ave Int. Track: Moderate - bushtrack,footpath
Length = 484 m
Time = 14 mins
Climb = 55 m
Descent = -49 m
Turn around: From Lobster Beach, this walk heads away from Broken Bay up the boardwalked stairs. The track tends left up the hillside, to a lookout platform. The walk then heads up the steep stairs to the top of the ridgeline - near the top of the ridge is a bench. The track then continues up the intersection on the ridge, opposite a house. Continue straight: From the ridgeline, this walk heads down, away from the beach by the steep staircase to the signposted intersection at the corner of two fence lines. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Pretty Bch, Wagstaff' sign down the hill between the fencelines. The track continues between the houses to the road below.
Fire Danger This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a NONE rating and No Ban in place. (Downloaded 8 minutes ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban status, this rating is based on information from the RFS and BOM.
Bouddi National ParkLink to official closures and fire bans page Bouddi National Park is south east of Woy Woy and encompasses the Box Head headland. Bouddi NP has numerous secluded beaches and some great surf beaches too. The park also offers fantastic coastal walking with views out from the tall headlands over Broken Bay, Woy Woy and the South Pacific Ocean. Bouddi NP also boasts one of the first marine extensions in NSW, with a 300ha protection zone out of Maitland Bay for the marine life. The mosquitoes in Bouddi NP can be fierce so it might be an idea to pack insect repellent. Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park feesCampingFacilities Current Park Closure information for Bouddi National Park Closure information last downloaded Tuesday 21st of May 2013 09:00 PM CLOSED AREAS Old Wagstaffe Fire Trail - no public access available through private property.
No public access is available through private property. Signs indicate where public access is not permitted. Sections of Putty Beach Camping Area will be closed for rehabilitation (Ends Friday 28 June)
A number of camp sites at Putty Beach camping area will be closed from 6th May to 28th June 2013 to allow for rehabilitation works. There are still 5 sites available, bookings are essential. Please go to www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/bookings
I was wondering if dogs were permitted on portions of the walks/on the beach?
Hi Mel.
Glad you like wildwalks, thanks for your kind words.
Pets are not allowed into any national parks in NSW (with the exception of specific working dogs such as guide dogs). This is inplace to help protect the local flora and Fauna and the ensure the comfort of other visitors to the park.
more info here
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/lookingafterparks/PetsInParks.htm
In time we hope to document more walks where pets are welcome. As a general rule dogs are welcome in State forests and Council reserves.
we want to paddle around to lobster beach...may we camp overnight on the beach?
Hi Marg, you may want to chat with the rangers at the park, but it is not a designated camping area. There are several campsites further east around Box Head (but obviously less protect waters).
Matt :)
Hiking near Sydney 
NEW
Track: Moderate
1 km
not too much longer now :)