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Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Fairfax Walk are found in each of the tabs below

Fairfax Walk

Time: 30 mins Walking time
Please allow extra time to rest and to explore
3.1 km SSE of Manly
Length: 0.7 km Walk Length
As this is a Circuit style walk, the 0.7 km includes the walking distance from the start around the loop and back to the start again
Sydney Harbour National Park
Climb: 46 m There is car access and parking near the start and end of this walk There is a bus stop within 2km of the start and end of this walk
Style: Circuit

This great wheelchair accessible walk starts from the car park at the end of the North Head Scenic Drive, and follows a concrete footpath that winds around the tip of North Head in a big loop, passing four fantastic lookouts before returning to the car park. The Fairfax Track is also an excellent vantage point for keen whale watchers. The whales pass by heading north in June and July, and again when they return to the Antarctic in August and October.




Map of Walk

Location

                Sponsor of Fairfax Walk bushwalking tracknotes
Map of Fairfax Walk
PDF has larger maps for easy printing
Map Controls - Contours | Hide Path | Hide Distances | Hide Names
Map Scale 500 meters
North Head Scenic Drive car park
South Pacific lookout
Old Gun Emplacement
North Head lookout
Fairfax lookout steps int
Int of Fairfax lookout and loop track
Int on Fairfax lookout track
Int of Fairfax lookout and loop track
Int of Fairfax service trail and loop footpath
Starting point for this hiking track: North Head Scenic Drive car park

Base maps are used under licence and is © Department of lands   Panorama Avenue Bathurst 2795   www.lands.nsw.gov.au

Maps that cover the walk area (please always carry maps of the area)

Print a map and track notes here
 Sydney Heads 1:25 000 Map Series NSW-91302N 
 Sydney 1:100 000 Map Series 9130 

Photo Gallery

 
pb_20081002_830
 
pb_20081002_830
 
path winding through tall heath
 
path winding through tall heath
 
view from top of south pacific lookout
 
view from top of south pacific lookout

 
old gun emplacement bunker
 
old gun emplacement bunker
 
looking out of bunker
 
looking out of bunker
 
north head lookout
 
north head lookout

 
view from footpath
 
view from footpath
 
view of city from fairfax lookout
 
view of city from fairfax lookout
 
whale watching info sign
 
whale watching info sign

Terrain

Cross sectional view of the Fairfax Walk bushwalking track

Cross Section of the Fairfax Walk bushwalking track



Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Fairfax Walk bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the Fairfax Walk bushwalking track

Track Notes


Drive to North Head Scenic Drive car park
You can drive or ride to this start of this Bushwalk Parking fees apply in the area.
You can drive or ride to the start of this walk
Use these links to plan your trip to the start of this walk.
Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

Catch the bus to North Head Scenic Drive car park
Public transport (bus) available to this Bushwalk You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times.
Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip to the end of this walk.

Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|
(0 km) North Head Scenic Drive car park to South Pacific lookout
Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 125 m Time = 2 mins
Climb = 2 m Descent = -7 m
From the southern end of the car park (near the pedestrian crossing), this walk turns left onto the Fairfax loop, winding east through the heath down a gentle hill to the South Pacific lookout.

South Pacific Lookout Alt = 73 m
From this lookout, visitors can see north along the coast (to the tower at the sewage treatment plant) and as far as the horizon across the South Pacific Ocean. With a fenced cliff edge and a nice little seat, this is a great lookout for people of all ages to enjoy.

(0.13 km) South Pacific lookout to Old Gun Emplacement
Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 134 m Time = 2 mins
Climb = 1 m Descent = -6 m
From the lookout, the walk follows the footpath south, keeping the ocean on the left. The footpath winds through the heath until coming to the old gun emplacement bunker.

Old Gun Emplacement Alt = 70 m
This small concrete structure was used as a bunker for those who would keep watch over Sydney Harbour during World War Two. It was built in the 1920s (prior to the war), one of several new fortifications built at the time, the first since federation.

(0.26 km) Old Gun Emplacement to North Head lookout
Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 51 m Time = 2 mins
Climb = 0 m Descent = -16 m
From the bunker, the walk follows the footpath down the gentle slope, winding through the heath for a short while to the North Head lookout.

North Head Lookout Alt = 51 m
This lookout provides a great view that spans from Sydney city in the distance (to the south), around the South Pacific Ocean (to the east). Also in place at this lookout is a large green marker, which helps ships to avoid the headland as they sail into Sydney Harbour.

(0.31 km) North Head lookout to Int of Fairfax lookout and loop track
Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 177 m Time = 5 mins
Climb = 20 m Descent = -18 m
From the intersection near the lookout, the walk follows the footpath west around the ridge, providing great views on the left out towards the city. The walk soon comes to an intersection at the Fairfax lookout steps track.
From the intersection, this walk follows the footpath north-west up the gentle hill to the intersection with the Fairfax lookout track.

(0.49 km) Int of Fairfax lookout and loop track to Fairfax Lookout
Optional sidetrip: Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 52 m Time = 2 mins
Climb = 0 m Descent = -16 m
From the intersection, this walk follows the footpath west towards the edge of the ridge, coming to the top of the Fairfax lookout steps after only 15 metres.
From the intersection, the walk heads east along the footpath towards the edge of the ridge, coming down a gentle hill to the Fairfax Lookout.

Fairfax Lookout Alt = 39 m
Fairfax Lookout is a great vantage point for 'whale spotting', when thousands of Humpback and Southern Right whales migrate, largely unnoticed by humans. The whales usually head north in June-July to a warmer climate for breeding, and return to the food-rich Antarctic waters in August-October, where they remain for the summer.

(0.49 km) Int of Fairfax lookout and loop track to North Head Scenic Drive car park
Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 252 m Time = 6 mins
Climb = 23 m Descent = 0 m
From the intersection, the walk heads north follows the trail north up the gentle hill. The trail winds through the heath for a short while until coming to an intersection with a track (which leads to North Head Scenic Drive).
From the intersection, the walk follows the footpath north-east as it winds through the heath for a short while until coming to the North Head Scenic Drive car park.

Catch the bus from North Head Scenic Drive car park
Public transport (bus) available from this Bushwalk You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times.
Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip from the end of this walk.

Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|
Drive from North Head Scenic Drive car park
You can drive or ride from this end of this Bushwalk Parking fees apply in the area.
You can drive or ride from the end of this walk
Use these links to plan your trip from the end of this walk.
Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

Getting there

Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk
Public Transport Timetables

To the start of the walk

From
Castle Hill
Chatswood
Dural
Epping
Gosford
Hornsby
Katoomba
Manly
Parramatta
Penrith
Strathfield
Sutherland
Sydney
From the end of the walk

To
Castle Hill
Chatswood
Dural
Epping
Gosford
Hornsby
Katoomba
Manly
Parramatta
Penrith
Strathfield
Sutherland
Sydney

Driving Directions
To the start of the walk

Drive from:
From the end of the walk

Drive to:


Near by

We do not have any walks that share the track with this one.
The next 10 closest walks
Walk Name Park Style Length (km) Time Grade km from the
start of this walk
South Head Heritage Walk Sydney Harbour National Park Circuit 1.9 km 1 Hr 3 / 6 2.8 km
Manly to Seaforth Oval Sydney Harbour National Park One way 13.7 km 5 hrs 45 mins 3 / 6 2.8 km
Dobroyd Head Walk Sydney Harbour National Park Circuit 2.5 km 1 Hr 4 / 6 3.2 km
Grotto Point Walk Sydney Harbour National Park Return 3.6 km 2 hrs 3 / 6 3.2 km
Crater Cove Lookout Sydney Harbour National Park Return 0.1 km 3 mins 3 / 6 3.2 km
Grotto Point Lighthouse Walk Sydney Harbour National Park Return 1.7 km 1 Hr 3 / 6 3.5 km
Middle Head Sydney Harbour National Park Circuit 2.0 km 1 Hr 3 / 6 3.6 km
Castle Rock Beach Sydney Harbour National Park Return 0.2 km 30 mins 3 / 6 3.9 km
Castle Rock to Grotto Point Lighthouse Sydney Harbour National Park Return 2.0 km 1 Hr 3 / 6 3.9 km
WW1 Hospital to Georges Heights Lookout Sydney Harbour National Park Return 0.9 km 30 mins 2 / 6 4.0 km


Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk
Store Address Phone Distance (straight line)
Kellys Camping & Outdoors 826 Pittwater Rd , Dee Why (02) 9972 0061 7.4 km
Larry Adler Ski & Outdoor 1024 Pittwater Rd , Collaroy (02) 9971 8711 9.4 km
Outdoor Shack 1131 Pittwater Rd , Collaroy (02) 9981 6933 10 km
Outdoor Equipment 60 Spring St , Bondi Junction (02) 9389 8122 9.2 km
Kangaroo Tent City & BBQs 165-167 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood (02) 9884 9199 10.2 km


A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Fairfax Walk.
Channel Call sign
(more info)
Site Distance and dir from Fairfax Walk
Click to re-center search
5 SYD05 Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA
Emergency use only
21 km (to the WNW)
1 SYD01 12/14 Ormonde Parade HURSTVILLE 25 km (to the SW)
6 VMB7 CB Repeater Site 16 Alan Rd BEROWRA HEIGHTS 27 km (to the NNW)
7 SYD07 7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN 36 km (to the W)
8 MDC08 Gencom Site Lot 6 Wakefield Close KARIONG 43 km (to the N)

Weather and Park info

Fire Danger
This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a LOW-MODERATE rating and No Ban in place. (Checked 6 minutes ago)
Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban status, this rating is based on information from the RFS and BOM.

Weather and Climate
Weather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here
Sunny.
Sunny.
~25.8°C (feels like ~0.0°)
9 km/h from the E (gusting 13)
~51% humidity     (as at 17/12:35pm)
A graph displaying the average daily temperature range for the year

Sydney Harbour National Park Link to official closures and fire bans page

One of Sydney's most diverse parks, Sydney Harbour National Park is formed from 11 pockets of harbour islands and shoreline. Highlights include coastal walks and swimming, breath-taking viewpoints, tours of colonial buildings and Aboriginal cave art.

Cost to drive a car into the park (if you do not have a valid pass)

      $3

Public toilets are available in the park

A kiosk is available in the park

Region: Sydney & Surrounds
Park fees
Facilities


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