Bushwalking on the Fairfax Walk

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Fairfax Walk

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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
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

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




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	path winding through tall heath




	view from top of south pacific lookout




	old gun emplacement bunker




	looking out of bunker




	north head lookout




	view from footpath




	view of city from fairfax lookout




	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

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
NPWS is a proud sponsor of Wildwalks. For more information on the spectacular parks and reserves of NSW Visit www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Drive to North Head Scenic Drive car park
Drive to North Head Scenic Drive car park
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
Catch the bus to North Head Scenic Drive car park
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
South Pacific Lookout
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
Old Gun Emplacement
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
North Head Lookout
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
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
Catch the bus from North Head Scenic Drive car park
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
Drive from North Head Scenic Drive car park
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.

~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.
$3

Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park fees Facilities

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