This is an excellent walk with some very scenic views. The walk travels along a well used track through the thick coastal bush. The views are capped off by the vista over Sydney Harbour from the Grotto Point Lighthouse. Easy parking, a few good side trips, and in particular, the Aboriginal Engravings, make this walk all the more appealing.
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 Grotto Point Lighthouse Walk bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Grotto Point Lighthouse Walk bushwalking track
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Catch the bus to End of Cutler Road
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.
(0 km)
End of Cutler Road
to
Grotto Point Engravings track Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 170 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -18 m
From the car park at the end of Cutler Road, the walk heads between a gap in the fence, down the rock steps towards the water. The track soon passes an information sign before continuing down to the intersection with the Arabanoo Walk. From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Castle Rock Beach 800m' sign along the bush track and down the stone steps, keeping the ocean to the left. The track winds down the hill until it flattens out at the intersection with a short track (heading to the Grotto Point engravings track) on the left.
(0.17 km)
Grotto Point Engravings track
to
Grotto Point Engravings Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 41 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = 0 m
From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill, beside a wooden sleeper, passing an engraving of a kangaroo on the right. The short track soon comes to a large rock platform with the rest of the engravings, and information signs.
Grotto Point Engravings
Alt = 59 m
The engravings at Grotto Point depict kangaroos, fish and what appears to be boomerangs. The engravings are in quite good condition, considering their age. We have already lost so much of this region's history that historians are not entirely sure if this is the land of the Gayamagal or the Cammeraygal clan. Please take a great deal of care at this site to ensure the longevity of this history. More info
(0.17 km)
Grotto Point Engravings track
to
Int of Grotto Point Lighthouse and Manly to Spit tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 109 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -8 m
From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track heading down the hill, away from the engravings. The track soon heads down some rock step to the signposted intersection of the Grotto Point Lighthouse track.
(0.28 km)
Int of Grotto Point Lighthouse and Manly to Spit tracks
to
Int of Grotto Point Lighthouse and Grotto Point Cliffs tracks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 137 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = -12 m
From the intersection, this walk follows the Grotto Point Lighthouse arrow along the rocky bush track, winding down a gentle hill, coming into more dense bush as it winds to the intersection of the Grotto Point Lighthouse and the Grotto Point Cliffs tracks.
(0.42 km)
Int of Grotto Point Lighthouse and Grotto Point Cliffs tracks
to
Grotto Point Cliffs Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 101 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -18 m
From the intersection, this walk heads past the blank (but graffiti-covered) sign and along the rocky track, winding down the hill towards the northern edge of the ridge, soon coming to the top of the cliffs.
(0.42 km)
Int of Grotto Point Lighthouse and Grotto Point Cliffs tracks
to
Grotto Point Lighthouse Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 416 m
Time = 8 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = -39 m
From the intersection, this walk winds down the hill, passing an old, blank signpost. The track wanders through dense bush and along the ridge, flattening out for a while until it drops down another hill towards the end of the point, coming to the Grotto Point Lighthouse.
Grotto Point Lighthouse
Alt = 3 m
Surrounded by a white picket fence, the small Grotto Point Lighthouse overlooks Middle Head. The light was designed in the early 1900s by the architect Maurice Festu to assist ships entering the harbour. Construction started in 1910, with the lighthouse being commissioned on September 1 1911.
(0.83 km)
Grotto Point lighthouse
to
Old concrete bunker Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 50 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -2 m
From the intersection, this walk heads around the right-hand side of the lighthouse and along the bush track, passing a green post and continuing down some tall brick steps to the concrete roof of an old bunker.
Catch the bus from End of Cutler Road
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.
Fire Danger This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a LOW-MODERATE rating and No Ban in place. (Checked 45 minutes ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban status, this rating is based on information from the RFS and BOM.
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.
Current Park Closure information for Sydney Harbour National Park Closure information last checked Monday 15th of March 2010 11:00 PM
Closed areas
Goat Island is currently closed until further notice while extensive maintenance works are carried out. Please note tours, filming, public access and everything relating to Goat Island is not available during this period.