Map of Walk

Location

               
Map of Grotto Point Walk
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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

Terrain

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 Walk bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Grotto Point Walk bushwalking track

Track Notes

Since this is a 'return' style walk once you have had enough of the walk, turn around and retrace your steps back to the start.

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

Catch the bus to Int. Dobroyd Scenic Dr and Arabanoo Trk
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|

Drive to Int. Dobroyd Scenic Dr and Arabanoo Trk
There is free parking available. 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|

Arabanoo Lookout	Alt = 81 m
Arabanoo Lookout has great views over Port Jackson, Northern Harbour and as far as Manly. The lookout also has several signs and monuments, providing historical information on the significance of the area. Looking out over Middle Head, this lookout is named after Arabanoo, an Aboriginal man kidnapped in December 1788, by British marines on Governor Phillips orders. The Governor believed that this was justified as he wished to facilitate communication between the British and the Aborigines. Arabanoo lived in the company of the Europeans until the 18th May 1789 where he died due to smallpox infection.

(0 km) Int. Dobroyd Scenic Dr and Arabanoo Trk to Crater Cove Lookout Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 487 m	Time = 10 mins
	Climb = 12 m	Descent = -19 m
From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Manly' and 'The Spit' sign down the hill. The track winds down through bush which quickly becomes heath. The heath becomes short and thins out on the left, before the walk comes to an intersection, with a sign pointing back to 'Arabanoo Lookout'. From the intersection, this walk follows 'The Spit' arrow along the hillside as it winds through the thick scrub to the start of a boardwalk. The walk leads further around the hillside to the edge of the park and down onto the fenced Crater Cove lookout.

Crater Cove Lookout	Alt = 76 m
From this fenced lookout, vistas far out to sea can be enjoyed, with Middle and South Heads just in view. Many yachts sail past, with the container ships out to sea. This is a popular spot for watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart race, or for watching whales as they pass by Sydney.

(0.49 km) Crater Cove Lookout to Bottom of Tania Park track Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 10 m	Time = 1 mins
	Climb = 5 m	Descent = 0 m
From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, towards the road and away from the sea. The walk soon comes to an intersection with the Tania Park stone steps on the right.

(0.5 km) Bottom of Tania Park track to Grotto Point Engravings track Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 660 m	Time = 14 mins
	Climb = 14 m	Descent = -38 m
From the intersection, this walk follows the Arabanoo Walk, keeping the water on the left. The track continues away from the rock platform for a short time, coming to an unnamed lookout on another rock platform. From the intersection, this walk heads along the hillside keeping the harbour below and to the left of the track. The walk crosses several separate sections of boardwalk and rock platforms, coming to the intersection with the signpost 'Castle Rock Beach 800m'. 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.

(1.16 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

(1.16 km) Grotto Point Engravings track to Grotto Point Lighthouse Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 662 m	Time = 14 mins
	Climb = 5 m	Descent = -59 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. 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. 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.

(1.82 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 Int. Dobroyd Scenic Dr and Arabanoo Trk
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 Int. Dobroyd Scenic Dr and Arabanoo Trk
There is free parking available. 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                  Castle HillChatswoodDuralEppingGosfordHornsbyKatoombaManlyParramattaPenrithStrathfieldSutherlandSydney Drive from:		From the end of the walk                  Castle HillChatswoodDuralEppingGosfordHornsbyKatoombaManlyParramattaPenrithStrathfieldSutherlandSydney Drive to:

Near by

A list of 8 walks that share part of their track with this one

Walk Name	Park	Style	Length (km)	Time	Grade	km from the start of this walk
Crater Cove Lookout	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	0.1 km	3 mins	3 / 6	0.2 km
Dobroyd Head Walk	Sydney Harbour National Park	Circuit	2.5 km	1 Hr	4 / 6	0.0 km
Grotto Point Lighthouse Walk	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	1.7 km	1 Hr	3 / 6	0.7 km
Castle Rock to Grotto Point Lighthouse	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	2.0 km	1 Hr	3 / 6	0.9 km
Spit Bridge to Manly (Manly Scenic Walkway)	Sydney Harbour National Park	One way	9.1 km	3 hrs 45 mins	3 / 6	2.2 km
Spit Bridge to North Harbour Reserve	Sydney Harbour National Park	Circuit	8.7 km	4 hrs	3 / 6	2.2 km
Manly to Seaforth Oval	Sydney Harbour National Park	One way	13.7 km	5 hrs 45 mins	3 / 6	1.7 km
Taronga Zoo to Manly	Sydney Harbour National Park	One way	19.0 km	8 hrs	4 / 6	4.9 km

The next 10 closest walks

Walk Name	Park	Style	Length (km)	Time	Grade	km from the start of this walk
Castle Rock Beach	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	0.2 km	30 mins	3 / 6	0.9 km
Spit Bridge to Fisher Bay	Sydney Harbour National Park	Circuit	3.6 km	1 hr 30 mins	4 / 6	2.0 km
Spit to Lindfield	Sydney Harbour National Park	One way	22.6 km	9 hrs 45 mins	4 / 6	2.1 km
Spit Bridge to Middle Head Forts	Sydney Harbour National Park	One way	6.3 km	2 hrs 30 mins	4 / 6	2.1 km
Middle Head	Sydney Harbour National Park	Circuit	2.0 km	1 Hr	3 / 6	2.3 km
Balmoral to Middle Head Forts	Sydney Harbour National Park	Circuit	4.1 km	2 hrs	4 / 6	2.6 km
Balmoral Beach to The Spit	Sydney Harbour National Park	One way	4.3 km	2 hrs 30 mins	4 / 6	2.6 km
WW1 Hospital to Georges Heights Lookout	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	0.9 km	30 mins	2 / 6	2.9 km
Manly Dam Circuit Walk	Manly Warringah War Memorial Park (Manly Dam)	Circuit	7.3 km	3 hrs	3 / 6	3.1 km
Manly Dam Nature Trail	Manly Warringah War Memorial Park (Manly Dam)	Return	3.0 km	1 hr 30 mins	3 / 6	3.1 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	6 km
Kangaroo Tent City & BBQs	165-167 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood	(02) 9884 9199	7.1 km
Mountain Designs	Shop 16/ 9 Spring St , Chatswood	(02) 9415 4566	7.9 km
Larry Adler Ski & Outdoor	77 Archer St , Chatswood	(02) 9412 4777	7.8 km
Mountain Equipment	72 Archer St , Chatswood	(02) 9419 6955	7.8 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Grotto Point Walk.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Grotto Point Walk Click to re-center search
5	SYD05	Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA Emergency use only	18 km (to the WNW)
1	SYD01	12/14 Ormonde Parade HURSTVILLE	24 km (to the SW)
6	VMB7	CB Repeater Site 16 Alan Rd BEROWRA HEIGHTS	25 km (to the NNW)
7	SYD07	7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN	33 km (to the W)
8	MDC08	Gencom Site Lot 6 Wakefield Close KARIONG	41 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 52 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

Fine. ~22.5°C (feels like ~0.0°) 17 km/h from the NE (gusting 22) ~66% humidity     (as at 15/07:34pm)

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

Current Park Closure information for Sydney Harbour National Park
Closure information last checked Monday 15th of March 2010 07:00 PM

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