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Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Grotto Point Walk hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Grotto Point Walk E-mail
 

Time
    Distance
Climb
Style

  1 Hrs 30 mins
  3.6 km
  159 m
  Return

   1 km ESE of Balgowlah Heights 
  Sydney Harbour National Park  bus car  
  Track: Moderate 
     

Great coastal views, plenty of Aboriginal and European history and very well-managed bushtracks make this one of the best short bushtracks on Sydney Harbour. Be sure to spend some time at the Aboriginal engravings which are just off the track.

Bushwalking can be fun and interesting when you are well prepared. Please ensure you and your group are well prepared and equipped for all possible dangers. The authors, staff and owners of wildwalks take care in preparing these notes but do not accept responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained when using these notes. Please take care and feel free to provide feedback through our website.
Please note that side trips and alternate routes mentioned in these notes are not included in the tracks overall rating, distance or time estimate. The notes also only describe the side trip and alternate routes in one direction.


Topographical Map of walk

Location                                                                                                                                                                Tracknotes Sponsor

Sponsor of Grotto Point Walk bushwalking tracknotes
Map of Grotto Point Walk hiking track
PDF has larger maps for easy printing
Map Controls - Contours | Hide Path | Hide Distances | Hide Names
Map Scale 1 km
Arabanoo Lookout
Int. of Arabanoo Lookout Track and Arabanoo walk
Int. of Arabanoo Walk and Castle Rock tracks
Starting point for this hiking track: Int. of Arabanoo Lookout Track and Arabanoo walk

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 knotes here
 Sydney Heads 1:25 000 Map Series NSW-91302N 
 Sydney 1:100 000 Map Series 9130 

Photo Gallery

 
View from Arabanoo Lookout
 
View from Arabanoo Lookout
 
the view from Dobroyd Drive
 
the view from Dobroyd Drive
 
Example of Trail
 
Example of Trail

 
Aboriginal Engravings
 
Aboriginal Engravings
 
Grotto Point
 
Grotto Point
 
The Grotto Point Lighthouse
 
The Grotto Point Lighthouse

Terrain profile


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

Cross Section of the Grotto Point Walk bushwalking track



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

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of 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.
Wildwalks Visit www.wildwalks.com/sponsor.html for more information on our sponsorship program Sponsor
You can promote your organisation on the web and in the bush by sponsoring a set of Wildwalks tracknotes.
Sponsorship starts from $10 per/month. This program is unique and will offer a great return on your investment.

Catch the bus to Arabanoo Lookout
Public transport (bus) available to for this Bushwalk You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for upto date running time info
And use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip to the start of the walk.
Plan a trip from --> Castle Hill | Central | Chatswood | Dural | Epping | Gosford | Hornsby | Katoomba | Manly | Parramatta | Penrith | Strathfield | Sutherland
Drive to Arabanoo Lookout
You can drive (or ride your bike) to this bushwalk There is free parking available.
You can drive or ride to the start of this walk
Since this walk starts on a low grad road I can't give you a route plan to the start.
View the road map here --> See Arabanoo Lookout on a map

Arabanoo Lookout
Alt = 81
The 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 who was an aboriginal man kidnapped by British marines in December 1788 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) Arabanoo Lookout to Int. of Arabanoo Lookout Track and Arabanoo walk
Walk: Easy - Bush Track
Distance = 0.3 km Time = 5 mins
Climb = 9 m Descent = -7 m
From Arabanoo Lookout the track heads south along Dobroyd Scenic Drive for approximately 30m before turning left onto a bushtrack. The track then follows this trail south until it is possible to see the coast where there is an intersection with another bushtrack.

(0.26 km) Int. of Arabanoo Lookout Track and Arabanoo walk to Int. of Arabanoo Walk and Castle Rock tracks
Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1.1 km Time = 25 mins
Climb = 31 m Descent = -73 m
From the intersection the track heads west along the bushtrack and after a while the track breaks out onto the rockshelf and passes the intersection to Dobroyd Head. The track continues west and after a while turns to the south. At this point the trail joins up with a long gradual set of stairs, approximately halfway down these are the Grotto Point Aboriginal rock engravings. These engravings are in great condition and are well signposted. The track continues down the stairs until at the bottom turns to the west for approximately 150m before coming to an intersection with several bushtracks. This is the Grotto Point Lighthouse Intersection.

(1.37 km) Int. of Arabanoo Walk and Castle Rock tracks to Grotto Point
Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.4 km Time = 5 mins
Climb = 2 m Descent = -37 m
From the intersection the track heads south out to the headland via the small bush track toward the lighthouse. Along the track there are impromptu lookouts with views of the harbour and from the lighthouse there are great views out of the heads and across to the Quarantine station.

Grotto Point Lighthouse
Alt = 3
Surrounded by a white picket fence the small Grotto Point lighthouse overlooks Middlehead. 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 been commissioned on September 1 1911.

Catch the bus from Arabanoo Lookout
Public transport (bus) available to for this Bushwalk You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for upto date running time info
And use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip home from the end of the walk.
Plan a trip to --> Castle Hill | Central | Chatswood | Dural | Epping | Gosford | Hornsby | Katoomba | Manly | Parramatta | Penrith | Strathfield | Sutherland
Drive from Arabanoo Lookout
You can drive (or ride your bike) to this bushwalk There is free parking available.
You can drive or ride from the end of this walk
Since this walk ends on a low grad road I can't give you a route plan home.
View the road map here --> See Arabanoo Lookout on a map


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 5.9 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

Weather and Park info

Weather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here
Mostly fine and sunny.
Mostly fine and sunny.
~16.0°C (feels like ~°)
13 km/h from the W (gusting 13)
~72% humidity     (as at 14/10:35am)
A graph displaying the average daily temperature range for the year

Sydney Harbour National Park Check for park closures and fire bans

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


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
Emergancy use only
18 km (to the WNW)
7 SYD07 Water Tank Corner of Loftus Rd and Pennant Hills Rd PENNANT HILLS 21 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)
8 MDC08 Gencom Site Lot 6 Wakefield Close KARIONG 41 km (to the N)

Walker Feedback

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