Bushwalking on the Middle Head

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Middle Head

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

Middle Head

Time:	1 Hr Walking time Please allow extra time to rest and to explore	85.4 km NE of Balmoral
Length:	2 km Walk Length As this is a Circuit style walk, the 2 km includes the walking distance from the start around the loop and back to the start again	Sydney Harbour National Park
Climb:	104 m
Style:	Circuit

This walk leads you around the perimeter of Middle Head. This is a great place to explore, with many forts, barracks and views over Sydney Harbour. The forts area is an excellent place to spend some time walking through the tunnels and gun pits.

Please note: There are closed areas in Sydney Harbour National Park

Map of Walk

Location

Sponsor of Middle Head bushwalking tracknotes

Map of Middle Head
PDF has larger maps for easy printing
Map Controls - Contours | Hide Path | Hide Distances | Hide Names
Map Scale

1 km

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




	Middl Head car park




	Grassed track around fence




	Old Fort Rd




	Tallest Fort




	Middle head fort




	Engravings in fort wall




	Filled in fort




	Disappearing fort




	Officers quarters




	Cobblers Beach sign




	Track around fence




	Middle Head Oval

Terrain

Cross sectional view of the Middle Head bushwalking track

Cross Section of the Middle Head bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Middle Head bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the Middle Head 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

Catch the bus to Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd
Catch the bus to Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd
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. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd
Drive to Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd
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\|

(0 km) Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd to Tallest Fort Track: Moderate - bushtrack,road,servicetrail	Length = 893 m	Time = 17 mins
	Climb = 24 m	Descent = -29 m
From the intersection of Chowder Bay and Middle Head Rd, this walk heads down through the car park to the far end, where there are signs. The walk heads along the fenceline passing the Sydney Harbour NP sign. The fencline is followed as it tends right, coming to a gate. From the intersection, this walk heads through the gate, keeping the view of the water to the right of the track. Note that if the gate is closed, visitors can walk around the right-hand side of the fence. The walk then follows the fenceline, (on the left of the track), to then continue up a small hill along the fenceline and to a short stone wall. The walk continues over the stone wall to the fork in the road. From the intersection, this walk heads up 'Old Fort Rd', keeping the unfenced cottage on the right of the road. The walk soon passes a radio tower on the right, and continues past a gate to the intersection, opposite a sign in the clearing on the left. From the intersection, this walk heads along the overgrown management trail to the tallest of the forts. From here, walkers can explore the fortifications.

Middle Head Forts	Alt = 37 m
Middle Head Forts
The forts of Middle Head consist of a rabbit warren of concrete tunnels, winding some 300m around the end of the headland. The fortifications and gun emplacements are varied in size and state, with some closed to protect heritage and the bats. Nearly all the forts overlook the harbour, with views out past the heads and to sea. This is a great area for a little adventure with so many tunnels to explore. For information on tours, click the link. More info

(0.89 km) Tallest Fort to Disappearing Gun Pit South Track: Moderate - servicetrail,bushtrack	Length = 327 m	Time = 6 mins
	Climb = 9 m	Descent = -8 m
From the tallest fort, this walk heads away from the sea and the forts, along an overgrown management trail. The walk comes to an intersection opposite a sign, on the far side of the clearing. From the intersection, this walk heads away from the built-up forts and road, to cross the clearing to the signposted 'Inner Middle Head Forts'. The track follows the arrow on this sign for approximately 200m through the bush to a sunken concrete fort on the right.

(1.22 km) Disappearing Gun Pit South to Disappearing Gun Pit North Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 47 m	Time = 2 mins
	Climb = 2 m	Descent = -12 m
From the southern fort (surrounded by bush), this walk winds right, away from the fort keeping the sea on the right of the track. The track quickly leads to an intersection near the fort at the sea cliff. From the intersection, this walk heads towards the concrete gun pit and the sea, approximately 20m away.

(1.27 km) Disappearing Gun Pit North to Middle Head Oval NE Gate Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail,bushtrack	Length = 531 m	Time = 14 mins
	Climb = 44 m	Descent = -42 m
From the fort, this walk heads away from the sea cliffs and the fort for approximately 20m to the intersection. From the intersection, this walk heads away from the sea view and the concrete fort, keeping a sunken concrete feature to the left of the track. The track winds a little for approximately 120m, to the signposted intersection with Govenors Rd. From the intersection, this walk heads down the grass hill beside the old house, keeping the house on the left. The track then turns left and down the hill with the fence, to continue along the fenceline. Near the end of the fence, the track turns right, down the hill and comes to a management trail. From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, with the houses above to the left of the track. The track soon meets a clearing, continuing through to the 'Sydney Harbour National Park' sign. From the intersection, this walk heads along the line of the cyclone fence, on the left, for approximately 150m to the gate in the white picket fence of Middle Head Oval, near the 'Middle Head' sign.

(1.8 km) Middle Head Oval NE Gate to Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd Walk: Easy - undefined,bushtrack	Length = 174 m	Time = 5 mins
	Climb = 25 m	Descent = -12 m
From the gate, this walk heads across the oval to the far side, next to the baseball nets. From the gate, this walk heads to the intersection of Middle Head Road and Chowder Bay Road.

Catch the bus from Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd

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. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd
Drive from Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd
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 Drive from:	From the end of the walk Drive to:

Near by

A list of 3 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
Balmoral to Middle Head Forts	Sydney Harbour National Park	Circuit	4.1 km	2 hrs	4 / 6	0.6 km
Chowder Bay to Middle Head return via Chowder Bay Rd	Sydney Harbour National Park	Circuit	5.1 km	2 hrs 30 mins	3 / 6	1.0 km
Spit Bridge to Middle Head Forts	Sydney Harbour National Park	One way	6.3 km	2 hrs 30 mins	4 / 6	3.0 km

The next 10 closest walks

Walk Name	Park	Style	Length (km)	Time	Grade	km from the start of this walk
Balmoral Beach to The Spit	Sydney Harbour National Park	One way	4.3 km	2 hrs 30 mins	4 / 6	0.6 km
WW1 Hospital to Georges Heights Lookout	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	0.9 km	30 mins	2 / 6	0.7 km
Georges Heights Lookout	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	0.1 km	7 mins	1 / 6	1.0 km
Chowder Bay to Georges Heights Lookout	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	0.9 km	30 mins	3 / 6	1.3 km
Clifton Gardens to Georges Heights	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	1.7 km	1 Hr	3 / 6	1.5 km
Grotto Point Lighthouse Walk	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	1.7 km	1 Hr	3 / 6	1.7 km
Castle Rock Beach	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	0.2 km	30 mins	3 / 6	1.9 km
Castle Rock to Grotto Point Lighthouse	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	2.0 km	1 Hr	3 / 6	1.9 km
Crater Cove Lookout	Sydney Harbour National Park	Return	0.1 km	3 mins	3 / 6	2.1 km
Dobroyd Head Walk	Sydney Harbour National Park	Circuit	2.5 km	1 Hr	4 / 6	2.3 km

Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk

Store	Address	Phone	Distance (straight line)
Outdoor Equipment	60 Spring St , Bondi Junction	(02) 9389 8122	7.3 km
Kellys Camping & Outdoors	826 Pittwater Rd , Dee Why	(02) 9972 0061	8.3 km
Inski	46 York St , Sydney	(02) 9233 3200	6.9 km
Mitchells Adventure	81 York St , Sydney	(02) 9299 6321	6.9 km
Venus Repair Workshop	Suite 36a 104 Bathurst St , Sydney	(02) 9267 0706	7.2 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Middle Head.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Middle Head Click to re-center search
5	SYD05	Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA Emergency use only	18 km (to the NW)
1	SYD01	12/14 Ormonde Parade HURSTVILLE	22 km (to the SW)
6	VMB7	CB Repeater Site 16 Alan Rd BEROWRA HEIGHTS	26 km (to the NNW)
7	SYD07	7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN	33 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 31 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. Partly cloudy.

19.7°C (feels like 0.0°)

13 km/h from the W (gusting 13)

0% humidity (as at 15/08:04am)

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

Current Park Closure information for Sydney Harbour National Park
Closure information last checked Monday 15th of March 2010 08:00 AM

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.

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not too much longer now :)

Closed areas

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