Watagan Forestry HQ campsite to Heaton Gap
Watagan Headquarters
(0km) Forestry H.Q campsite → Int of Bakers & Rocky Creek Roads
(1km) Int of Bakers & Rocky Creek Roads → Hunter Lookout picnic area
Continue straight: From the intersection[13], this walk follows Bakers Road gently uphill[14], while keeping Glen Road on your right. The walk continues, undulating gently for about 250m until coming to Hunter Lookout picnic area[15] (on the left).
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads off the road and up the hill following the Hunter Lookout picnic area sign, past the wooden gate and the public toilet, to the picnic area area and the lookout.
Hunter Lookout
(2km) Hunter Lookout picnic area → Macleans Lookout
Veer left: From the Hunter Lookout picnic area[21] (on Bakers Road), this walk follows Bakers Road north and gently downhill[22], while keeping Hunter Lookout on your left. The walk continues for about 400m until coming to a Y-intersection[23] (Bakers Road loop).
Continue straight: From the intersection[24] (Bakers Road Loop), this walk follows the track gently uphill[25], while keeping the other end of Bakers Road Loop to your right, gently downhill. The walk follows the road for about 130m until coming to Macleans Lookout[26].
Mcleans Lookout
(2km) Maclean Lookout → Int of GNW track & Bakers Road
(2km) Int of GNW track & Bakers Road → Int of GNW track AND Glen Road
Turn sharp right: From the intersection[35], this walk follows the track moderately steeply downhill[36], while keeping the GNW arrow marker on your left. The walk continues (descending moderately steeply into[37] and out[38] of a gully) for about 150m, until coming to a three-way intersection, Glen Road[39].
(3km) Int of GNW track & Glen Road → Int of GNW track and Fosters Road south
Turn left : From the intersection[45], this walk follows the GNW arrow marker[46] moderately steeply down along the track[47]. The walk continues for about 100m, to find a forested mossy creek[48] where the track bend right and continues close to the creek[49] for about 70m to then bend left and crossing the creek. The walk now follows the track undulating gently for about 280m before finding a large rock overhang[50]. The walk then continues moderately steeply uphill[51] for about 200m until coming to a T-intersection[52] with a wide trail and GNW arrow marker[53].
Turn right: From the intersection[54], this walk follows 'Watagan Forest Road' sign[55] uphill[56] along the trail for about 200m to a three-way intersection[57], with another 'Watagan Forest Road' sign[58] (on your left).
Continue straight: From the intersection[59], this walk follows the wide track gently downhill, while keeping the 'Macleans Lookout 2km' sign[60] on your right. The walk continues for about 140m to a three-way intersection[61], with Fosters Road on your right and 'Fosters Road' sign[62] on your left.
(4km) Int of GNW track and Fosters Road south → Int of GNW track and Hammonds Road
(5km) Int of GNW track and Hammonds Road → Int of GNW track and Wallis Creek
Continue straight: This walk crosses the creek[81] and follows the track, while keeping the valley on your left. The walk follows the track steeply up for a short distance, then follows along the base of a cliff[82] for about 120m to pass through a long sandstone cave[83]. The rocky track leads steeply down through the dense rainforest for 700m, following a series of GNW arrow posts to the bottom of the gully beside Wallis Creek[84].
(6km) Int of GNW track and Wallis Creek → Int of GNW track and Barniers Road
(7km) Int of GNW track and Barniers Road → Int of GNW track and Heaton Lookout
Heaton Lookout
(8km) Heaton Lookout. → Heaton Communications Tower
(11km) Heaton Communications Tower → Heaton Gap Lookout
Heaton Gap Lookout
(11km) Heaton Gap Lookout → Heaton Gap Track Head
Veer left: From the intersection[135], this walk follows the GNW arrow post and power lines[136] steeply downhill[137] along the trail. The walk continues for about 180m to find a three-way intersection[138], with a GNW arrow marker on the right (where the power line trail bends left). The walk turns right, leaving the power lines and following the GNW arrow marker steeply down a narrower forested track[139]. The track winds down some timber steps, towards the sound of traffic for about 160m then down a timber staircase[140] to the edge of Freemans Drive. Here the walk crosses Freemans Drive[141] (busy road, please be careful to look and listen for traffic) and comes to the Watagan Forest Motel[142], petrol station (on the left), picnic area[143] and signposted 'Heaton Gap Track Head'[144] (on the right).
Watagan Forest Motel
Maps for the Watagan Forestry HQ campsite to Heaton Gap walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
| Quorrobolong | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91322S QUORROBOLONG | NSW-91322S |
| Cessnock | 1:50 000 Map Series | 91322 CESSNOCK | CW-91322 |
| Cessnock | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9132 CESSNOCK | 9132 |
Cross sectional view of the Watagan Forestry HQ campsite to Heaton Gap bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Watagan Forestry HQ campsite to Heaton Gap

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
| Length | 12.5 km | ||
| Time | 6 hrs | ||
| . | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track | AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
| Signs | Minimal directional signs (4/6) | ||
| Experience Required | Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6) | ||
| Weather | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
6km of this walk has short steep hills and another 4.9km is very steep. The remaining (1.9km) has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
4.7km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 4km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. The remaining (3.8km) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 9km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 3.7km has minimal directional signs.
Experience Required
7km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience and another 2.7km requires no previous bushwalking experience. The remaining (2.6km) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 11km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 1.7km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
4.8km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) and another 3.9km has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). The remaining (3.9km) has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
Similar walks
A list of walks that share part of the track with the Watagan Forestry HQ campsite to Heaton Gap walk.
Congewai East Track Head to Watagan Forest Motel via Forestry HQ Campsite
29.7 km One way, 2 Days
Hard track
Other Nearby walks
A list of walks that start near the Watagan Forestry HQ campsite to Heaton Gap walk.
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Watagan Forestry HQ campsite to Heaton Gap walk starts at the Forestry H.Q campsite (gps: -32.975600, 151.41170)
The Watagan Forestry HQ campsite to Heaton Gap ends at the Heaton Gap Track Head (gps: -32.965275, 151.47939)
Weather Forecast
This walk starts in the Hunter weather district.
Current Alerts
Park Information
Heaton State Forest
Boardering Watagan national Park, Heaton State forest is home to many great lookouts. There sre many highpoints with cliff edges giving great views across the Hunter valley and Lake Macquarie.
Awaba State Forest
A large parcel of land west of the northern end of lake Macquarie, Awaba state forest lines the side of part of the Sydney - newcastle freeway. The park is home to mostly native forest
Watagans National Park
Comments
Short URL: http://wild.tl/wfhcthg