Norah Head Lighthouse Loop

Download & Print Map and Notes

1 Hr

2.5 km Circuit

66 m

Hard track

A fantastic loop walk with a great variety of excellent scenery. The walk covers the Norah Head Nature Trail with it's beautiful forest scenery, the merchant navy memorial and Norah Head lighthouse before returning via the shoreline. There are plenty of stunning coastline views and some exploration of the rockshelf below the lighthouse. On weekends, you could also join a tour of the lighthouse.

(0km) Bush St Reserve car park → Headland Nature Trail trackhead

90 m

2 mins

-1m Easy track

From the car park at the Bush St Reserve, Norah Head (near the intersection with Young St), this walk goes past the toilet block and across the park to the information board and trackhead at the back corner of the park.

Bush St reserve

This picnic area is in Bush St, Norah Head, near the intersection with Young St. The reserve has parking, toilets, picnic tables and garbage bins. There are fantastic views along the coastline. The Headland Nature Trail starts here, and it also a short walk to the beach and ocean rockpool.

(0km) Headland Nature Trail trackhead → Int near headland lookout

160 m

3 mins

-5m Moderate track

Veer right: From the trackhead at the back of Bush St Reserve, this walk goes through the timber barricade, passing the 'Headland Nature Trail' sign and following the bush track. The track winds through the beautiful area of bush for a while before reaching an intersection with another bush track, close to a fenced lookout platform.

(0km) Int near headland lookout → Headland lookout

20 m

-1m Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk goes a very short distance along the bush track to the fenced lookout platform.

Headland lookout

This unnamed lookout is on the Headland Nature Trail at Norah Head and has excellent views along the coastline and out to sea. The lookout is on a small, fenced, wooden platform.

(0km) Headland lookout → Lighthouse car park

380 m

7 mins

12m

-2m Moderate track

Turn around: From the lookout platform, this walk goes a very short distance along the bush track to a 'Y' intersection.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track, taking the left fork, directly away from the nearby lookout platform. After a short distance, the track follows a 'Nature Trail' arrow to the left, ignoring a track to the right, and continues meandering through the bush. The track passes over a small timber bridge and bends to the right, continuing through the bush for some time and arriving at the end of the lighthouse car park.

(1km) Lighthouse car park → Merchant Mariners memorial lookout

90 m

2 mins

-7m Very easy

Continue straight: From the end of the car park, this walk crosses the car park, tending to the left, then crosses Bush St to the Merchant Mariners memorial and lookout. There are numerous plaques in the footpath and set in rocks at the memorial, providing information about merchant ships and lives lost during times of war.

Merchant Mariners memorial and lookout

This memorial and lookout point commemorates the loss of lives in the merchant navy, during times of war, primarily WWII [1]. There are several plaques with details of the ships and number of lives lost. The stunning views from the lookout take in the nearby Norah Head lighthouse and much of the coastline to the south.

(1km) Merchant Mariners memorial lookout → Cottage car park

120 m

3 mins

-11m Very easy

Turn sharp left: From the lookout, this walk follows the footpath towards the lighthouse, passing an information board, to the right, and keeping the driveway to the left. The walk soon arrives at the corner of the lighthouse cottage yard, beside the car park.

Lighthouse cottages and weddings

The cottages at the Norah Head Lighthouse can be booked as accommodation (ph: 1300 132 975) and the Lighthouse grounds can be booked for weddings (ph: (02) 4396 4102). More info.

(1km) Cottage car park → Lighthouse

100 m

2 mins

-5m Very easy

Continue straight: From the corner of the cottage yard, this walk follows the footpath past the lighthouse cottages, to the left, to the gate beside the lighthouse.

Norah Head Lighthouse

The lighthouse was established in 1903 and was converted from a kerosene burner to mains electricity power in 1961. Tours of the lighthouse are available on weekends [5], every half hour between 10am and 1:30pm [6]. More info.

(1km) Lighthouse → Lighthouse Point lookout

80 m

1 mins

-4m Very easy

Continue straight: From the gate beside the lighthouse, this walk follows the footpath, gently down the hill, towards the ocean. The walk soon reaches a viewing point at the top of the beach access steps.

Norah Head Lighthouse Point lookout

This lookout, on the point of Norah Head, near the lighthouse, has amazing views in all directions, up and down the coastline, across the rockshelves and beaches below, and of the lighthouse itself.

(1km) Lighthouse Point lookout → Bottom of Norah Head steps

40 m

1 mins

-2m Moderate track

Turn right: From the top of the steps, this walk goes down the timber steps to the beach at the bottom.

(1km) Bottom of Norah Head steps → Southern end of Lighthouse Beach

360 m

6 mins

-8m Hard track

Veer left: From the bottom of the steps, this walk crosses the end of the sandy beach and explores the extensive rock platform before heading north around the headland, keeping the ocean to the right. Soon after going around the headland, the walk reaches the southern end of Lighthouse Beach[7].

Norah Head rockshelf

This rockshelf is at the tip of Norah Head, below the lighthouse. The general scenery in the area is beautiful and the rockshelves have a lot of interesting shapes and textures, making the area interesting to explore. The rockshelf can be reached from the nearby beaches or via steps from the lighthouse.

(1km) Southern end of Lighthouse Beach → Rock Pool

750 m

14 mins

16m

-15m Hard track

Continue straight: From the southern end of Lighthouse Beach[8], this walk follows the beach north, keeping the ocean to the right, until reaching the rock platforms at the north end of the beach.
Continue straight: From the northern end of Lighthouse Beach[9], this walk goes north across the rock shelf, keeping the ocean to the right. The walk then goes up the steps and along the concrete footpath with the metal handrail, around the headland and past the ocean pool, to the right, before arriving at the bottom of the concrete steps, just below the toilet block.

Norah Head Rock Pool

This tidal ocean pool is in Cabbage Tree Harbour at Norah Head. It is a beautiful, sheltered place to swim or to relax on the sand. There are public toilets nearby. More info.

(2km) Rock Pool → Int of Rock Pool Path and Bush St reserve path

90 m

2 mins

11m

0m Moderate track

Turn left: From the bottom of the steps, this walk goes up the concrete steps and footpath, away from the ocean pool, passing the toilet block, to the left. The walk continues up the footpath, with houses to the right, until an intersection with a sandy path, to the left, signposted 'Cabbage Tree Harbour Rock Pool path, Bush St'[10].

(2km) Int of Rock Pool Path and Bush St reserve path → Bush St Reserve car park

180 m

4 mins

-3m Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sandy track away from the houses and the concrete footpath. The walk bends to the left and soon reaches an open grassy area. Here, the walk bends to the right and continues across the grassy area, keeping the car park to the right, and passing some picnic tables, until reaching the information board and trackhead at the back of the park.
Turn right: From the information board and trackhead, this walk goes across the park, past the toilet block, to the car park of the Bush St Reserve, Norah Head (near the intersection with Young St).

Maps for the Norah Head Lighthouse Loop 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.

Toukley	1:25 000 Map Series	92313N TOUKLEY	NSW-92313N
Lake Macquarie	1:100 000 Map Series	9231 LAKE MACQUARIE	9231

Cross sectional view of the Norah Head Lighthouse Loop bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Norah Head Lighthouse Loop

Altitude analysis for Norah Head Lighthouse Loop

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	2.5 km
		Time	1 Hr
		.
Grade 4/6 Hard track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
		Signs	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		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

1.8km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 380m is flat with no steps. The remaining (290m) has short steep hills.

Quality of track

1.1km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and another 600m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. Whilst another 380m follows a smooth and hardened path and the remaining 370m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

1.1km of this walk has minimal directional signs and another 720m is clearly signposted. The remaining (630m) has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 1.2km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.2km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 2km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 450m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

1.3km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) and another 840m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced). The remaining (360m) has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Norah Head Lighthouse Loop walk.

Norah Head Lighthouse walk

762 m Return, 30 mins

A short, interesting and very scenic walk. The Norah Head lighthouse is very picturesque and the setting is beautiful, with some fantastic views along the coastline from the paths around the area. The merchant mariners memorial adds some more historic interest to the walk.

Total climbing: 38m

Very easy

Norah Head Lighthouse and Rockshelf walk

1.6 km Return, 45 mins

A very interesting and very scenic walk, taking in the merchant mariners memorial, and lookout, and the Norah Head lighthouse before exploring the rockshelf below Norah Head. The lighthouse is very picturesque and the setting is beautiful, with some fantastic views along the coastline from the paths

Total climbing: 56m

Hard track

Norah Head Nature Trail

2.2 km Return, 1 Hr

A beautiful walk with a great variety of scenery. The walk starts with some beautiful forest scenery, visits an interesting memorial to the merchant navy, wanders past the scenic Norah Head lighthouse with its stunning coastline views, and finishes with some exploration of the rockshelf below the li

Total climbing: 65m

Moderate track

Rockpool to Norah Head Lighthouse

2.6 km Return, 1 Hr

A great, scenic walk along the shoreline at Norah Head, to the lighthouse with it's picturesque location and beautiful views. The walk along the beach and rockshelf is interesting, with lots of shapes and textures making the rockshelf interesting to explore. The Norah Head lighthouse is very picture

Total climbing: 60m

Hard track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Norah Head Lighthouse Loop walk.

Norah Head Rockpool

150 m Return, 15 mins

A very short walk to the Norah Head rockpool in Cabbage Tree Harbour. The rockpool is a great, sheltered spot to swim and relax on a sunny day. You could also happily spend some time exploring the nearby rockshelves. A great spot for a lazy afternoon with plenty of interesting scenery.

Total climbing: 6m

Easy track

Wetland trail to Rainforest

4.8 km One way, 1 hr 45 mins

A great one-way walk covering some of the highlights of this part of Wyrrabalong National Park. The walk starts off through some beautiful wetland forest, before passing through areas of fantastic, twisted Sydney Redgums and Burrawang cycads. A couple a lookouts provide great views and spots to rela

Total climbing: 79m

Moderate track

Wetland Trail to Redgum Lookout

3.1 km Return, 1 hr 15 mins

A very nice walk through some wetland forest and some of the beautiful Sydney Redgum forest, a feature of the area. The unnamed Redgum Lookout, at the return point of the walk, has some great views and is an atmospheric spot to spend some time before returning. Much of the walk is on sandy tracks. T

Total climbing: 54m

Moderate track

Redgum trail

3.4 km Circuit, 1 hr 15 mins

An excellent loop walk through areas of beautiful Sydney Redgums. In several places these twisted trees lean over the track, creating great scenery and atmosphere. Two lookout platforms along the way provide some fantastic views over the surrounding areas and Tuggerah Lake. Much of the walk is on sa

Total climbing: 48m

Moderate track

Wyrrabalong Figure 8

6.9 km Circuit, 2 hrs 15 mins

A great walk covering much of the excellent scenery in this area. This walk includes great views over Tuggerah lake, some beautiful areas of littoral rainforest, very picturesque, twisted Sydney Redgums leaning over the track and plenty of Burrawangs (a cycad). The lookouts along the way provide goo

Total climbing: 104m

Moderate track

Lillypilly Loop Trail

3.6 km Circuit, 1 hr 15 mins

This beautiful loop walk passes through a great variety of forest scenery, including some lovely rainforest, dominated by cabbage palms and other trees. There are some beautiful views across Tuggerah Lake, and parts of the track feature twisted Sydney Redgums leaning over the track, and the shorter

Total climbing: 62m

Moderate track

Tuggerah Lake vista and Rainforest

1.8 km Return, 45 mins

A beautiful, short walk passing through a variety of scenery, featuring an area of littoral rainforest, dominated by big cabbage palms. There are beautiful views across Tuggerah lake at the return point. Much of the walk is on sandy tracks and several sections of wooden boards keep the track in good

Total climbing: 28m

Moderate track

Tea Tree Picnic Area to Birdie Beach

444 m Return, 10 mins

Starting at Tea Tree Picnic Area, this short walk follows a beach access track to Birdie Beach. Along the way, the walk visits Bird Island Lookout, providing a great view of Bird Island, and up and down Birdie Beach. The walk continues down the timber path and steps, across the sand to the edge of

Total climbing: 18m

Easy track

Tea Tree Picnic Area to Bird Island Lookout

136 m Return, 3 mins

This short walk leads from the Tea Tree car park and Picnic Area to the Bird Island Lookout. The view from the fenced platform looks up and down Birdie Beach, and out to sea to Bird Island. The walk starts from the car park and heads across the compacted dirt and gravel track, before leading up a t

Total climbing: 3m

Very easy

Freemans camping area to Birdie Beach

1.2 km Return, 25 mins

A short walk to access the beach from Freemans camping area. This easy walk takes campers along a wide path to Birdie Beach car park, then to Birdie Beach. The campsite is far enough back from the beach to be protected from the sea breeze, so this walk saves the longer trip via the road. Further n

Total climbing: 12m

Easy track

Campbell Dr to Birdie Beach View (Geebung Track)

3.3 km Return, 1 hr 15 mins

This walk follows the Geebung Track to the sweeping views of Birdie Beach. From Campbell Dr, you will follow a management trail down to a creek where the Geebung Track narrows and winds through the heath to the top of the hill, where there is a view to Birdie Beach. The views south along Birdie Bea

Total climbing: 65m

Moderate track

Campbell Drive to Snapper Point

4.2 km One way, 1 hr 45 mins

This walk follows the Coast Track to Frazer Beach, along the Geebung and (overgrown) Grass Tree Tracks. From the northern end of Frazer Beach, the walk heads across the exposed rockshelf to Snapper Point Beach, then on to Snapper Point (consider tide and sea conditions before setting out). From Sna

Total climbing: 135m

Experienced only

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Norah Head Lighthouse Loop walk starts and ends at the Bush St Reserve car park (gps: -33.280440, 151.56945)

Bus. (get details)

Car. There is free parking available.<br /> (get details)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve

Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve is home to a small parcel of bushland and a lighthouse, north of The Entrance on the NSW Central Coast. The land and lighthouse is managed by the Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve Trust who was appointed by the NSW Minister for Lands in 2007. The trust maintains some walking track and the lighthouse. The lighthouse can be booked for overnight accommodation. The Lighthouse was opened on 15th November 1903 and is still in active use today.

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