Great North Walk: Heaton Lookout to Heaton Gap

Downloads GPX PDF

Safer Bushwalks
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There

Start	At the intersection of Heaton Road & Great North Walk (-32.9836544,151.4547718)
Mode	Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Pacific Motorway, M1 Turn on to Freemans Drive Exit then drive for 510 m Keep right and drive for another 45 m Turn right onto Freemans Drive and drive for another 4.6 km Turn right onto Mount Faulk Road and drive for another 9 km Turn right onto Heaton Road and drive for another 1.6 km
Finish	(-32.9652881,151.4793367)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car (There is free parking available.)

Track Notes

Getting started
From 'Heaton Lookout', this walk follows the 'Heaton Gap' sign gently uphill along the dirt Heaton Rd, past the toilet. After about 250m, the road leads past the 'Heaton Loop Trail' side track, then about 250m later (staying left at the Y-intersection) the road passes another section of the same signposted track as the road bends left, enjoying the views over the clearing (on your right). The road now leads gently uphill for about 1.7km, ignoring a series of side tracks until coming to a clear three-way intersection just past the brick building and fenced communication tower (on the right, and a small dam on the left).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Heaton Road & Great North Walk Start heading along Heaton Road (a vehicle track). There is a picnic table (about 20 m back from the start). After 20 m to find the car park.
	The starting point of an alternate route. Alternate route past Heaton Lookout and picnic area. To take the alternate route continue straight here. Details below. After another 45 m continue straight, to head along Heaton Road. Keep left. After another 65 m pass the toilet (8 m on your right). After another 110 m (at the intersection of Heaton Road & Heaton Loop Trail) continue straight, to head along Heaton Road. After another 135 m continue straight, to head along Heaton Road.
	After another 2 km (at the intersection of Taylors Road & Murrells Road) turn sharp right (a walking track). After another 750 m find the "Heaton Gap Lookout" (15 m on your right). Heaton Gap Lookout Heaton Gap Lookout Heaton Gap lookout is a fantastic spot to stop and catch your breath in Heaton State Forest. This unfenced lookout offers exhilarating views over the valleys towards Tuggerah Lake and Lake Macquarie. this unsignposted view, as with many features in the area, was named after Richard Heaton, a timber cutter who came to Australia as a convict. + - Heaton Gap lookout is a fantastic spot to stop and catch your breath in Heaton State Forest. This unfenced lookout offers exhilarating views over the valleys towards Tuggerah Lake and Lake Macquarie. this unsignposted view, as with many features in the area, was named after Richard Heaton, a timber cutter who came to Australia as a convict. After another 850 m come to the viewpoint. After another 115 m head down the wooden steps About 15 m past the end is "Watagan Forest Motel". Watagan Forest Motel Watagan Forest Motel Watagan Forest Motel is located on Branxton-Toronto Road. This retro-style motel is located right on the Great North Walk. The motel offers six rooms for around $99 per night - each with a double bed (four rooms also have twin singles), a television, bathroom with shower, air conditioning, and breakfast included. Room service is available. Adjoining the motel is a service station, which also offers dining room meals as well as a small grocery selection (bread, milk, bottled water, rice, pasta, etc), open until 8:30pm daily. A rest area is situated next to the motel, with covered picnic tables and garbage bins. For further information, phone (02)4938 0149. + - Watagan Forest Motel is located on Branxton-Toronto Road. This retro-style motel is located right on the Great North Walk. The motel offers six rooms for around $99 per night - each with a double bed (four rooms also have twin singles), a television, bathroom with shower, air conditioning, and breakfast included. Room service is available. Adjoining the motel is a service station, which also offers dining room meals as well as a small grocery selection (bread, milk, bottled water, rice, pasta, etc), open until 8:30pm daily. A rest area is situated next to the motel, with covered picnic tables and garbage bins. For further information, phone (02)4938 0149. About 30 m past the end is a picnic table.
	The end.

Alternate route past Heaton Lookout and picnic area.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Heaton Lookout (about 60 m back from the start). Heaton Lookout Heaton Lookout Heaton Lookout is one of the larger lookouts located on Heaton Road. This fenced lookout faces south-east. There are wood fired barbecues, picnic tables and a pit toilet. Heaton Lookout is a great place to stop for a snack, and the amazing view feels like a bonus. This lookout was named after Richard Heaton, a timber cutter who came to Australia as a convict. There is a water tank here, due to vandalism in the area this is not a reliable water source. + - Heaton Lookout is one of the larger lookouts located on Heaton Road. This fenced lookout faces south-east. There are wood fired barbecues, picnic tables and a pit toilet. Heaton Lookout is a great place to stop for a snack, and the amazing view feels like a bonus. This lookout was named after Richard Heaton, a timber cutter who came to Australia as a convict. There is a water tank here, due to vandalism in the area this is not a reliable water source. Find the toilet at the start.
	After another 25 m continue straight. After another 55 m head through/around the gate. After another 190 m come to the "Heaton Lookout" (7 m on your right). After another 15 m pass the car park (40 m on your left).
	After another 260 m turn left.
	After another 50 m come to the end. At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

Terrain

Great North Walk: Heaton Lookout to Heaton Gap

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	4.1 km
Time	1 h 45 min to 2 h

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one 135 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	135 m	[toilet]

Articles

Heaton Lookout
Heaton Lookout is one of the larger lookouts located on Heaton Road. This fenced lookout faces south-east. There are wood fired barbecues, picnic tables and a pit toilet. Heaton Lookout is a great place to stop for a snack, and the amazing view feels like a bonus. This lookout was named after Richard Heaton, a timber cutter who came to Australia as a convict. There is a water tank here, due to vandalism in the area this is not a reliable water source.

Heaton Gap Lookout
Heaton Gap lookout is a fantastic spot to stop and catch your breath in Heaton State Forest. This unfenced lookout offers exhilarating views over the valleys towards Tuggerah Lake and Lake Macquarie. this unsignposted view, as with many features in the area, was named after Richard Heaton, a timber cutter who came to Australia as a convict.

Watagan Forest Motel
Watagan Forest Motel is located on Branxton-Toronto Road. This retro-style motel is located right on the Great North Walk. The motel offers six rooms for around $99 per night - each with a double bed (four rooms also have twin singles), a television, bathroom with shower, air conditioning, and breakfast included. Room service is available. Adjoining the motel is a service station, which also offers dining room meals as well as a small grocery selection (bread, milk, bottled water, rice, pasta, etc), open until 8:30pm daily. A rest area is situated next to the motel, with covered picnic tables and garbage bins. For further information, phone (02)4938 0149.

Get more information
Wildwalks
Videos

Reviews & Feedback

Weather & Alerts

Show Full Weather

Alerts and Closures

Show all alerts

Show all alerts

Show all alerts

Other Journeys

Some of the information and maps on this page was generated using data from the awesome © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Please see how you can embed some widgets, access data and other stuff to that might be helpful.

Weather Forecast for {{location.name}}

Alerts and Closures