Great North Walk: Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
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 Transport options and directions

Start	(-32.9755217,151.4117966)
Mode	Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Freemans Drive, Cooranbong. Turn on to Mount Faulk Road then drive for 10.6 km Keep right onto Watagan Forest Road and drive for another 3 km Keep right and drive for another 110 m Turn right onto Bakers Road and drive for another 5 m
Finish	(-32.9836544,151.4547718)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car (There is free parking available.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the intersection (Forestry H.Q. campsite), this walk follows Bakers Road gently downhill, while keeping the GNW arrow marker on your right and the large 'Great North Walk' sign on your left. The walk continues, undulating gently for about 900m until coming to a three-way intersection with Rocky Creek Road (on the right).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 20 m find the "Watagan Headquarters" (55 m on your left). Watagan Headquarters Watagan Headsquarters campsite (aka Forestry HQ) is located in the Heaton State Forest, beside Bakers Rd, near Heaton Rd. This campsite has wood fired barbecues, picnic tables and a garbage bin. The large, flat, cleared area allows plenty of room to pitch a tent. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so there is no longer water available. After another 280 m continue straight. After another 630 m continue straight.
	After another 420 m continue straight.
	After another 180 m continue straight. After another 240 m pass the toilet (30 m on your left). After another 35 m to find the car park. Then find the "Hunter Lookout" (55 m on your left). Hunter Lookout Hunter Lookout can be found on Bakers Road, along the Great North Walk. This fenced lookout has everything you will need snack-stop, including toilets, picnic tables, chairs and wood-fired barbecues. This lookout has fantastic views over much of the Hunter region. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so water is no longer available at Hunter Lookout. Then pass the picnic table (60 m on your left). Then come to the "Hunter Lookout" (65 m on your left). After another 20 m continue straight.
	After another 440 m continue straight. After another 390 m to find the car park. Then pass the picnic table (30 m on your left). Then find the "Mcleans Lookout" (45 m on your left). Mcleans Lookout McLeans Lookout offers magnificent views of the valleys in Heaton State Forest. Located on Bakers Road, this fenced lookout also has picnic facilities including tables with seats and open grassy areas.
	After another 30 m continue straight.
	After another 560 m continue straight. After another 65 m come to the viewpoint (15 m on your left).
	After another 720 m veer right.
	After another 320 m veer right.
	After another 410 m continue straight. After another 1.4 km cross the ford.
	Continue straight. After another 430 m cross the ford. Then pass the sign.
	After another 760 m continue straight.
	After another 1.1 km come to the end. A car park. About 20 m past the end is a picnic table. About 30 m past the end is "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. About 75 m past the end is a toilet.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Great North Walk: Watagan Headquarters to Heaton Lookout

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	7.9 km
Time	2 h 45 min to 4 h

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Campsite: There is one 20 m from the start.

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 2.8 km apart with the largest gap of 6.3 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Campsite	20 m	Watagan Headquarters
Toilet	1.8 km	[toilet]
Toilet	8.1 km	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Watagan Headquarters
Watagan Headsquarters campsite (aka Forestry HQ) is located in the Heaton State Forest, beside Bakers Rd, near Heaton Rd. This campsite has wood fired barbecues, picnic tables and a garbage bin. The large, flat, cleared area allows plenty of room to pitch a tent. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so there is no longer water available.

Hunter Lookout
Hunter Lookout can be found on Bakers Road, along the Great North Walk. This fenced lookout has everything you will need snack-stop, including toilets, picnic tables, chairs and wood-fired barbecues. This lookout has fantastic views over much of the Hunter region. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so water is no longer available at Hunter Lookout.

Mcleans Lookout
McLeans Lookout offers magnificent views of the valleys in Heaton State Forest. Located on Bakers Road, this fenced lookout also has picnic facilities including tables with seats and open grassy areas.

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.

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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Toronto Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
  
  Thursday 22 May
  
  19°C
  Rain.
  100% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of rain. Heavy falls possible. The chance of a thunderstorm about the Lower Hunter. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h. Daytime maximum temperatures between 16 and 19.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 10:40am to 1:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Friday 23 May
  
  14°C → 23°C
  Rain clearing.
  95% chance of rain
  5 → 35mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning. The chance of a thunderstorm about the Lower Hunter. Winds northeast to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the early morning then becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between 11 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 22.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Saturday 24 May
  
  10°C → 21°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching between 16 and 21.
  
  Sunday 25 May
  
  10°C → 21°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching between 17 and 21.
  
  Monday 26 May
  
  9°C → 22°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Tuesday 27 May
  
  9°C → 18°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Wednesday 28 May
  
  7°C → 18°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
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