Mackerel Beach, West Head Loop

Download & Print Map and Notes

5 hrs

8.6 km Circuit

422 m

Hard track
The Mackerel Beach, West Head Loop is a walk which explores a large part of the West Head. The journey starts and finishes with a ferry across Pittwater. The walk heads around West Head, taking in views on the Broken Bay side, with Lion Island featuring as a prominent sight. The walk follows sections of road that connect some fantastic bush tracks together. This is a solid day walk if allowing time to relax and have a dip at one of the many beaches along the way.

Maps for the Mackerel Beach, West Head 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.
Broken Bay 1:25 000 Map Series 91301N BROKEN BAY NSW-91301N
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map 1:40 000 Map Series CMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map CMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map
Sydney 1:100 000 Map Series 9130 SYDNEY 9130

Cross sectional view of the Mackerel Beach, West Head Loop bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Mackerel Beach, West Head 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 8.6 km
Time 5 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 Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
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

5km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 4.1km is flat with no steps. Whilst another 2.6km has short steep hills and the remaining 630m is very steep.

Quality of track

7km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 2.6km follows a smooth and hardened path. Whilst another 1.5km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and the remaining 960m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.

Signs

6km of this walk is clearly signposted and another 5km has directional signs at most intersection. The remaining (1.2km) has minimal directional signs.

Experience Required

Around 12km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 850m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 12km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

8km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) and another 4.1km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced). The remaining (670m) 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 Mackerel Beach, West Head Loop walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Mackerel Beach, West Head Loop walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Mackerel Beach, West Head Loop walk starts and ends at the Palm Beach (gps: -33.595749, 151.31911)
Your transport options to Palm Beach are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. Parking fees apply in the area.
(get details)




Fire Danger

Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.

Forecast snapshot

Park Information & Alerts

Comments

 


Short URL = http://wild.tl/mbwhl


Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)

Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂