This loop track starts from the Hunter Lookout picnic area and follows the Great North Walk around the edge of the ridge via the Macleans Lookout, Rocky Creek gully and the cliffs around the eastern edge of the ridge. This walk provides great views across the valley and much of the Hunter to the north. On the return, the walk takes a leisurely stroll along the dirt roads, passing the pines plantation area and the rocky creek camping area.
Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop
2 hrs 30 mins
336 m
Hard track
Hunter Lookout
(0km) Hunter Lookout picnic area → Macleans Lookout
700 m
16 mins
39m
-38m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the Hunter Lookout picnic area[6] (on Bakers Road), this walk follows Bakers Road north and gently downhill[7], while keeping Hunter Lookout on your left. The walk continues for about 400m until coming to a Y-intersection[8] (Bakers Road loop).
Continue straight: From the intersection[9] (Bakers Road Loop), this walk follows the track gently uphill[10], 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[11].
(0.7km) Maclean Lookout → Int of GNW track AND Glen Road
670 m
17 mins
26m
-86m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection[17], this walk follows the trail gently downhill[18], while keeping the ‘Heaton Lookout’ sign on your right. The walk continues (becoming moderately steep downhill) for about 280m until coming to a three-way intersection[19] with a track on the left.
Turn sharp right: From the intersection[20], this walk follows the track moderately steeply downhill[21], while keeping the GNW arrow marker on your left. The walk continues (descending moderately steeply into[22] and out[23] of a gully) for about 150m, until coming to a three-way intersection, Glen Road[24].
(1.37km) Int of GNW track & Glen Road → Int of GNW track & a narrow road
860 m
25 mins
87m
-67m
Hard track
Turn left : From the intersection[30], this walk follows the GNW arrow marker[31] moderately steeply down along the track[32]. The walk continues for about 100m, to find a forested mossy creek[33] where the track bend right and continues close to the creek[34] 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[35]. The walk then continues moderately steeply uphill[36] for about 200m until coming to a T-intersection[37] with a wide trail and GNW arrow marker[38].
(2.23km) Int of GNW track & a wide track → Int of GNW track and Hammonds Road
770 m
24 mins
89m
-85m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection[44], this walk follows the wide track gently downhill, while keeping the ‘Macleans Lookout 2km’ sign[45] on your right. The walk continues for about 140m to a three-way intersection[46], with Fosters Road on your right and ‘Fosters Road’ sign[47] on your left.
Continue straight: From the intersection[48], this walk follows the GNW arrow post down along the wide old trail[49], passing the ‘Fosters Road’ sign[50] on your left. The walk continues for about 100m, where the wide track then leads moderately steeply downhill[51] for about 150m more. The walk then crosses a gully[52] and heads up[53] over another rise for about 70m to where the track narrows then bends left at a GNW arrow post. About 180m past the post, the walk crosses a gully[54] then heads up the other side, past a termite mound[55] to an unfenced cliff with distance valley views[56]. Here the track bends right and leads up a short distance to a dirt road[57]. The walk turns left and follows the road down for just a few metres to the ‘Hammonds Road’ sign, where the ‘MacLean Lookout’ arrow[58] points back along the road.
(3km) Int of Hammonds Road and Great North Walk bushtrack → Int of Hammonds and Fosters Roads
400 m
10 mins
43m
0m
Moderate track
(3.4km) Int of Hammonds and Fosters Roads → Int of Hammonds and Rockey Creek Roads
590 m
11 mins
11m
-12m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads west along Hammonds Road, following the edge of the plantation to the intersection with Rockey Creek Road.
(3.98km) Int of Hammonds and Rockey Creek Roads → Rockey Creek Rest Area
510 m
9 mins
1m
-30m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill along Rockey Creek Road, crossing a small stream on a rock platform and heading up the other side to the rest area on the north side of the road.
Rocky Creek Campsite
(4.49km) Rockey Creek Rest Area → Int of Rockey Creek and Bakers Road
450 m
10 mins
31m
0m
Hard track
(4.94km) Int of Bakers & Rocky Creek Roads → Int of Bakers & Glen Roads
400 m
7 mins
8m
-3m
Moderate track
(5.35km) Int of Bakers & Glen Roads → Hunter Lookout picnic area
270 m
4 mins
1m
-14m
Moderate track
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.
Maps for the Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk 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.
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 Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk 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 | 5.6 km | ||
Time | 2 hrs 30 mins | ||
. | |||
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 | 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
3.6km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (1000m) is very steep.
Quality of track
3.2km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.7km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (720m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
Around 2.9km of this walk has minimal directional signs, whilst the remaining 2.8km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
3.7km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience and another 1km requires some bushwalking experience. The remaining (900m) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
3.7km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 1.4km has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). The remaining (530m) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
A list of walks that share part of the track with the Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop walk.
Other Nearby walks
A list of walks that start near the Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop walk.
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Hunter Lookout and Great North Walk loop walk starts and ends at the Hunter Lookout picnic area (gps: -32.962577, 151.41383)
Your main transport option to Hunter Lookout picnic area is by;
Car. There is free parking available.
(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 Hunter weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.
Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/hlagnwl
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 🙂
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