Bateau Bay Beach to Crackneck Beach

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Warning
This journey requires significant bushwalking experience, specialised equipment and navigation skills.
Please ensure you and your group well prepared and equiped for this journey.

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	(-33.3820128,151.4840427)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Central Coast Highway, A49 Turn on to Dane Drive, A49 then drive for 6.5 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto The Entrance Road, A49 and drive for another 3.6 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto The Entrance Road, A49 and drive for another 710 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto The Entrance Road, A49 and drive for another 1.6 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto The Enterence Road, A49 and drive for another 100 m Continue onto The Entrance Road, A49 and drive for another 870 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto The Entrance Road, A49 and drive for another 2 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto The Entrance Road, A49 and drive for another 540 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto The Entrance Road, A49 and drive for another 340 m Turn right onto Bateau Bay Road and drive for another 1.3 km Turn right onto Harbour Street and drive for another 170 m Turn left onto Reserve Drive and drive for another 60 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the intersection, this walk goes down the timber steps, towards the beach. The walk follows the boardwalk and timber steps down the hill until reaching Bateau Bay Beach.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Bateau Bay Beach picnic area and lookout (about 25 m back from the start). Bateau Bay Beach picnic area and lookout This unnamed picnic area and lookout is within Wyrrabalong National Park, at the intersection of Reserve Dr and Harbour St, Bateau Bay. The picnic area overlooks Bateau Bay and the beach. There are large grass areas, plenty of shade and facilities including picnic tables, garbage bins, and beach access steps. There are beautiful views along the coast and out to sea from the picnic area. There are free electric BBQs at Sutton Reserve, a block further south along Reserve Drive. Takeaway food is available at a small shopping centre near the intersection of Harbour St and Bateau Bay Rd, one block from the picnic area.
	After another 370 m turn left.
	Continue another 1.3 km to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 1.7 km to get back to the start. "Crackneck Beach". Crackneck Beach This unnamed beach is below Crackneck Lookout and can be reached with some difficulty by walking along the very rocky shoreline from Forresters Beach, to the south, or from Bateau Bay beach, to the north. The beach is covered in rounded rocks about the size of a fist.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Bateau Bay Beach to Crackneck Beach

Grading

	Class 5/6 Very challenging
Length	3.3 km
Time	1 h 15 min to 2 h 30 min

Quality of track	Rough unclear track (5/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
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	Foretasted & unexpected storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Bateau Bay Beach picnic area and lookout
This unnamed picnic area and lookout is within Wyrrabalong National Park, at the intersection of Reserve Dr and Harbour St, Bateau Bay. The picnic area overlooks Bateau Bay and the beach. There are large grass areas, plenty of shade and facilities including picnic tables, garbage bins, and beach access steps. There are beautiful views along the coast and out to sea from the picnic area. There are free electric BBQs at Sutton Reserve, a block further south along Reserve Drive. Takeaway food is available at a small shopping centre near the intersection of Harbour St and Bateau Bay Rd, one block from the picnic area.

Crackneck Beach
This unnamed beach is below Crackneck Lookout and can be reached with some difficulty by walking along the very rocky shoreline from Forresters Beach, to the south, or from Bateau Bay beach, to the north. The beach is covered in rounded rocks about the size of a fist.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- The Entrance Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
  
  Saturday 27 July
  
  17°C
  Showers.
  90% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers, becoming less likely in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the late afternoon. Daytime maximum temperatures between 15 and 19.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 10:40am to 1:20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Sunday 28 July
  
  11°C → 14°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Snow possible above 1000 metres. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 11 and 16.
  
  Monday 29 July
  
  9°C → 14°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about the Upper Hunter. Medium chance of showers along the coastal fringe, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending south to southwesterly during the day then tending west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between minus 1 and 5 above zero with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 16.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Tuesday 30 July
  
  10°C → 14°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about the Upper Hunter. Medium chance of showers near the coast, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending south to southwesterly during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between minus 1 and 5 above zero with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 16.
  
  Wednesday 31 July
  
  10°C → 15°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 5mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Thursday 1 August
  
  11°C → 15°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 5mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Friday 2 August
  
  12°C → 16°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Wyrrabalong National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Area closed for carpark upgrade
  Some parts of this park are closed from Monday 15 July to Monday 30 September 2024 while Redgum carpark, adjacent to Burrawang Picnic Area, is being upgraded. The closed areas are:
  
  Redgum carpark, adjacent to Burrawang Picnic Area, off Wilfred Barret Drive
  
  The entry to Redgum trail and Burrawang/Lilly Pilly Walking Track from Redgum carpark.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Other planned events: Construction Works Adjacent to Wyrrabalong National Park
  Construction of the Magenta Shared Walkway on behalf of Central Coast Council is being undertaken adjacent to Wilfred Barret Drive, Magenta. These works are not within Wyrrabalong National Park and no clearing of Park Estate is planned to occur as part of these works. National Parks and Wildlife would encourage park visitors to follow any safety signage installed as part of these works. Further information regarding this project can be found at here at Magenta Shared Path Construction (continuation) | Central Coast Council (nsw.gov.au.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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