Tallow Beach and Box Head
Darkinjung & Guringai Country

3 h to 4 h

8.6 km
circuit

↑ 283 m
↓ -285 m

Hard track
This walk explores some of Bouddi National Park's hidden beaches and the Box Head lookout. The views over the South Pacific Ocean and Broken Bay are magnificent, while the secluded beaches of Tallow and Little Tallow are great spots for lunch and to dip the toes in. The vegetation is mostly heath along the service tracks, and larger eucalyptus trees along the bush tracks. Let us begin by acknowledging the Darkinjung & Guringai people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 
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Hawke Head Drive. | Photo by admin
Tallow Beach and Box Head track intersection. | Photo by admin
The top of Little Tallow spur track. | Photo by admin
Little Tallow Beach on Bouddi National Park coast. | Photo by admin
Tallow Beach Campsite. | Photo by admin
Tallow Beach from headland between Tallow and Little Tallow Beaches. | Photo by admin
Young Banksia. | Photo by admin
Lion Is. in Broken Bay. | Photo by admin
Box Head looking south out over the Southern Ocean. | Photo by admin
Downloads GPX PDF

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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.
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Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start (-33.5259465,151.3602721)
Mode Car (There is free parking available.)
DirectionsFrom The Scenic Road
  • Turn on to Killcare Road then drive for 15 m
  • Turn left onto Nukara Avenue and drive for another 55 m
  • Turn slight right onto Nukara Avenue and drive for another 65 m
  • Turn slight left onto Hawke Head Drive and drive for another 40 m
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
From the start of Hawke Head Drive, this walk heads up the hill following the road and power lines. The walk winds up Hawke Head Drive, where the road becomes unsealed and has numerous speed bumps. The walk continues along the road to the intersection with a management trail, and gate on the right.
From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail up the hill, leaving the gated management trail behind on the right. The trail undulates along the ridge line for some time, with views to the right of the track over the Rip Bridge and Woy Woy. The trail then starts to head downhill, arriving at a car park, to the right, signposted 'Tallow Beach 900m'.
From the car park, the walk follows the management trail past the 'Tallow Beach 900m' signpost. The walk soon passes around a gate and continues down the hill. The walk passes an unfenced cliff warning sign and (ignores) a track signpost ('Tallow Beach') before heading up the hill to the intersection, signposted 'Tallow' and 'Killcare'.
From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Tallow' arrow along the management trail, going down the hill. The trail tends right for approximately 30m, to the signposted intersection for 'Box Head' and 'Tallow Beach'.....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
After another 790 m (at the intersection of Old Wagstaffe Trail & Hawke Head Drive) continue straight, to head along Hawke Head Drive.
After another 285 m (at the intersection of Hawke Head Drive & Killcare Trail) continue straight, to head along Hawke Head Drive.
After another 730 m head through/around the gate.
After another 95 m continue straight.
After another 60 m veer left, to head along Tallow Beach Trail.
After another 390 m turn right.
After another 145 m turn left.
After another 345 m find the "Little Tallow Beach" (60 m on your left).
Little Tallow Beach
Little Tallow Beach

Little Tallow Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a small 50m stretch of sand, wedged into a rocky outcrop. The beach is backed by a steep gully and rocky headwalls on all sides, and faces south-west out to the Tasman Sea and South Pacific Ocean.
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Little Tallow Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a small 50m stretch of sand, wedged into a rocky outcrop. The beach is backed by a steep gully and rocky headwalls on all sides, and faces south-west out to the Tasman Sea and South Pacific Ocean.
After another 40 m turn right, to head along Tallow Beach Trail.
After another 95 m turn right.
After another 10 m come to the camp site (45 m on your left).
After another 45 m find the "Tallow Beach Campsite" (80 m on your left).
Tallow Beach Campsite
Tallow Beach Campsite

Tallow Beach campsite is a large grass clearing set behind Tallow Beach, some 30m away. The campsite has room for seven sites and has a single toilet facility and rubbish facilities.
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Tallow Beach campsite is a large grass clearing set behind Tallow Beach, some 30m away. The campsite has room for seven sites and has a single toilet facility and rubbish facilities.
After another 10 m turn around.
After another 10 m find the "Tallow Beach" (15 m on your left).
Tallow Beach
Tallow Beach

Tallow Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a large 400m-long beach with a south-westerly aspect. The beach is set between two rocky headlands and backed by a large campsite.
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Tallow Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a large 400m-long beach with a south-westerly aspect. The beach is set between two rocky headlands and backed by a large campsite.
After another 55 m turn left, to head along Tallow Beach Trail.
After another 95 m continue straight, to head along Tallow Beach Trail.
After another 300 m veer right, to head along Tallow Beach Trail.
After another 390 m continue straight, to head along Tallow Beach Trail.
After another 25 m (at the intersection of Hawke Head Drive & Tallow Beach Trail) turn left.
After another 410 m come to the viewpoint (45 m on your right).
After another 265 m come to the viewpoint (10 m on your left).
After another 700 m find the "Box Head" (on your left).
Box Head
Box Head

Box Head is the northern entrance to Broken Bay, and has panoramic views over the Pacific Ocean, Barrenjoey Headland, Lion Island and the rest of the bay. Box Head is an unfenced area with no other facilities. The track to the headland makes it reasonably accessible, with some great views along the way and stunning views from the point.
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Box Head is the northern entrance to Broken Bay, and has panoramic views over the Pacific Ocean, Barrenjoey Headland, Lion Island and the rest of the bay. Box Head is an unfenced area with no other facilities. The track to the headland makes it reasonably accessible, with some great views along the way and stunning views from the point.
After another 1.3 km (at the intersection of Tallow Beach Trail & Hawke Head Drive) continue straight, to head along Hawke Head Drive.
After another 55 m (at the intersection of Hawke Head Drive & Flannel Flower Walking Track) veer right, to head along Hawke Head Drive.
After another 35 m turn left, to head along Hawke Head Drive.
After another 830 m (at the intersection of Killcare Trail & Hawke Head Drive) continue straight, to head along Hawke Head Drive.
After another 285 m (at the intersection of Hawke Head Drive & Old Wagstaffe Trail) continue straight, to head along Hawke Head Drive.
After another 810 m come to the end.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Tallow Beach and Box Head


Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length 8.6 km
Time 3 h to 4 h
Quality of track Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
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 No experience required (1/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route
Campsite: There are 2 on route, on average they are 2.9 km apart with the largest gap of 5.5 km.


Order of key facilities on route
ItemFrom StartName & link to notes
Camp site
3 km[camp site]
Campsite
3 kmTallow Beach Campsite
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Articles
Discover more details to thrive on track
Little Tallow Beach
Little Tallow Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a small 50m stretch of sand, wedged into a rocky outcrop. The beach is backed by a steep gully and rocky headwalls on all sides, and faces south-west out to the Tasman Sea and South Pacific Ocean.
Tallow Beach
Tallow Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a large 400m-long beach with a south-westerly aspect. The beach is set between two rocky headlands and backed by a large campsite.
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