Awabakal Coastal Walk

This walk traverses the Awabakal Nature Reserve. Starting from Dudley in the north, this walk travels south through coastal heath and forest, until coming to Redhead. The vegetation throughout this walk is particularly attractive during the wildflower season of July to October. The side trip out to the Awabakal Viewpoint gives great views to the north along the coastline. A car shuffle would be ideal for this one-way walk. The walking tracks are a little overgrown, but if you like native forest and heath, or simply flowers, then this is the walk for you. Let us begin by acknowledging the Awabakal 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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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	(-32.9951837,151.7272733)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Pacific Highway, A43 Turn on to Pacific Highway, A43 then drive for 500 m Turn right onto Oakdale Road and drive for another 2.3 km Turn left onto Redhead Road and drive for another 315 m Turn sharp right onto Ocean Street and drive for another 1.5 km
Finish	(-33.0108133,151.7250428)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Bus Car (There is free parking available.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the Awabakal car park (end of Ocean St, Dudley), this walk passes around the locked metal gate and follows the track gently downhill. The walk continues through native forest for about 110m until coming to a three-way intersection, with a large stand-alone tree and picnic table.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the track gently uphill, while leaving the stand-alone tree directly behind you and keeping the ocean on your left. This walk continues, undulating through coastal vegetation for about 160m, until coming to a level three-way intersection with a smaller track on the right.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 105 m find the "Awabakal Nature Reserve" (6 m on your right). Awabakal Nature Reserve Awabakal Nature Reserve covers 227 hectares of coastal heath between Dudley and Redhead. The Awabakal Reserve contains a wide range of habitats including one of the largest remaining coastal heath communities, and also perched lagoons, creek catchments, dry and wet sclerophyll forest and remnants of rainforest. This park was created in January 1978. The coastal viewpoints from the reserve are also great for whale watching, bird watching and wildflower photography. Then find the "Awabakal Car Park" (5 m on your right). Awabakal Car Park The Awabakal car park at the end of Ocean Street, Dudley is a good spot to start a walk within the Awabakal Nature Reserve. The car park contains a turning circle and is fenced amongst open forest. No other facilities exist here. Please do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
	After another 40 m (at the intersection of Ocean Street Trail & Lagoon Trail) continue straight, to head along Ocean Street Trail.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Awabakal Viewpoint. To start this optional side trip veer left here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 185 m veer right.
	After another 410 m veer left.
	After another 610 m continue straight.
	After another 290 m veer right.
	After another 215 m veer left.
	After another 65 m come to the end.

An optional side trip to Awabakal Viewpoint.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start heading along Ocean Street Trail.
	After another 135 m turn left.
	After another 30 m come to the end. About 15 m past the end is "Awabakal Viewpoint". Awabakal Viewpoint The Awabakal Viewpoint offers excellent views out over the ocean from its elevated viewpoint. This viewpoint is unfenced and care should therefore be taken. The views are paricular good to the north towards Newcastle. Please stay on the tracks already created to reduce the erosion of the cliff top. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 165 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Awabakal Coastal Walk

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	1.9 km
Time	40 min to 45 min

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Awabakal Nature Reserve
Awabakal Nature Reserve covers 227 hectares of coastal heath between Dudley and Redhead. The Awabakal Reserve contains a wide range of habitats including one of the largest remaining coastal heath communities, and also perched lagoons, creek catchments, dry and wet sclerophyll forest and remnants of rainforest. This park was created in January 1978. The coastal viewpoints from the reserve are also great for whale watching, bird watching and wildflower photography.

Awabakal Car Park
The Awabakal car park at the end of Ocean Street, Dudley is a good spot to start a walk within the Awabakal Nature Reserve. The car park contains a turning circle and is fenced amongst open forest. No other facilities exist here. Please do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

Awabakal Viewpoint
The Awabakal Viewpoint offers excellent views out over the ocean from its elevated viewpoint. This viewpoint is unfenced and care should therefore be taken. The views are paricular good to the north towards Newcastle. Please stay on the tracks already created to reduce the erosion of the cliff top.

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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Toronto Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
  
  Thursday 5 December
  
  26°C
  Cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm about the Upper Hunter during the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Daytime maximum temperatures around 30.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:30am to 4:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 12 [Extreme]
  
  Friday 6 December
  
  19°C → 29°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of fog in the early morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and early evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 17 and 20 with daytime temperatures reaching 29 to 34.
  
  Saturday 7 December
  
  19°C → 33°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 5mm
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to around 20 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 30s.
  
  Sunday 8 December
  
  21°C → 29°C
  Showers increasing.
  80% chance of rain
  0 → 15mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to the low 20s with daytime temperatures reaching 29 to 34.
  
  Monday 9 December
  
  16°C → 24°C
  Cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy.
  
  Tuesday 10 December
  
  16°C → 29°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Wednesday 11 December
  
  18°C → 30°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 15mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
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Weather Forecast

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