Stephenson Rd to Crackneck Lookout

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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	(-33.3977904,151.4793293)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Pacific Motorway, M1 Turn on to Central Coast Highway, A49 then drive for 7.8 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Dane Drive, A49 and drive for another 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 3 onto Coleridge Road and drive for another 390 m Turn right onto Shakespeare Avenue and drive for another 440 m Turn sharp right onto Kipling Drive and drive for another 130 m Turn left onto Stephenson Road and drive for another 360 m
Finish	(-33.3940339,151.4829664)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Bus Car (There is free parking available.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the end of Stephenson Rd, Bateau Bay, this walk passes around the gate and follows the management trail up the hill. The trail passes a house and then several large water tanks, to the left, before narrowing and going a short distance further to an intersection with a sandy track.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start.
	After another 145 m (from the Coast Track) turn sharp left, to head along Coast Track. After another 480 m to find the car park.
	At the intersection of Coast Track & Hilltop Street turn right, to head along Coast Track. Then pass the park (on your left).
	After another 45 m come to the end. Then pass the sign (on your right). A seat. About 10 m past the end is "Crackneck Lookout". Crackneck Lookout This lookout, at the end of Hilltop St, Bateau Bay, has stunning views up and down the coastline, and out to sea. There are picnic tables and an information board about marine mammals. There is a hangliding launch spot beside the lookout. About 10 m past the end is a picnic table. About 30 m past the end is a picnic table.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Stephenson Rd to Crackneck Lookout

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	670 m
Time	15 min to 30 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Seat: There is one 680 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	680 m	[seat]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Crackneck Lookout
This lookout, at the end of Hilltop St, Bateau Bay, has stunning views up and down the coastline, and out to sea. There are picnic tables and an information board about marine mammals. There is a hangliding launch spot beside the lookout.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- The Entrance Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
  
  Wednesday 2 July
  
  Rain. Windy.
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Damaging winds possible. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions for the rest of the day are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Thursday 3 July
  
  11°C → 18°C
  Shower or two. Wind easing.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the early morning. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h decreasing to 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching between 13 and 18.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection not recommended, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]
  
  Friday 4 July
  
  9°C → 18°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the middle of the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between 2 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 18.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Saturday 5 July
  
  9°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about the Upper Hunter. The chance of morning fog. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 16 and 19.
  
  Sunday 6 July
  
  12°C → 21°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm about the Upper Hunter. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 17 and 21.
  
  Monday 7 July
  
  10°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Tuesday 8 July
  
  7°C → 17°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Wednesday 9 July
  
  10°C → 17°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Wyrrabalong National Park alerts
  Safety alerts: Periodic closures of Wyrrabalong National Park (North) for fox control shooting operation
  Parts of Wyrrabalong National Park (North) will be closed for periods within a date range of Monday 16th June 2025 to Wednesday 30th December 2025 for fox control night shoot operations preventing localised economic impacts and protecting biodiversity assets within the park.
  When active, the shoot operation area will be delignated by signage advising visitors “do not enter” at any time during the night-time operation.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance.
  For more information, call the local park office on (02) 4972 9000 or email [email protected].
  
  Closed areas: Track Repairs and Temporary Closures
  The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be undertaking repairs to The Coast Track between Crackneck Point Lookout and Wyrrabalong Lookout between the 28th April 2025 to 18th July 2025.
  The track will need to be closed to the public for a period between these dates while works are undertaken to ensure the safety of visitors.
  The track repairs will focus on eroded sections of the track by repairing the track surface, demolishing and replacing retaining walls, and improving drainage to enhance visitor safety, reduce maintenance, and minimise erosional impacts on the surrounding environment.
  For further information please contact the NPWS Central Coast Area Office on 4972 9000.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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