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 Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
  
  Tuesday 3 June
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds.
  
  Wednesday 4 June
  
  11°C → 15°C
  Showers. Windy.
  95% chance of rain
  7 → 30mm
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers along the coastal fringe, high chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 1400 metres. The chance of a thunderstorm near the coast. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 6 and 10 with daytime temperatures reaching between 11 and 15.
  
  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]
  
  Thursday 5 June
  
  9°C → 17°C
  Shower or two. Wind easing.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Mostly sunny. Areas of morning frost about the Upper Hunter. Medium chance of showers along the coastal fringe, most likely in the morning. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly in the morning then becoming light in the early afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 13 and 17.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Friday 6 June
  
  8°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about the Upper Hunter. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 5 with daytime temperatures reaching between 15 and 18.
  
  Saturday 7 June
  
  10°C → 19°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 19.
  
  Sunday 8 June
  
  9°C → 18°C
  Sunny.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Sunny.
  
  Monday 9 June
  
  10°C → 17°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Tuesday 10 June
  
  9°C → 17°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Wyrrabalong National Park alerts
  Closed areas: UAV Drone Weed Control Spray Program
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting an aerial spraying program from Monday 16 June 2025 to Friday 27 June 2025. The operation will use Glyphosate 360 g/L for the control of Bitou bush.
  The program is designed to control Bitou bush infestations in remote and inaccessible locations.
  The program will take place at Pelican Beach in Wyrrabalong (North) National Park and Moonee Beach in Munmorah State Conservation Area.
  NPWS staff will be present and patrolling closed areas during the operation. The following closures will apply when operations are underway:
  Wyrrabalong National Park:
  Sections of Pelican Beach between, Tuggerah Beach Fire Trail to Pelican Beach Carpark.
  Munmorah State Conservation Area:
  Moonee Beach Fire Trail - beach access points will be closed with access permitted via the walking track steps and the beach to the north of these access locations.
  Signs will be placed at the entry to the spray locations and there will be no public access during the spray operation. The spray operation is expected to take 2 to 3 days. The exact dates and times of closures will be subject to favourable weather conditions.
  Please contact the local Munmorah NPWS area office for more information on 4972 9000.
  
  Closed areas: Crackneck Point Lookout and Crackneck Carpark CLOSED for Helicopter Operations for Wyrrabalong Coast Track maintenance
  Helicopter Operations and Truck Deliveries will be carried out at Crackneck Point Lookout in Wyrrabalong National Park from 29th May to 6th June. During this time, the following areas will be closed for the following dates:
  
  Hilltop Street south from the Yaruga st intersection (29th-30th May and 10th June)
  
  Crackneck Point Lookout (3rd, 5th, 11th and 12th June)
  
  Crackneck Point Lookout Carpark (29th-30th May, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th and 12th June)
  
  These dates are subject to weather and may change.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office 4972 9000.
  
  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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