Bradleys Head Walk

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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	(-33.853017,151.2462703)
Mode	Bus Car (Parking fees apply in the area.)
Directions	From Military Road, A8 Turn on to Military Road then drive for 950 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Bradleys Head Road and drive for another 920 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Bradleys Head Road and drive for another 940 m Turn left onto Bradleys Head Road and drive for another 1 km

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the intersection, this walk heads to the end of the car park, with Sydney Harbour to the left. The walk continues to the intersection with Bradleys Head amphitheatre.
From the intersection, this walk heads along the hillside, with the amphitheatre and harbour on the left, for approximately 10m to the intersection signposted as the way to 'Cannons Picnic Area'.
From the intersection, this walk heads around the hillside, keeping the water below on the left. After a few hundred meters, there is a seat overlooking Sydney Harbour. This walk continues around for another 400m, undulating with the boardwalk, to meet the signposted stairs to 'Athol Hall'.
From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to 'Athol Hall' up the stairs, crossing a large grassy area. The walk then continues up to Athol Hall entrance.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the car park at the start.
	After another 6 m continue straight.
	After another 30 m continue straight. After another 10 m pass the toilet (on your right). After another 65 m pass the car park (60 m on your right).
	After another 580 m turn right. Then head down the steps (about 30 m long) After another 45 m head down the steps (about 10 m long) After another 20 m find the "Athol Hall" (35 m on your right). Athol Hall Athol Hall, built in 1908, was once a hotel. Sections of the original building date back to the 1800's. The hall has an excellent vantage point over the harbour with the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and city all well within its scope. Athol Hall today is a cafe and function centre with the cafe open Tues-Fri and Sun, 11am -3pm. After another 35 m pass the toilet (9 m on your right).
	After another 35 m turn right, to head along Bradleys Head Road. After another 15 m head through/around the gate.
	After another 9 m turn left.
	After another 110 m turn right.
	After another 620 m veer left, to head along Bradleys Head Road. After another 30 m pass the shelter (15 m on your right). Continue straight, to head along Bradleys Head Road.
	After another 115 m veer right, to head along Bradleys Head Road. After another 15 m to find the car park. About 80 m past the end is "Bradleys Head Lighthouse".
	The end. "HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast". HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast The HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast was erected in 1934, following the HMAS Sydney's decommissioning in 1928. The mast stands as a sign of respect for 'Australian officers, sailors and ships lost at sea and in combat'. HMAS Sydney itself was a Chatham Class light cruiser which saw action in WW1. A water tap.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Bradleys Head Walk

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	1.8 km
Time	40 min to 1 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
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

Shelter: There is one 1.6 km from the start.

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 590 m apart with the largest gap of 950 m.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	45 m	[toilet]
Toilet	830 m	[toilet]
Shelter	1.6 km	[shelter]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast
The HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast was erected in 1934, following the HMAS Sydney's decommissioning in 1928. The mast stands as a sign of respect for 'Australian officers, sailors and ships lost at sea and in combat'. HMAS Sydney itself was a Chatham Class light cruiser which saw action in WW1.

Athol Hall
Athol Hall, built in 1908, was once a hotel. Sections of the original building date back to the 1800's. The hall has an excellent vantage point over the harbour with the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and city all well within its scope. Athol Hall today is a cafe and function centre with the cafe open Tues-Fri and Sun, 11am -3pm.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Sydney Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
  
  Wednesday 23 April
  
  25°C
  Showers.
  90% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm, most likely in the afternoon. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the late evening.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:30am to 2:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 5 [Moderate]
  
  Thursday 24 April
  
  18°C → 25°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 5mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the late afternoon.
  
  Friday 25 April
  
  17°C → 25°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 6mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Saturday 26 April
  
  17°C → 24°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  0 → 15mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming southeast to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Sunday 27 April
  
  16°C → 23°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  1 → 25mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning.
  
  Monday 28 April
  
  15°C → 23°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely during the morning. Winds southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning southerly during the day.
  
  Tuesday 29 April
  
  14°C → 22°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 5mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Sydney Harbour National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Shark Beach Shark Net Damaged
  The shark net has been damaged due to severe weather conditions and has become detached.
  The shark net has limited functionality due to the absence of a net on the eastern section.
  There is a high risk of entanglement and drowning. Entanglement could cause serious injury or death.
  
  Closed areas: Manly Scenic Walkway partial closure
  The Castle Rock Track section of Manly Scenic Walkway is closed from Monday 28 April until further notice due to maintenance works by Northern Beaches Council.
  Detours will be in place:
  
  Walkers heading west should exit Grotto Point track, head north along Barrabooka track, onto Barrabooka Street and turn left onto Ogilvy Road. Then walk down Ogilvy Road to re-enter Castle Rock track and continue west along Clontarf track.
  
  Walkers heading east along Clontarf track should turn left at the intersection with Castle Rock track, head east along Ogilvy Road, turn right at Barrabooka Street and continue onto Barrabooka track. Then head east on Grotto Point track.
  
  For more information, please contact Northern Beaches Council.
  
  Other planned events: North Head Scenic Drive gate opening times
  The North Head Scenic Drive gate opening times are:
  
  AEDT From 7 October 2024 to 6 April 2025 - from 5am to 8.30pm
  
  AEST From 7 April 2025 to 5 October 2025 - from 6am to 6pm
  
  Closed areas: Bluefish Point closed
  The Bluefish Point bushland area is closed to public access for public safety and to protect the landscape and important plant and animal communities. Access to rock pools is difficult and dangerous. Please stay on sign-posted walking tracks when visiting Sydney Harbour National Park for your safety and observe warning signs in the area.
  
  Closed areas: Collins Beach Road drainage improvement works
  Major drainage improvement works are planned for Collins Beach Road during the week commencing 10 March 2025. Collins Beach Road will be closed for the duration of the works and signs will be displayed advising of the closure. Visitors wishing to access Collins Beach are advised to use the Stuart St Manly access track.
  Works are expected to be completed in the week commencing 31 March - weather permitting.
  
  Closed areas: Fort Denison closed
  Service upgrades and extensive conservation works on the fort are ongoing through to mid-2025.
  Fort Denison – Muddawahnyuh remains closed to visitors during this time.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance.
  Standard work hours during the construction phase will be between:
  
  7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
  
  8am to 1pm on Saturday
  
  For more information, visit the project webpage or email us. Visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.
  
  Other planned events: 1080 pest management operation
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will be conducting a baiting program using manufactured baits, fresh baits and Canid Pest Ejectors (CPEs) containing 1080 poison (sodium fluroacetate) for the control of foxes.
  The program is continuous and ongoing between Saturday 1 February 2025 and Thursday 31 July 2025 in the following areas of Sydney Harbour National Park:
  
  Chowder Bay
  
  Dobroyd Head
  
  Bradleys Head
  
  Georges Head
  
  Middle Head
  
  North Head (North Head includes the adjoining land of Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, Australian Institute of Police Management and Quarantine Station).
  
  Please don’t touch baits or ejector devices. All baiting locations are identifiable by signs.
  Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW national parks and reserves. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
  Fox baiting in these reserves is aimed at reducing their impact on threatened species.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office on:
  Middle Head: 02 9960 6266 (business hours)
  NPWS after-hours call centre: 1300 056 294 (after hours)
  North Head Sanctuary, Many (Harbour Trust Lands): 02 8969 2128 (business hours).
  
  Closed areas: North Head partial closure
  Some parts of North Head in Sydney Harbour National Park are closed due to fire damage and geological instability. The closed areas include:
  
  Bluefish Point
  
  Wastewater Treatment Plant emergency access road
  
  The following areas, and the bushland surrounding them, are also closed due to steep and unstable ground:
  
  Old Man's Hat
  
  Cannae Point
  
  Quarantine Head
  
  Do not enter the closed areas.
  Open areas include:
  
  Q Station
  
  North Head Sanctuary and Bella Vista Cafe (entry via North Fort)
  
  The track between Shelly Beach and Bluefish Drive
  
  Bluefish Drive to the Avenue of Honour
  
  Collins Flat Beach
  
  Fairfax track
  
  Burragula and Yiningma lookouts
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the National Parks Contact Centre on 1300 072 757 or Sydney North area office on 02 9451 3479 between 9.30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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