Gap Beach Walking Track

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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	(-30.889246,153.07568)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Gregory Street, 12 Turn on to Landsborough Street then drive for 220 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Landsborough Street, 12 and drive for another 590 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Phillip Drive, 12 and drive for another 250 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Phillip Drive, 12 and drive for another 2.8 km Turn right and drive for another 245 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the parking area at Overshot Dam, follow walk over the grass (keeping the dam to you right and ocean to your left) across the clearing to the signposts and timber fencing, where the track starts.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 150 m pass the car park (30 m on your right). After another 1 km pass the "Little Smoky" (80 m on your left).
	The starting point of an alternate route. Rougher and narrower, but more direct route avoiding the dirt road walking. To take the alternate route turn left here. Details below. After another 400 m veer right.
	After another 120 m veer left. After another 570 m pass the car park (5 m on your left).
	The alternate route finishes here. Turn left to rejoin the main route at the 2.4 km waypoint. Details below. After another 165 m continue straight.
	After another 75 m continue straight. After another 30 m to find the toilet.
	Continue another 90 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 2.6 km to get back to the start.

Rougher and narrower, but more direct route avoiding the dirt road walking.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start.
	After another 20 m turn around.
	After another 20 m turn around. After another 520 m come to a toilet.
	The end. At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Gap Beach Walking Track

Grading

	Class 5/6 Very challenging
Length	5.3 km
Time	2 h 15 min to 3 h 15 min

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	No directional signs (5/6)
Infrastructure	No facilities provided (5/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Foretasted & unexpected storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one 2.5 km from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	2.5 km	[toilet]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- South West Rocks Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
  
  Wednesday 30 April
  
  24°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of fog inland early this morning. High chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm from late this morning. Winds southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h. Daytime maximum temperatures between 18 and 24.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:10am to 2:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 5 [Moderate]
  
  Thursday 1 May
  
  13°C → 22°C
  Showers increasing.
  90% chance of rain
  2 → 15mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers in the south, medium chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm along the coastal fringe. Winds south to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching between 15 and 22.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Friday 2 May
  
  12°C → 21°C
  Showers.
  90% chance of rain
  4 → 30mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm near the coast. Winds southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 21.
  
  Saturday 3 May
  
  13°C → 22°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  1 → 20mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm along the coastal fringe. Light winds becoming southeast to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching between 16 and 22.
  
  Sunday 4 May
  
  13°C → 24°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  0 → 10mm
  
  Showers.
  
  Monday 5 May
  
  13°C → 24°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 5mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Tuesday 6 May
  
  13°C → 24°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Arakoon National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Temporary Closure of Boat Ramp and Sea Front at Trial Bay Gaol campground
  The road access to the Trial Bay Gaol campground boat ramp and sea front will be closed from Tuesday 15 April until mid-June 2025.
  
  This is as a result of growing safety concerns as a result of unauthorised vehicle movements and unlawful pedestrian access in the construction zone.
  
  There is alternative boat launching access available at Back Creek and Matty’s Flat in South West Rocks, and at Hat Head.
  
  Pedestrian access to the sea front will remain via the walking track from the Trial Bay Gaol carpark.
  
  NPWS apologises for any inconvenience caused, however, visitor, staff and contractor safety remain our highest priority.
  
  For more information about the closures, contact NPWS Hastings Macleay on 02 6561 6750 option 2 or trialbay.gaol@environment.nsw.gov.au.
  
  Closed areas: Area permanently closed - Mermaid Pools
  Access to Mermaid Pools is permanently closed including for swimming. Sudden large swells and tides create major waves that wash over the rocks and pools.
  Do not access this area. The severe conditions at this site have caused a number of significant injuries and deaths in the past.
  Mermaid Pools have never been a designated visitor site due to the extreme nature of the surf and tides at this location. There is no approved public access walking track to Mermaid Pools.
  For further information call the NPWS Verges Creek area office on 02 6561 6700.
  
  Closed areas: Trial Bay Gaol campground infrastructure upgrade
  Sections of Trial Bay Gaol campground will be closed for upgrades from Monday 10 February 2025 until late August 2025. The Bayview campsites and northern area will be closed.
  Open parts of the campground will be impacted by noise and machinery between Monday and Friday, 7am to 5pm. Access to parts of the campground will be impacted. Please refer to onsite maps for access information. Stay safe and follow directions on signage as well as instructions from staff.
  Find out more about the improvements planned for Trial Bay Gaol campground. For more information about the closure, contact the NPWS campground office at 02 6566 6168.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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