Little Bay to Smoky Cape

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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	On Smoky Cape Track (200 m South East of Carri Street), Arakoon. (-30.8891928,153.0757176)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Gregory Street, South West Rocks, head east along Landsborough Street; After 200m, (take the 2nd exit at the roundabout) to continue straight along Landsborough Street South West Rocks. After another 600m, (take the 1st exit at the roundabout) to continue straight along Phillip Drive South West Rocks. After another 250m, turn slight left on to Phillip Drive South West Rocks. After another 15m, turn slight left on to Phillip Drive South West Rocks. After another 2.3km, turn slight right on to Wilson Street Arakoon. After another 300m, turn slight left on to Carri Street Arakoon. After another 250m, turn right on to Arakoon. After another 250m, come to the trackhead on Arakoon.
Finish	Arakoon. (-30.922938,153.087483)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start (from Little Bay Creek (waterway), Arakoon) by heading north-east along the Smoky Cape Track. You will also find a parking areaand a seat here. After another 40m, pass a parking area (20m on your right). After another 30m, pass Duckpond Seat - 01 (15m on your right).
	Then (at the 3-way intersection, with & Smoky Cape Track) continue straight, to follow the Smoky Cape Track. Then almost immediately, pass Duckpond Seat - 02 (10m on your right).
	After another 20m, (at the 3-way intersection) continue straight, to stay on the Smoky Cape Track.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. Side trip to Gap Beach for a swim. To start this optional side trip turn left here. When you have finished this side trip, head back to the main route and bear left to continue. Details below. After another 1.5km, (at the 3-way intersection, with Smoky Cape Track & ) bear right.
	After another 100m, (at the 3-way intersection, with & Gap Road) continue straight, to follow Gap Road.
	After another 550m, (at the 3-way intersection, with Gap Road & ) turn sharp left.
	After another 600m, (at the 3-way intersection) bear right. After another 60m, pass a parking area (on your right).
	After another 350m, (at the 3-way intersection, with & Smoky Cape Walking Track) turn sharp right, to follow the Smoky Cape Walking Track. After another 2km, pass a seat (30m on the left). Then almost immediately pass a lookout (50m on the left). After another 80m, pass a toilet (10m on your right). Then almost immediately, pass a picnic table (on the left).
	Then (at the 3-way intersection) continue straight, to stay on the Smoky Cape Walking Track.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. Side trip to North Smoky Beach for a swim. To start this optional side trip turn left here. When you have finished this side trip, head back to the main route and bear left to continue. Details below. After another 30m, (at the 3-way intersection) bear right, to stay on the Smoky Cape Walking Track. Then almost immediately, pass a picnic table (on the left). After another 20m, pass a picnic table (on the left).
	Then (at the 3-way intersection) continue straight, to stay on the Smoky Cape Walking Track. Then almost immediately, pass a picnic table (on the left). After another 40m, pass a picnic table (on your right). After another 15m you will find the Captain Cook Lookout . After another 15m, pass a parking area (10m on your right).
	Then almost immediately (at the 3-way intersection, with Smoky Cape Walking Track & ) bear left. After another 15m, head around the gate.
	After another 30m, (at the 3-way intersection) take the right fork. After another 200m, you will find the Smoky Cape lighthouse (on the left).
	Then almost immediately you come to the end at Smoky Cape, Arakoon. There is a lighthouse here.

Side trip to Gap Beach for a swim.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	To start this sidetrip turn left (from about 90m North of the intersection with Gap Road & North Gap Beach Management Trail, Arakoon) by heading north-east.
	After another 500m, (at the 3-way intersection, with & Rainforest Track) turn left, to follow the Rainforest Track.
	After another 70m, (at the 3-way intersection, with Rainforest Track & ) continue straight.
	After another 100m this sidetrip ends at Gap Beach, Arakoon.

Side trip to North Smoky Beach for a swim.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	To start this sidetrip turn left (from at the intersection of Jack Perkins Walking Track & Smoky Cape Walking Track, Arakoon) by heading north along the Jack Perkins Walking Track. You will also find a picnic tableand a toilet here. There is a picnic table is at the start. There is a picnic table is at the start. There is a picnic table is at the start. After another 30m, pass a picnic table (20m on the left). Then almost immediately, pass a toilet (30m on the left). After another 100m pass a lookout (5m on your right). Then almost immediately, pass a seat (10m on the left). After another 450m, head down the steps.
	After another 50m this sidetrip ends at North Smoky Beach, Arakoon.

Turn map

Directions & comments

To start this sidetrip turn left (from at the intersection of Jack Perkins Walking Track & Smoky Cape Walking Track, Arakoon) by heading north along the Jack Perkins Walking Track.
You will also find a picnic tableand a toilet here.

There is a picnic table is at the start.

After another 30m, pass a picnic table (20m on the left).

Then almost immediately, pass a toilet (30m on the left).

After another 100m pass a lookout (5m on your right).

Then almost immediately, pass a seat (10m on the left).

After another 450m, head down the steps.

After another 50m this sidetrip ends at North Smoky Beach, Arakoon.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Grading

	Class 5/6 Very challenging
Length	5.8km
Time	3 hrs to 5 hrs

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Very steep and difficult rock scrambles (5/6)
Signage	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure	No facilities provided (5/6)
Experience Required	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather	Forecasted & unexpected severe weather likely to have an impact on your navigation and safety (5/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are two on route, -5340m apart, the first is 5.4km from the start.

Seat: There are 4 on route, they are on average 3.5km part with the largest gap being 5.2km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	40m	[toilet]
Seat	70m	Duckpond Seat - 01
Seat	70m	Duckpond Seat - 02
Seat	150m	[seat]
Seat	5.3km	[seat]
Toilet	5.4km	[toilet]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- South West Rocks Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Thursday 17 July
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely later tonight. The chance of a thunderstorm along the coastal fringe later tonight. Light winds.
  
  Friday 18 July
  
  8°C → 18°C
  Showers easing.
  90% chance of rain
  1 → 10mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the early morning. The chance of a thunderstorm in the north in the early morning. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then tending west to southwesterly in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 10 with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 18.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 11:00am to 12:30pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Saturday 19 July
  
  7°C → 20°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon. The chance of morning fog inland. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 20.
  
  Sunday 20 July
  
  6°C → 20°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Areas of frost and the chance of fog inland in the morning. Mostly sunny day. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 15 and 20.
  
  Monday 21 July
  
  6°C → 19°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 8mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about higher ground. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. 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 1 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 19.
  
  Tuesday 22 July
  
  8°C → 21°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Wednesday 23 July
  
  10°C → 22°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Thursday 24 July
  
  9°C → 21°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Arakoon National Park alerts
  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 October 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. Saturdays 8am to 1pm.
  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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