Bateau Bay Picnic Area 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	(-33.3820128,151.4840427)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From The Entrance Road, A49 Turn on to Bateau Bay Road then drive for 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
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
Starting from the track intersection beside the beach access steps, this walk follows the faint track a very short distance across the picnic area, keeping Reserve Dr to the right. The walk soon arrives at some seats and an open viewing area, to the left, with stunning views across the water.
From the viewpoint, this walk goes south across the picnic area, keeping Reserve Dr to the right. The walk passes a fenced viewing area just before reaching an intersection at the end of the picnic area, with a concrete beach-access track to the left.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 65 m find the "Bateau Bay Beach picnic area and lookout" (on your left). 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 15 m pass a seat (10 m on your left). After another 175 m head into the park. After another 70 m pass the toilet (20 m on your right). After another 25 m find the "Southern Bateau Bay beach picnic area" (9 m on your right). Southern Bateau Bay beach picnic area This picnic area, near the intersection of Reserve Dr and Rushby St, Bateau Bay, overlooks the southern end of Bateau Bay and the beach. The facilities include toilets, picnic tables, garbage bins and some slides for the kids. There are great views along the coast and out to sea. There is plenty of shade.
	After another 4 m continue straight.
	After another 370 m veer left, to head along The Coast Track. After another 115 m pass a seat (6 m on your left).
	After another 135 m turn left, to head along The Coast Track.
	After another 235 m veer left, to head along The Coast Track. After another 330 m head into the park.
	After another 45 m come to the end. A picnic table. About 15 m past the end is a seat. About 20 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 40 m past the end is a seat. About 45 m past the end is a sign.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Bateau Bay Picnic Area to Crackneck Lookout

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	1.6 km
Time	40 min to 1 h 30 min

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	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one 325 m from the start.

Seat: There are 4 on route, on average they are 350 m apart with the largest gap of 830 m.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	85 m	[seat]
Toilet	325 m	[toilet]
Seat	840 m	[seat]
Seat	1.7 km	[seat]
Seat	1.7 km	[seat]

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.

Southern Bateau Bay beach picnic area
This picnic area, near the intersection of Reserve Dr and Rushby St, Bateau Bay, overlooks the southern end of Bateau Bay and the beach. The facilities include toilets, picnic tables, garbage bins and some slides for the kids. There are great views along the coast and out to sea. There is plenty of shade.

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
  
  Wednesday 30 April
  
  20°C
  Showers. Windy.
  90% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers along the coastal fringe, high chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h. Daytime maximum temperatures between 16 and 20.
  
  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 9:30am to 2:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 5 [Moderate]
  
  Thursday 1 May
  
  14°C → 19°C
  Showers. Wind easing.
  95% chance of rain
  10 → 45mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers near the coast, high chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm near the coast. Winds southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 15 and 19.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Friday 2 May
  
  15°C → 21°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  1 → 15mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm along the coastal fringe. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 16 and 20.
  
  Saturday 3 May
  
  15°C → 22°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog about the Upper Hunter. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 22.
  
  Sunday 4 May
  
  15°C → 23°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Monday 5 May
  
  16°C → 23°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Tuesday 6 May
  
  15°C → 23°C
  Sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Wyrrabalong National Park alerts
  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 2nd 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.
  
  Closed areas: Periodic closures of Wyrrabalong National Park (North) for fox control shooting operation
  Parts of Wyrrabalong National Park (North) may be closed within a date range of Wednesday 1st January 2025 to Friday 2nd May 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 024972 9000 or email npws.centralcoast@environment.nsw.gov.au.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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