Smoky Cape Circuit

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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	(-30.9215867,153.0855359)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Gregory Street, 12, South West Rocks. Turn on to Arakoon Road, 12 then drive for 1.6 km Turn right onto Lighthouse Road, 12 and drive for another 4.5 km

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the end of Lighthouse Rd, Arakoon (just near Captain Cook Lookout), follow the concrete footpath away from the lookout, keeping the road a short distance to your left. Continue straight past the \'Jack Perkins Walking track\' (the return route) and walk past the toilet block to continue on the walk.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. Sidetrip to Smoky Cape Lighthouse. To start this optional side trip turn sharp right here. On returning from this side trip veer right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. Start. Find the Smoky Cape Lighthouse at the start. After 55 m come to the "Captain Cook Lookout".
	After another 30 m continue straight.
	After another 35 m veer left.
	After another 25 m continue straight. After another 15 m pass the toilet (15 m on your left).
	After another 2.1 km continue straight.
	After another 930 m turn right. After another 1 km head up the surface\|wood steps (about 55 m long)
	After another 610 m veer left.
	After another 35 m continue straight.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. Sidetrip to Smoky Cape Lighthouse. To start this optional side trip veer left here. On returning from this side trip veer right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 80 m come to the end.

Sidetrip to Smoky Cape Lighthouse.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the Captain Cook Lookout at the start. Find the gate at the start.
	After another 10 m continue straight. After another 125 m pass the "Smoky Cape Lighthouse" (35 m on your right). After another 80 m come to "Smoky Cape Lighthouse". About 15 m past the end is "Smoky Cape".
	The end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 245 m to the main route.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the car park at the start.
	After another 305 m turn around.
	After another 345 m come to the end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Smoky Cape Circuit

Grading

	Class 5/6 Very challenging
Length	5 km
Time	1 h 45 min to 3 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	No directional signs (5/6)
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 is one 155 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	155 m	[toilet]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- South West Rocks Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Friday 25 October
  
  22°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe with damaging winds and large hail. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the evening.
  
  Saturday 26 October
  
  12°C → 21°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the early morning. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and early afternoon. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending south to southeasterly in the late afternoon then becoming light in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 23.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:50am to 4:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]
  
  Sunday 27 October
  
  13°C → 24°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching between 17 and 21.
  
  Monday 28 October
  
  13°C → 27°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching 20 to 26.
  
  Tuesday 29 October
  
  15°C → 22°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny morning. Medium chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 9 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching 23 to 29.
  
  Wednesday 30 October
  
  12°C → 23°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Thursday 31 October
  
  13°C → 25°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Hat Head National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Areas of Smoky Cape Campground Closed for Upgrade works
  Parts of the campground are closed until November 11th due to campground and surrounding areas upgrade works.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 6561 6700.
  
  Other planned events: Smoky Beach Access Road
  The Smoky Beach Access road will have work commence from 14/10/24 and expected to be complete by 25/10/24. The access will remain open during this time, with roadworks safety measures in place.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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