Forresters Beach to Crackneck Beach

A great walk along the boulder strewn shoreline to the unnamed beach below Crackneck Lookout. Much of this walk is very exposed to the ocean and should not be attempted at high tide or during rough seas. Plenty of rock hopping over the boulders makes the walking harder but also makes the scenery more interesting. The shapes and textures in the rock, combined with the imposing hills and low cliffs of the coastline give quite dramatic scenery and atmosphere for the walk. Let us begin by acknowledging the Darkinjung & Guringai people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Downloads GPX PDF

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	(-33.4109777,151.4654535)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Central Coast Highway, A49 Turn on to Dane Drive, A49 then drive for 6.5 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto The Entrance Road, A49 and drive for another 3.6 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto The Entrance Road, A49 and drive for another 710 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto The Entrance Road, A49 and drive for another 1.6 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto The Enterence Road, A49 and drive for another 100 m Continue onto The Entrance Road, A49 and drive for another 870 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Crystal Street and drive for another 540 m Turn left onto South Scenic Road and drive for another 275 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the top of the beach access track, this walk goes over the low gate and follows the management trail steeply down the hill. The walk passes a shower area, to the right, and continues a short distance down the boarded trail to Forresters Beach.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 130 m find the "Forresters Beach" (20 m on your right). Forresters Beach Forresters Beach is the name of a township and beach on the Central Coast of NSW. There are public toilets and a beach access path near the intersection of Crystal St and Kalakau Ave, and a beach access path near the bottom of Henrys Rd. After another 2.7 km come to a park. About 185 m past the end is a car park.
	Turn around here and retrace the main route for 2.9 km to get back to the start. "Crackneck Beach". Crackneck Beach This unnamed beach is below Crackneck Lookout and can be reached with some difficulty by walking along the very rocky shoreline from Forresters Beach, to the south, or from Bateau Bay beach, to the north. The beach is covered in rounded rocks about the size of a fist.

Turn map

Directions & comments

Start.

After 130 m find the "Forresters Beach" (20 m on your right).

Forresters Beach

Forresters Beach is the name of a township and beach on the Central Coast of NSW. There are public toilets and a beach access path near the intersection of Crystal St and Kalakau Ave, and a beach access path near the bottom of Henrys Rd.

After another 2.7 km come to a park.

About 185 m past the end is a car park.

Turn around here and retrace the main route for 2.9 km to get back to the start.

"Crackneck Beach".

Crackneck Beach

This unnamed beach is below Crackneck Lookout and can be reached with some difficulty by walking along the very rocky shoreline from Forresters Beach, to the south, or from Bateau Bay beach, to the north. The beach is covered in rounded rocks about the size of a fist.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Forresters Beach to Crackneck Beach

Grading

	Class 5/6 Very challenging
Length	5.7 km
Time	2 h 15 min to 2 h 30 min

Quality of track	Rough unclear track (5/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure	No facilities provided (5/6)
Experience Required	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather	Foretasted & unexpected storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Forresters Beach
Forresters Beach is the name of a township and beach on the Central Coast of NSW. There are public toilets and a beach access path near the intersection of Crystal St and Kalakau Ave, and a beach access path near the bottom of Henrys Rd.

Crackneck Beach
This unnamed beach is below Crackneck Lookout and can be reached with some difficulty by walking along the very rocky shoreline from Forresters Beach, to the south, or from Bateau Bay beach, to the north. The beach is covered in rounded rocks about the size of a fist.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- The Entrance Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Tuesday 22 Jul
  
  20°C
  Possible late shower.
  40% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny day. Medium chance of showers, most likely later tonight. Light winds.
  Fire Danger: No Rating
  UV Alert: Sun protection 12:00pm to 1:00pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Wednesday 23 Jul
  
  12°C → 19°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the early morning. Light winds.
  
  Thursday 24 Jul
  
  8°C → 17°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. The chance of morning frost. Light winds.
  
  Friday 25 Jul
  
  7°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of fog and frost in the morning. Slight chance of a shower in the evening. Light winds.
  
  Saturday 26 Jul
  
  11°C → 17°C
  Showers.
  90% chance of rain
  2 → 10mm
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.
  
  Sunday 27 Jul
  
  10°C → 17°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h.
  
  Monday 28 Jul
  
  10°C → 17°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Winds west to northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Periodic closures of Wyrrabalong National Park (North) for fox control shooting operation
  
  Parts of Wyrrabalong National Park (North) will be closed for periods within a date range of Monday 16th June 2025 to Wednesday 30th December 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 (02) 4972 9000 or email npws.centralcoast@environment.nsw.gov.au.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

Weather Forecast

Alerts