Watagan Forestry HQ Campsite to Heaton Gap

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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	(-32.9755217,151.4117966)
Mode	Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Palmers Road Exit Turn on to Palmers Road then drive for 90 m Turn slight left onto Palmers Road and drive for another 3.1 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Freemans Drive, B82 and drive for another 7.9 km Turn sharp left onto Sandy Creek Road and drive for another 9.6 km Turn left onto Heaton Road and drive for another 6.6 km Keep left onto Bakers Road and drive for another 175 m Turn left onto Bakers Road and drive for another 4 m
Finish	(-32.9652719,151.4793836)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Bus Car (There is free parking available.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the intersection (Forestry H.Q. campsite), this walk follows Bakers Road gently downhill, while keeping the GNW arrow marker on your right and the large 'Great North Walk' sign on your left. The walk continues, undulating gently for about 900m until coming to a three-way intersection with Rocky Creek Road (on the right).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start heading along Bakers Road. Then come to the "Watagan Headquarters Camping Area" (35 m on your left). This is a free campsite. Then find the "Watagan Headquarters" (55 m on your left). Watagan Headquarters Watagan Headsquarters campsite (aka Forestry HQ) is located in the Heaton State Forest, beside Bakers Rd, near Heaton Rd. This campsite has wood fired barbecues, picnic tables and a garbage bin. The large, flat, cleared area allows plenty of room to pitch a tent. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so there is no longer water available. Then pass the picnic table (75 m on your left). After another 960 m (at the intersection of Bakers Road & Rockey Point Road) continue straight, to head along Bakers Road. After another 400 m (at the intersection of Glen Road & Bakers Road) continue straight, to head along Bakers Road.
	After another 180 m continue straight. After another 50 m head through/around the gate. After another 105 m pass the toilet (6 m on your right). After another 40 m find the "Hunter Lookout" (10 m on your left). Hunter Lookout Hunter Lookout can be found on Bakers Road, along the Great North Walk. This fenced lookout has everything you will need snack-stop, including toilets, picnic tables, chairs and wood-fired barbecues. This lookout has fantastic views over much of the Hunter region. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so water is no longer available at Hunter Lookout. After another 15 m pass the picnic table (15 m on your left).
	Continue straight. After another 30 m pass the car park (30 m on your right). After another 40 m head through/around the gate.
	Continue straight, to head along Bakers Road. After another 440 m continue straight, to head along Bakers Road. After another 390 m to find the car park. Then pass the picnic table (30 m on your left). Then find the "Mcleans Lookout" (45 m on your left). Mcleans Lookout McLeans Lookout offers magnificent views of the valleys in Heaton State Forest. Located on Bakers Road, this fenced lookout also has picnic facilities including tables with seats and open grassy areas.
	After another 30 m continue straight. After another 560 m (at the intersection of Watagan Track & Glen Road) continue straight, to head along Watagan Track. After another 65 m come to the viewpoint (15 m on your left).
	After another 720 m veer right.
	After another 320 m veer right, to head along Great North Walk.
	After another 410 m (at the intersection of Great North Walk & Hammonds Road) continue straight, to head along Great North Walk. After another 1.4 km cross the ford.
	Continue straight, to head along Great North Walk. After another 430 m cross the ford. Then pass the sign.
	After another 760 m (at the intersection of Barniers Road & Great North Walk) continue straight, to head along Great North Walk.
	After another 1.1 km (at the intersection of Heaton Road & Great North Walk) turn left, to head along Heaton Road (a vehicle track). Then to find the car park. After another 210 m pass the picnic table (20 m on your right). Then find the "Heaton Lookout" (20 m on your right). Heaton Lookout Heaton Lookout is one of the larger lookouts located on Heaton Road. This fenced lookout faces south-east. There are wood fired barbecues, picnic tables and a pit toilet. Heaton Lookout is a great place to stop for a snack, and the amazing view feels like a bonus. This lookout was named after Richard Heaton, a timber cutter who came to Australia as a convict. There is a water tank here, due to vandalism in the area this is not a reliable water source.
	After another 8 m continue straight. After another 65 m pass the toilet (8 m on your right).
	After another 245 m continue straight, to head along Heaton Loop Trail.
	After another 205 m (at the intersection of Heaton Road & Heaton Loop Trail) veer right, to head along Heaton Road (a vehicle track).
	After another 1.8 km (at the intersection of Taylors Road & Murrells Road) turn sharp right (a walking track). After another 750 m find the "Heaton Gap Lookout" (15 m on your right). Heaton Gap Lookout Heaton Gap lookout is a fantastic spot to stop and catch your breath in Heaton State Forest. This unfenced lookout offers exhilarating views over the valleys towards Tuggerah Lake and Lake Macquarie. this unsignposted view, as with many features in the area, was named after Richard Heaton, a timber cutter who came to Australia as a convict. After another 970 m head down the surface\|wood steps
	After another 5 m come to the end. About 15 m past the end is "Watagan Forest Motel". Watagan Forest Motel Watagan Forest Motel is located on Branxton-Toronto Road. This retro-style motel is located right on the Great North Walk. The motel offers six rooms for around $99 per night - each with a double bed (four rooms also have twin singles), a television, bathroom with shower, air conditioning, and breakfast included. Room service is available. Adjoining the motel is a service station, which also offers dining room meals as well as a small grocery selection (bread, milk, bottled water, rice, pasta, etc), open until 8:30pm daily. A rest area is situated next to the motel, with covered picnic tables and garbage bins. For further information, phone (02)4938 0149. About 30 m past the end is a picnic table. About 35 m past the end is a picnic table.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Watagan Forestry HQ Campsite to Heaton Gap

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	12 km
Time	5 h to 6 h

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Campsite: There are 2 on route, on average they are 4 km apart with the largest gap of 12 km.

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 4 km apart with the largest gap of 6.3 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Camp site	-16 m	Watagan Headquarters Camping Area
Campsite	-16 m	Watagan Headquarters
Toilet	1.7 km	[toilet]
Toilet	8 km	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Watagan Headquarters
Watagan Headsquarters campsite (aka Forestry HQ) is located in the Heaton State Forest, beside Bakers Rd, near Heaton Rd. This campsite has wood fired barbecues, picnic tables and a garbage bin. The large, flat, cleared area allows plenty of room to pitch a tent. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so there is no longer water available.

Hunter Lookout
Hunter Lookout can be found on Bakers Road, along the Great North Walk. This fenced lookout has everything you will need snack-stop, including toilets, picnic tables, chairs and wood-fired barbecues. This lookout has fantastic views over much of the Hunter region. In 2010, a series of vandalism attacks occurred on the water tank, so water is no longer available at Hunter Lookout.

Mcleans Lookout
McLeans Lookout offers magnificent views of the valleys in Heaton State Forest. Located on Bakers Road, this fenced lookout also has picnic facilities including tables with seats and open grassy areas.

Heaton Lookout
Heaton Lookout is one of the larger lookouts located on Heaton Road. This fenced lookout faces south-east. There are wood fired barbecues, picnic tables and a pit toilet. Heaton Lookout is a great place to stop for a snack, and the amazing view feels like a bonus. This lookout was named after Richard Heaton, a timber cutter who came to Australia as a convict. There is a water tank here, due to vandalism in the area this is not a reliable water source.

Heaton Gap Lookout
Heaton Gap lookout is a fantastic spot to stop and catch your breath in Heaton State Forest. This unfenced lookout offers exhilarating views over the valleys towards Tuggerah Lake and Lake Macquarie. this unsignposted view, as with many features in the area, was named after Richard Heaton, a timber cutter who came to Australia as a convict.

Watagan Forest Motel
Watagan Forest Motel is located on Branxton-Toronto Road. This retro-style motel is located right on the Great North Walk. The motel offers six rooms for around $99 per night - each with a double bed (four rooms also have twin singles), a television, bathroom with shower, air conditioning, and breakfast included. Room service is available. Adjoining the motel is a service station, which also offers dining room meals as well as a small grocery selection (bread, milk, bottled water, rice, pasta, etc), open until 8:30pm daily. A rest area is situated next to the motel, with covered picnic tables and garbage bins. For further information, phone (02)4938 0149.

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Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Toronto Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Tuesday 24 December
  
  24°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Clear. Winds west to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h decreasing to 15 to 20 km/h in the evening.
  
  Wednesday 25 December
  
  15°C → 27°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting east to southeasterly in the late morning and early afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 10 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching 25 to 30.
  
  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 8:40am to 5:00pm, UV Index predicted to reach 12 [Extreme]
  
  Thursday 26 December
  
  15°C → 30°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon then becoming light in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 10 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching 27 to 33.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Friday 27 December
  
  19°C → 37°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Sunny. Light winds becoming northwest to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between 12 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching 31 to 38.
  
  Saturday 28 December
  
  18°C → 28°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds northwest to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming northwesterly 25 to 40 km/h during the morning then shifting south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to around 20 with daytime temperatures reaching 35 to 41.
  
  Sunday 29 December
  
  17°C → 29°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Monday 30 December
  
  18°C → 29°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
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