The Central Coast’s 6km Coast Walking Track is a Stunning Combo of Bush & Beach

As a Central Coast local, Emma reckons this trail is an all-round winner for those wanting a great hike that exceeds expectations no matter what time of the year you go.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Darkinjung people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

The Coast Walking Track, located on the Central Coast of NSW, is a hike that ticks all the boxes. Heart rate elevated? Tick! Ocean views? Tick! Wildflowers? Tick! Whales? Tick! Coffee? Tick! Paragliding? Um, that’s a no from me but an option. Tick! 

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Quick Overview

This 6km return hike from Bateau Bay Beach heads to Cromarty Hill in Forresters Beach in Wyrrabalong National Park, and can be completed in about 2.5-3 hours depending on how long you admire the views and smell the wildflowers. It’s two hours north of Sydney and 1.5 hours south of Newcastle, making it the perfect day trip or an activity to do on a weekend long adventure.

Read more: 9 Places to Find Wildflowers Near Sydney (and Around NSW)

The Coast Walking Track Quick Facts

Distance: 6km return
Duration: 2.5 hours
Elevation gain: 241m
Nearest town: Bateau Bay

About The Coast Walking Track

The Coast Walking Track in Wyrrabalong National Park on NSW’s Central Coast of NSW is a hub for the local community to get in their nature time and exercise before work. The national park is divided into two distinct sections: Wyrrabalong North between The Entrance and Norah Head, and Wyrrabalong South at Bateau Bay and home to The Coast Walking Track.

As well as an abundance of great coffee shops, there’s usually a plethora of wildflowers and orchids from October to March, with Flannel flowers (Actinotus helianthi) being a famous drawcard of the walk.

Whale watching from Crackneck and Cromarty lookouts is popular from May to July, and again from September to November, so remember your binoculars!

If you’re feeling brave enough, tandem paragliding runs from September to May (weather dependent) from either the Crackneck or Cromarty Hill launch pad.

For summertime visitors (or winter, brrrr!) enjoy a swim at one of the local beaches post-hike to wash off the sweat and dust. If you’re starting at Bateau Bay, it’s a short walk down to Bateau Bay Beach from the trailhead, however if you’re going one way or doing a return hike from Cromarty Hill, Forresters Beach is your go to.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has recently upgraded sections of the track between Crackneck Lookout and Cromarty Hill. These works have made the track more accessible, more sustainable for long-term maintenance, and have reduced erosion and sedimentation of the surrounding bush.

The Coast Walking Track History

The Traditional Owners of the land, the Darkinjung people, resided in this area for thousands of years making use of the abundant resources in the Bateau Bay/Wyrrabalong National Park area.

European colonisation saw Bateau Bay, or Boat Harbour as it used to be called, as a quiet village focusing mainly on fishing and agriculture, until the early 20th century when the coastal town began to attract Sydneysiders on holiday.

During the mid-20th century, parts of Wyrrabalong National Park were mined for minerals such as zircon and rutile until around the 1970s. Aside from mining, the pristine beaches, landscape, and natural beauty were highly sought after and the area began to become a desirable place for families to relocate – especially from the 1970s when the area was renamed Bateau Bay to the more distinguished.

Since then, the area’s grown into the geographic heart of the Central Coast, with Wyrrabalong National Park forming an integral part of the community’s identity. The Coastal Walking Track has always been a feature of Wyrrabalong National Park (south) with National Parks and Wildlife Service taking guardianship of the park in 1991.

How to Get to The Coast Walking Track

By Car

If you’re coming from Sydney or Newcastle, expect it to take between an hour and an hour and a half drive to either trailhead. The drive time between the trailheads is only five minutes.

The Coastal Walking Track starts either at Bateau Bay Beach (my recommendation) or Cromarty Hill at Foresters Beach. I start at Bateau Bay Beach to take advantage of the ample parking, fabulous coffee shops, and promise of a post-hike swim.

You can always do a car shuffle if you only want to hike one way – park one car at Bateau Bay Beach and another at the little car park on Cromarty Hill Road, Forresters Beach.

By Bus

The closest bus station to The Coastal Walking Track is the Bateau Bay Community Hall Bus Station. From here it’s a short five-minute walk along Rushby Street to the trailhead.

Skill Level

Beginner-Intermediate

The well-formed and signposted tracks are easy to follow with minimal options to get lost.

Crackneck and Bateau Bay Lookouts are great access points for people with mobility issues to take in the views, while the track between Bateau Bay trailhead and Crackneck Lookout is completely sealed (although not wheelchair accessible) so it may be more appropriate for people with differing abilities.

If you have energetic kids, they’ll love racing ahead on this track! I recently took my 2.5-year-old and had a proud hiker mum moment when he ended up walking the whole way without being carried. Needless to say, he slept well afterwards.

Read more: Hiking With Kids – 9 Tips to Make it Enjoyable for Everyone

Essential Gear

• Water! – Much of this track is exposed, so you’ll need to bring plenty of water especially in the warmer months
• Snacks – Bring a picnic lunch or some snacks to enjoy at one of the lookouts
• Sun protection i.e. a hat, sunscreen, long sleeved shirt and pants
• Hiking boots or enclosed shoes
• Binoculars – Especially during whale season!
• Swimmers – Leave these in the car and take a dip at the end of your hike down at one of the beaches

Read more: 9 Top Whale Watching Spots Sydney, NSW

What it’s Like to Walk The Coast Walking Track

I might be biased, but I never get tired of hiking this track. No matter the season, there’s always something to admire and enjoy. Whether it’s the ocean views, the hilarious antics of the Scrub turkeys, the various wildflowers through changing seasons, a Swamp wallaby bounding into the bush, or the shifting landscapes the track winds through – from open woodland to coastal heath to littoral rainforest – there’s never a dull moment.

My most recent experience of the track was extra special, enjoying the experience with my mum and son, Indy. We started with a car shuffle from Forresters Beach and drove back to the Bateau Bay Beach car park at the trailhead.

We admired the rock pools before setting off up the winding path beneath the eucalypt trees, through which we caught glimpses of the ocean. It wasn’t long up the hill that my son decided he needed to be carried and it took a few minutes of encouragement and negotiation to get his legs back into gear.

We emerged from the trees at Crackneck Lookout, where we took a short breather and watched for whales momentarily, until my son ran towards Cromarty Hill. We entered the coastal heath vegetation community and soon masses of wildflowers bursting with colour appeared, including masses of Flannel flowers.

We passed many other people along the track also admiring the velvet white blooms and were treated with two sea eagles gliding overhead at the same time!

Not long after this, the descent down the steel stairway came with Cromarty Hill Tower standing tall in the distance – a reminder that what goes down must also go up. I prayed Indy would have enough energy to tackle the upcoming stairs.

After our descent, the heat reflecting off the exposed trail was becoming irritating but it wasn’t long before we crossed the last open ridge and entered the shade of littoral rainforest where there’s a fair chance you’ll see some sort of slithering reptile (none that day unfortunately).

It took us some time to walk through the forest as there were so many objects for a 2.5 year old to practice balancing on and different types of sticks to gather.

We tried our luck whale spotting again at the last lookout before the anticipated stairs up to Cromarty Hill. I must admit this section of the track looks a little tired and needs a bit of TLC however it’s still serviceable.

The climb up to Cromarty Hill was lighter this time, with my son marching up without much complaint, motivated by the promise of morning tea at the top. We found a shady spot at Cromarty Hill paragliding launch pad, overlooking Forresters Beach, down to Terrigal Haven and beyond.

I had my proud mum moment, giving my little Explorer a high-five as we sat together sharing our cinnamon scroll (shout out to Brown Sugar Bakery) and making sure the local magpies didn’t become too bold, before making the short walk down to the car.

Tips For Hiking The Coast Walking Track

• To get the most out of your time on this stunning walk I would recommend starting as early as possible (after grabbing a coffee) at the Bateau Bay trailhead to beat the heat and witness the spectacular sunrise – depending on how early you start of course, so you might want to stay in some local accommodation the night before

• Although mobile reception is usually reliable on this trail I would still recommend carrying a PLB and a small first aid kit.
• Take plenty of water and a few snacks.
• Check the NPWS website for updates and closures before you go

The Coast Walking Track FAQs

How long is The Coast Walking Track?

The Coast Walking Track on the Central Coast is 3km long one way, but many people walk it as an out-and-back track for 6km total.

Is The Coast Walking Track different to The Coast Track?

Yes! The most commonly known Coast Track refers to the 26km long coastal trail that runs the length of the Royal National Park south of Sydney. The Coast Walking Track is a 3km-long bush track in Wyrrabalong National Park on NSW’s Central Coast, north of Sydney.

Is The Coast Walking Track suitable for children?

Yes, The Coast Walking Track is a manageable track for children to walk parts of themselves, however with a few hills and a staircase, they may need some assistance. The trail isn’t pram or wheelchair friendly.

Walk More Tracks on the Central Coast

• The Mega Cave Hike: Guide to One of the Central Coast’s Most Amazing Natural Wonders
• Central Coast Itineraries for Hikers, Bikers, & Road Trippers
• Bouddi Coastal Walk – How To Hike the Central Coast’s Best Cliffs
• Lobster Beach is Tucked Away in a Secluded Area of the Central Coast