Lookouts and scenic vantage points
Above Castle Bay and Yeomans Bay
This vantage point is at the end of the Wallaroo Track. The views here are over Cowan Water and its maze of coves and tributaries.
Barrenjoey Lighthouse
Fire/closure alerts currently apply to this location. See details below.
Barrenjoey Lighthouse sits at Sydney’s most northern point – Barrenjoey Head at Palm Beach.
Positioned 91m above sea level, the lighthouse can be reached by a couple of walks. Take the picturesque 1km walking track to the top, which is an easy walk offering outstanding views along the track. Or for those who are keen for a challenging short hike, take the Smugglers track to the top. Getting its name from the customs officers who built the track around 1850 to monitor any smugglers bringing contraband into Broken Bay, it now offers a steeper and shorter trek to the lighthouse. Don’t worry though, the walk isn’t as hard as it looks and is well worth the effort.
Bring your camera or your binoculars if you’re whale watching. Or you may simply want to capture the panoramic views of Broken Bay, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and the Central Coast.
Barrenjoey Lighthouse is one of the Sydney Northern Beaches’ most iconic sights and boasts a notable cultural heritage. Built in 1881 from sandstone quarried on site, the lighthouse, its oil room and keepers’ cottages remain unpainted in the original stone finish.
It is an easy daytrip from Sydney and is a great place to bring overseas visitors – they may recognise the lighthouse from Home and Away. Afterwards, head to the Summer Bay Surf Club for an ice-cream or cold drink.
Activities: walking, whale watching
Cultural heritage: Built in 1881 from sandstone quarried on site, the lighthouse, oil room and cottages are unique in that they remain in their original natural stone finish.
Location:
shown on West Head and The Basin map
Getting there: Barrenjoey Lighthouse is reached by a 1km walking track.
Facilities: lookout
Events, activities and alerts at this location
| Closure | Upgrade of Barrenjoey Headland Access Trail Access to the headland is via the Smugglers Walking Track ONLY. Please be advised that this track is steep in sections and people should be moderately fit and prepared with good walking shoes, hat and WATER before embarking. It is anticipated that the works will be completed towards the end of June - weather dependant. | |
| Commercial activity | EcoTreasures  EcoTreasures experienced local guides are going to show you some hidden gems around Sydney's Northern Beaches. Choose from a range of nature experiences including stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkelling, bushwalking, coastal walks and Indigenous walks.
The Basin Campground - EcoTreasures offers guided stand up paddle board (SUP) safari, snorkelling tours and SUP Hire and kayak hire during the school holidays and by group request all year. Indigenous guided nature/culture walk to ancient engravings available by request. Customised group programs available with transport and catering options available for all tours. Please book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Sydney Harbour National Park - EcoTreasures provides guided coastal walks around Manly's foreshores, North Head and through Sydney Harbour National Park. If you are a family, team building group or a private groups who would enjoy a local nature experience with a local eco guide then the Coastal Walk is a perfect option. Customised programs, educational work sheets and team building programs are available specifically designed to meet the aims and objectives of your day.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park - You be in charge and tell me what your group would like. Private Tours are available by request. Choose from a range of nature based experiences options including stand up paddle boarding, snorkelling, bushwalking, bird watching and Indigenous guided walks. Perfect for school groups, team building groups, family and private groups. More info: Ecotreasures, Phone: 0415 121 648 (international +61415 121 648) | . |
| Commercial activity | Flamin' Galah Tours and Adventures  Flamin' Galah Sydney Tours and Airport Transfers offer a unique collection of exciting and affordable private tours of Sydney. Want to know what to do in Sydney? Well, look no further than Manly Beach, Sydney's northern beaches, The Blue Mountains, The Hunter Valley wine region and Jenolan Caves.
The Manly Package. This tour shows off a classic Sydney beach and reveals why there is SO much more to Manly than just Manly Beach.
Home and Away Tour. Explore Summer Bay (Palm Beach in Sydney) to see the location of Home and Away, one of Australia's best loved TV soaps.
Blue Mountains, Sydney. A truly iconic Sydney tourist attraction. No wonder millions of people flock to see the 3 Sisters at Sydney's Blue Mountains.
Hunter Valley Wine Tour. Sit back, eat, drink and be merry on the ultimate tour to The Hunter Valley - one of Australia's finest wine making regions.
Jenolan Caves. A rare and intriguing natural phenomenon, gets you out of Sydney and soaking up some of Australia's vast landscape.
Half or Full Day Bush and Beach Experience. An 'off the beaten track Sydney tour', showcasing Sydney's spectacular, untouched, vast and beautiful bush and beach settings. More info: Flamin' Galah Sydney Tours and Airport Transfers, Phone: 02 9977 7890 (international +612 9977 7890) | . |
| Commercial activity | Understand Down Under  1 Day Royal National Park Eco-tour
Your beach and wilderness escape. If you only have one day in Sydney, then this should be it!
Understand Down Under (UDU) invites you on a journey of discovery. Have fun while using all your senses to actively learn about:
- Plants and their traditional uses
- Australian and Aboriginal culture
- Local history and geology
- Australian birds and wildlife
Australia's oldest national park: The Royal National Park is Sydney's hidden secret. It's renowned for its beautiful and diverse natural landscapes, its abundant wildlife and unique local history. It is more than just bush and rainforest - Royal National Park boasts a beautiful coastline and is only 30km away. Instead of sitting on a bus, relax or have fun at the beach.
1 Day Royal National Park Highlights
The UDU mini-bus will take you on a 1 day adventure with a great mix of active discovery & serene relaxation:
- Where it all started, Audley is full of history and fantastic birdlife;
- Discovery Eco-walk - explore the magical Wattamolla. Learn how to live in Australia's bushland and hear dreaming stories;
- Relax over a delicious, uniquely Australian picnic lunch overlooking the Royal's many beaches
- Garie Beach - plenty of time to swim, play Aussie beach games, relax or sunbake. For the more adventurous, climb to the cliff-top for a breathtaking panoramic view
- Throw boomerangs and spears alongside the Hacking River
- Tranquil bushwalk through temperate rainforest
- Afternoon tea with awe-inspiring views from Bald Hill; home to Lawrence Hargraves, Australia's pioneer of flight
- Grand Pacific Drive - take time to see this incredible area, including the distinctive Sea Cliff Bridge
More info: Understand Down Under, Phone: 0448 388 687 (international +61448 388 687) | . |
Lookouts around Brooklyn
There are great views from various points above Brooklyn, in the park's north-western corner. From Porto Ridge and around Peak Hill you'll see excellent views of the Hawkesbury River - get there along the Great North Walk.
West Head lookout
Wheelchair access: easy
This area is fully wheelchair accessible
Prepare to be impressed – the views from West Head lookout are some of Sydney’s best. On your visit, you’ll be greeted with a real visual feast. From West Head lookout, you can see Broken Bay on your left, Pittwater on your right and Barrenjoey Headland and Lighthouse in front.
You can also enjoy amazing vistas across the Hawkesbury River to Lion Island Nature Reserve and the beaches of the Central Coast, including Patonga and Umina Beach.
The lookout itself is a large sandstone viewing area with a number of informative interpretive signs. Rest on one of the benches and absorb the sounds of the birds and waves below before heading to nearby Resolute picnic area for lunch or taking a walk on Aboriginal Heritage walk.
Cultural heritage: The battlements on West Head date back to the Second World War.
Location:
shown on West Head and The Basin map
Getting there: West Head lookout is in the West Head precinct of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. To get there, follow West Head Road or access the lookout from the Resolute picnic area, along the West Head lookout track (1.9km).
Road access: Sealed road - 2WD vehicles.
Facilities: lookout
Events, activities and alerts at this location
| Commercial activity | EcoTreasures EcoTreasures experienced local guides are going to show you some hidden gems around Sydney's Northern Beaches. Choose from a range of nature experiences including stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkelling, bushwalking, coastal walks and Indigenous walks.
The Basin Campground - EcoTreasures offers guided stand up paddle board (SUP) safari, snorkelling tours and SUP Hire and kayak hire during the school holidays and by group request all year. Indigenous guided nature/culture walk to ancient engravings available by request. Customised group programs available with transport and catering options available for all tours. Please book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Sydney Harbour National Park - EcoTreasures provides guided coastal walks around Manly's foreshores, North Head and through Sydney Harbour National Park. If you are a family, team building group or a private groups who would enjoy a local nature experience with a local eco guide then the Coastal Walk is a perfect option. Customised programs, educational work sheets and team building programs are available specifically designed to meet the aims and objectives of your day.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park - You be in charge and tell me what your group would like. Private Tours are available by request. Choose from a range of nature based experiences options including stand up paddle boarding, snorkelling, bushwalking, bird watching and Indigenous guided walks. Perfect for school groups, team building groups, family and private groups. More info: Ecotreasures, Phone: 0415 121 648 (international +61415 121 648) | . |
| Commercial activity | Flamin' Galah Tours and Adventures Flamin' Galah Sydney Tours and Airport Transfers offer a unique collection of exciting and affordable private tours of Sydney. Want to know what to do in Sydney? Well, look no further than Manly Beach, Sydney's northern beaches, The Blue Mountains, The Hunter Valley wine region and Jenolan Caves.
The Manly Package. This tour shows off a classic Sydney beach and reveals why there is SO much more to Manly than just Manly Beach.
Home and Away Tour. Explore Summer Bay (Palm Beach in Sydney) to see the location of Home and Away, one of Australia's best loved TV soaps.
Blue Mountains, Sydney. A truly iconic Sydney tourist attraction. No wonder millions of people flock to see the 3 Sisters at Sydney's Blue Mountains.
Hunter Valley Wine Tour. Sit back, eat, drink and be merry on the ultimate tour to The Hunter Valley - one of Australia's finest wine making regions.
Jenolan Caves. A rare and intriguing natural phenomenon, gets you out of Sydney and soaking up some of Australia's vast landscape.
Half or Full Day Bush and Beach Experience. An 'off the beaten track Sydney tour', showcasing Sydney's spectacular, untouched, vast and beautiful bush and beach settings. More info: Flamin' Galah Sydney Tours and Airport Transfers, Phone: 02 9977 7890 (international +612 9977 7890) | . |
| Commercial activity | Paddlecraft Kayaks  Combine eco friendly kayak paddles with bushwalking in Sydney's Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and take a mixed journey experiencing Pittwater's unique natural environment from land and water. Launching from our Northern Beaches Bayview beach side marina location, Paddlecraft Kayaks has a wide range of hire kayaks. Paddle a double or single hire kayak to a remote beach or cove, stow your craft and equipment and explore the unrivalled splendour featuring native wildlife and vegetation, breathtaking vistas and historic Aboriginal areas. Hire a kayak for your camping holiday at the Basin and explore the surrounding Pittwater bays and inlets. Multi day hire rates are available including transportation and pick up of kayaks to the Basin.
More info: Paddlecraft Kayaks, Phone: 02 9997 8015 (international +612 9997 8015) | . |
| Commercial activity | Understand Down Under 1 Day Royal National Park Eco-tour
Your beach and wilderness escape. If you only have one day in Sydney, then this should be it!
Understand Down Under (UDU) invites you on a journey of discovery. Have fun while using all your senses to actively learn about:
- Plants and their traditional uses
- Australian and Aboriginal culture
- Local history and geology
- Australian birds and wildlife
Australia's oldest national park: The Royal National Park is Sydney's hidden secret. It's renowned for its beautiful and diverse natural landscapes, its abundant wildlife and unique local history. It is more than just bush and rainforest - Royal National Park boasts a beautiful coastline and is only 30km away. Instead of sitting on a bus, relax or have fun at the beach.
1 Day Royal National Park Highlights
The UDU mini-bus will take you on a 1 day adventure with a great mix of active discovery & serene relaxation:
- Where it all started, Audley is full of history and fantastic birdlife;
- Discovery Eco-walk - explore the magical Wattamolla. Learn how to live in Australia's bushland and hear dreaming stories;
- Relax over a delicious, uniquely Australian picnic lunch overlooking the Royal's many beaches
- Garie Beach - plenty of time to swim, play Aussie beach games, relax or sunbake. For the more adventurous, climb to the cliff-top for a breathtaking panoramic view
- Throw boomerangs and spears alongside the Hacking River
- Tranquil bushwalk through temperate rainforest
- Afternoon tea with awe-inspiring views from Bald Hill; home to Lawrence Hargraves, Australia's pioneer of flight
- Grand Pacific Drive - take time to see this incredible area, including the distinctive Sea Cliff Bridge
More info: Understand Down Under, Phone: 0448 388 687 (international +61448 388 687) | . |
Willunga Trig
This is the highest point in the park, with 360 degree views of the spectacular landscape. You'll need to walk along the short but steep Willunga Track to get here.
Lookouts and scenery: events and activities
| Commercial activity | Walkabout Tours  Walkabout Tours is an exclusive Sydney tour operator offering private individual and small group tours in and around the Sydney area. Designed for the sophisticated traveller, our tour programs offer the best of Sydney - whether you are looking for Aboriginal culture, art and heritage, museums and galleries, food and wine or scenic touring.
All individual tours are conducted on a private basis so we can design a tour day to suit your interests. We are one of the few licensed tour operators conducting tours to the Aboriginal ceremonial and rock art sites in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, only 25km north of Sydney. All full day tours include a two course luncheon at a gourmet restaurant. Let us show you the best of Sydney! More info: Walkabout Tours, Phone: 02 9332 2611 (international +612 9332 2611) | As required |
