North Head Scenic Area upgrade

New lookouts have been designed to replace the original Fairfax lookouts. These were closed due to the geotechnical risk associated with the unstable nature of the sandstone cliff faces.

We worked with local architects CHROFI and Aboriginal consultancy Bangawarra to design lookouts that address geotechnical risk, maintain visitor safety, maximise viewing space, and use materials that can withstand the harsh environment whilst responding to Country and the character of the surrounding landscape.

During March, contractors were on site to demolish the closed lookouts.

Work on the new lookouts commenced in July 2022.

The Fairfax track and the new lookouts will be fully accessible once complete and disabled parking is provided at the entrance to the track.

The concept plans for the lookouts are available for download to the right hand side.

In 2020, National Parks and Wildlife Service undertook site investigation and analysis, detailed design development and approvals.

Concept plans for the North Head Scenic Area upgrade were released in April 2021 for community feedback. Submissions closed on 17 May 2021.

Concept designs for the new lookouts were released for public consultation in November 2021, and detailed design is complete. Demolition of the closed lookouts was undertaken in March 2022. Construction of the new lookouts commenced in July 2022 and is expected to conclude in March 2023.

We will keep stakeholders and visitors informed of this project as it develops. Updates will be available on this project webpage.

You can also opt in to receive newsletters about the North Head Scenic Area upgrade directly to your inbox. Anyone can sign up to receive these emails by registering your details below.

We are carefully managing the project to ensure no impacts upon threatened vegetation or fauna species. This includes Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub Threatened Ecological Community, bandicoots and other small mammals. Rigorous environmental assessment of the proposed works with input from relevant specialists, in accordance with NSW planning legislation, has been carried out to inform this project. These works align with the outcomes for North Head outlined in the Sydney Harbour National Park plan of management (2012).

We aim to provide enriching and memorable experiences in the park, improve access to the park for all and contribute to the goal of easy and safe transport to and within the park.

On 17 October 2020, a planned hazard reduction burn at North Head spotted over containment lines. This was driven by strong winds that arrived earlier than previously predicted. We are working with partners and experts, including Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Taronga Zoo, Sydney University, Australian Registry for Wildlife Health and Northern Beaches Council, to implement the fire recovery program.

The fire recovery is being managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service Sydney North team and is separate to the upgrade works. To find out more, please visit the bushfire recovery webpage.

North Head bushfire recovery

In October 2021, we engaged a geotechnical engineer to assess the cliff edge and its stability along the Fairfax Walk. Based on engineering advice, the lookouts were closed while further investigations were done. In 2016, a rockfall occurred 100 metres away from the existing lookout, so it is essential to manage this carefully.

New lookouts were designed in 2021 and were released for public consultation in November 2021. In March 2022, the closed lookouts were demolished, and construction of the new lookouts commenced in July 2022. We expect work to be completed by March 2023.

The Fairfax walking track will be temporarily closed until further notice while works are underway, including road and footpath upgrades, fence replacement and lookout construction. Unfortunately, due to delays caused by poor weather, we are unable to provide a confirmed reopening date at this time.

Walking tracks through the North Fort, which are managed by the Harbour Trust, remain open. Please check the current alerts before planning your visit.

The proposed upgrades are funded under the Improving Access to National Parks program, which aims to improve access and safety to our national parks in New South Wales. The purpose of these works is to improve the area for all visitors. By providing increased landscaped open space, pathways, pedestrian crossings and traffic calming measures, seating, rubbish bins, a new bus stop and shelter, and accessible parking, the community can expect a safer and more comfortable experience when visiting the North Head Scenic Area.

Weed management is an ongoing priority for us. At North Head, the prevalence of weeds is complicated due to poor drainage and accessibility, particularly along the steep banks in front of the carparking areas. Weed removal is limited to hand weeding, which requires substantial resourcing, including help from Bush Care volunteers. More weed removal will be carried out near the carparks within the upgrade area as part of these works.

North Head is very popular with walkers and bike riders. We will provide safe and direct access for pedestrians from the open landscaped viewing areas and carparks to the Fairfax walking track and lookouts with off-road and on-road pedestrian paths. Traffic management measures will improve safety for pedestrians and bike riders. Designating the road as a shared zone with a reduced speed limit of 10 km/hr was considered. However, reducing speeds to 20 km/hr, incorporating traffic calming devices, flat top speed bumps and separating pedestrians from bike riders and vehicles was the preferred option for safety reasons. We will consider the most appropriate way of separating this pedestrian zone along North Head Scenic Road during the detailed design stage, for example, painted lines, raised kerbs, bollards or tactile surfaces.

Bike parking has been included in the detailed design plans at Carpark 1 and the Fairfax walk entry.

We have been working to protect native animals at North Head, including the endangered long-nosed bandicoot. This project will support these efforts by introducing further traffic calming measures to reduce vehicle speeds. Native animals must have the ability to move freely around the headland. Measures such as fencing along the road were not considered appropriate in this setting. The protection of native animals is an ongoing priority. We are working with our partners, particularly in the post-fire recovery, to closely monitor native animals, providing shelters and supplementary food.

Public toilets are located at the Quarantine Station carpark and behind the Bella Vista Café at the North Fort for visitors to North Head. Extra toilets were not included in this project's scope. There are no existing services (such as water or sewerage infrastructure) and no suitable location to install new toilets within national parks land at the carparks or near the Fairfax loop without creating significant environmental impacts.

Issues were identified with the existing bus stop located opposite the entry to the North Fort. Several options were considered to make this bus stop safer, more comfortable and accessible, and adhere to current Australian standards. The proposed location at Carpark 1 has enough space to provide a shelter, seating, and bus pull-in area. This location also provides clear sightlines (no blind spots) and is close to the North Fort entry, Bella Vista Café and public toilets. Traffic management measures, including signs and bollards, are proposed to discourage other buses and large vehicles from using the carparks as layover spaces.

The popularity of North Head for picnics, sightseeing and walking was a key consideration in developing the landscape plans. The open landscaped area at Carpark 1 was expanded by moving the existing kerb back towards the road, reducing the hard surfaces and adding retaining structures where the existing slope starts to formalise the turfed area and provides a more comfortable space for visitors to enjoy the harbour views. We have not removed native vegetation or used additional fill to accommodate this expanded landscaped area; rather the carpark area has be reduced.

As visitation can be high during peak periods, the selection of turf needed to consider species hardiness, maintenance requirements and environmental factors. Turf species used at similar locations in national parks in New South Wales, for example, Audley in Royal National Park, were considered for this project. Surrounding vegetation is locally endemic native species, including suitable native groundcovers where possible.

The detailed design plans will also consider incorporating seating and simple shelters to protect from sun and rain without impacting significant views. A shelter has also been installed at the relocated bus stop at Carpark 1.

The works have reduced the hard surfaces and number of carparking spaces at Carpark 1 to provide increased open landscaped space, pathways and seating for visitors to enjoy this primary viewing area. This was done by moving the existing kerb back towards North Head Scenic Road and adding retaining structures at the existing slope to formalise the turfed area. This reduced car parking at Carpark 1 from 22 spaces to 12 and 2 accessible parking bays. Overflow parking is planned at the current bus stop location once this has been relocated to Carpark 1.

Carpark 2 will also be reconfigured with the existing kerb moved back to provide a pedestrian path, accessible parking and a small open landscaped area. There will be no increase to the current number of parking spaces within Carpark 2, and removal of vegetation in the median island will be limited. There will be a moderate increase of car parking spaces from 42 to 51 spaces across the existing 2 carparks and the proposed new overflow parking.

North Head Scenic Area will remain open during the construction phase, which will be staged during 2021 to 2023 to limit impacts on visitation. Some temporary restrictions to certain areas will be required for the safety of visitors and the work crew. Current alerts will be available on the North Head webpage. Check this before you go to plan your visit.

North Head current alerts