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Watagan Mountains
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Watagan Mountains

Difficulty: Trek rating 1.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 1.5 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD AWD 2WD Caravan Camper Motorhome Bike 
Only 100km North of Sydney on the edge of the Great Divide, behind the Central Coast lies the rainforest gullies of the mountains. Accessible by 2WD unless raining, this area is quite popular with excellent campsites, walking trails and lookouts.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesWyong
Trek
FinishSydney Newcastle Freeway (F3)
Distance102.45 kmMinimum Days1
Average Speed42.35 km/hrDriving Time2 hr 25 min
Article By: ExplorOz Team   Updated: 28 Dec 2007
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 Description

This is a really good trek if you are just getting into 4WDing. The driving is easy but the region is beautiful and there are some great camping, walking and swimming spots. Not far from Sydney, this trek can be done over a weekend or even on one day! If it's been raining, the tracks can be slippery and can even become impassable if the falls have been consistently heavy.

There are some great campsites such as The Basin Camping area which is 4.5km away and is a lovely spot for a weekend camp. You may see wombats, wallabies and various birds. The camping is on both sides of the track and is well equipped with bbqs, tables, toilets, grassy campsites, walking trails and creek water. The Rock Lily and Lyrebird walking trails from the Basin wind through walls of moss in a rainforest habitat, you may even see the Wollombi Creek.

After crossing the causeway at the Basin, keep to the right and continue along the main track passing the turnoffs to Murrays Forest Road, Glider Point Road, the Great North Walk and Wollombi Forest Road. You are now approaching the Pines Camping Area. There are a few other nice spots here too; the Water Tower and Old Mill Picnic areas and the Turpentines and Casuarina camping areas - all have bbqs, toilets, tap water, walking trails and have wide open grassy sites. Make sure if you go off for the day that your tent is secured and foodstuffs locked away tightly. Cheeky possums in the area have been spotted raiding food left unattended! The Pines Track from the Pines Forest Reserve comes to a picturesque fern-lined creek. If you're lucky enough to be doing this trek in Spring, make sure you do the Wildflower Track for spectacular native blooms.

 Interactive Route Map

WyongJillibyJerrys PointStoney Ridge Picnic AreaBar LookoutThe Basin Camping AreaBar LookoutThe Pines Camping AreaSandy KnobHeaton LookoutSydney Newcastle Freeway (F3)
Wyong
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceCaravan Park Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 151.4254ºE   33.2827ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Jilliby
Distance: 5.69km
Average Speed: 56.42km/h
Jilliby
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 151.3833ºE   33.2560ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Jerrys Point
Distance: 7.18km
Average Speed: 22.97km/h
Jerrys Point
Point
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 151.3226ºE   33.2332ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Stoney Ridge Picnic Area
Distance: 13.96km
Average Speed: 25.47km/h
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 151.3500ºE   33.1344ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Bar Lookout
Distance: 19.59km
Average Speed: 36.73km/h
Bar Lookout
Lookout
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 151.2678ºE   33.0589ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: The Basin Camping Area
Distance: 9.34km
Average Speed: 45.85km/h
The Basin Camping Area
Popular camping spot
Features: Camp FreePoint of Interest
Position: 151.2306ºE   33.1041ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Bar Lookout
Distance: 9.34km
Average Speed: 45.85km/h
Bar Lookout
Lookout
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 151.2678ºE   33.0589ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: The Pines Camping Area
Distance: 8.77km
Average Speed: 49.94km/h
The Pines Camping Area
Popular camping spot
Features: Camp FreePoint of Interest
Position: 151.3360ºE   33.0626ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Sandy Knob
Distance: 5.17km
Average Speed: 59.5km/h
Features: Mountain,Peak,HillPoint of Interest
Position: 151.3678ºE   33.0439ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Heaton Lookout
Distance: 13.48km
Average Speed: 44.88km/h
Heaton Lookout
Heaton Lookout has spectacular views looking east over Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 151.4552ºE   32.9836ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Sydney Newcastle Freeway (F3)
Distance: 9.93km
Average Speed: 35.85km/h
Sydney Newcastle Freeway (F3)
Where Mount Faulk Road meets up with the Sydney Newcastle Freeway (F3)
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 151.4746ºE   33.0345ºS (GDA 94)

Route Control

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 Permits

No permits are needed for this trek note.

 Things to See & Do

The Basin Camping Area   
Camp Free Point of Interest
Popular camping spot
The Pines Camping Area   
Camp Free Point of Interest
Popular camping spot
Jerrys Point   
Point of Interest 
Point
Sandy Knob   
Mountain,Peak,Hill Point of Interest
POI
Stoney Ridge Picnic Area   
Point of Interest 
Picnic Area
Bar Lookout   
Point of Interest 
Lookout
Heaton Lookout   
Point of Interest 
Heaton Lookout has spectacular views looking east over Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.
There are beautiful forest drives, lookouts, walking trails, as well as great bush camping and picnic spots.

 Preparation

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolWyong Diesel4cyl 14 litres ULP4cyl 10 litres * LPG4cyl 20 litres
6cyl 16 litres6cyl 18 litres6cyl 18 litres
8cyl 17 litres8cyl 17 litres
Usage is averaged from TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
There is also fuel available at: Yarramalong and Laguna (not shown on this trek note).

Best Time To Visit

This trek can be travelled all year round, although it may be wise to avoid the area after heavy rains.

Closest Climatic Station

Mangrove Mountain Aws
Distance from Trek Mid Point 21.7km SW
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 26.626.524.321.8 18.216.015.217.2 20.122.323.826.1
Mean Min. °C 16.617.015.212.2 9.67.46.26.8 9.511.513.415.4
Mean Rain mm 94.5127.3129.562.2 107.998.543.755.2 66.173.181.467.6
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Wyong
There are also supplies and facilities available at: Yarramalong, Laguna and Wollombi (not shown on this trek note).

 Camp Sites & Accomodation

 Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Wyong to Jilliby 5.69 km NW 307° 6 min
Jilliby to Jerrys Point 7.18 km NW 294° 18 min
Jerrys Point to Stoney Ridge Picnic Area 13.96 km N 13° 32 min
Stoney Ridge Picnic Area to Bar Lookout 19.59 km NW 318° 32 min
Bar Lookout to The Basin Camping Area 9.34 km SW 215° 12 min
The Basin Camping Area to Bar Lookout 9.34 km NE 35° 12 min
Bar Lookout to The Pines Camping Area 8.77 km E 94° 10 min
The Pines Camping Area to Sandy Knob 5.17 km NE 55° 5 min
Sandy Knob to Heaton Lookout 13.48 km NE 51° 18 min
Heaton Lookout to Sydney Newcastle Freeway (F3) 9.93 km S 162° 16 min
Wyong to Sydney Newcastle Freeway (F3) 102.45 km     2 hr 25 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.

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