Watagan Mountains

Difficulty: Difficulty 1.5/5 Suitable for: 4WD AWD 2WD Caravan Camper Motorhome Bike 
Watagan Mountains 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
FinishSydney Newcastle Freeway (F3)
Distance102.45 kmMinimum Days1
Average Speed42.35 km/hrDriving Time2 hrs 25 mins
Article By: ExplorOz Team | Page Updated: 17 Aug 2010

In this TrekNote

Description
Preparation
Related Travel Journals
Interactive Route Map
Camp Sites & Accommodation
Related Pages
Permits
Driving Directions
Related Shop Items
Things to See & Do
Trek Feedback

Go to top 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.

Go to top Interactive Route Map

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Watagan Mountains Help

From: Wyong
To: Sydney Newcastle Freeway (F3)

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Go to top Permits

No permits are needed for this trek note.

Go to top Things to See & Do

There are beautiful forest drives, lookouts, walking trails, as well as great bush camping and picnic spots.

Go to top Preparation

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolWyong Diesel4cyl 14 litres ULP4cyl 10 litres * LPG4cyl 20 litres
6cyl 16 litres6cyl 19 litres6cyl 18 litres
8cyl 16 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

Norah Head Aws
Distance from Trek Mid Point 18.02km SE
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 25.625.724.722.8 20.118.017.218.8 20.922.523.424.8
Mean Min. °C 19.519.918.715.8 13.210.99.710.5 12.814.816.718.4
Mean Rain mm 68.7105.4103.6127.6 161.3131.988.870.1 64.656.487.065.7
    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).

Go to top Camp Sites & Accommodation


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Go to top 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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Go to top Trek Feedback
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