Great North Walk: Heaton Gap to Teralba Station
Awabakal Country

5 h to 6 h
2 h to 3 h 30 min

14.8 km
oneway

↑ 402 m
↓ -535 m

Hard track
This section of the Great North Walk starts from Heaton Gap near the Watagan Forest Motel, and winds east, towards Newcastle. The walk passes through the Awaba State Forest and past the Sugarloaf Range, down into Wakefield and on to Teralba, a pleasant town on the edge of Lake Macquarie. Accommodation is available at both ends of this day walk allowing you to join it onto other sections of the Great North Walk inn to inn style. Let us begin by acknowledging the Awabakal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 
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Watagan Forest Motel. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Picnic area near Watagan forest Motel. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Start Of Track near Nigel Memorial rest. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Entrance near Branxton-toronto road. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Gap Road. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Trees you might see along the way. | Photo by admin, 2010.
View from Gap Road. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Interesting Artifacts in the Awaba Forest. | Photo by admin, 2010.
The view from Awaba Forest . | Photo by admin, 2010.
View From Awaba Forest. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Trail in the Awaba range. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Little yellow flower. | Photo by admin, 2010.
View From Awaba State Forest. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Following Awaba State Forest. | Photo by admin, 2010.
View from Brunkerville Range Trail. | Photo by admin, 2010.
A Sign pointing towards Mount Sugarloaf. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Walking along the trail. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Aubs Ridge Road. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Entering Sugarloaf State Conservation Area. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Warning cracked and harsh Roads due to Mine Subsidence. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Archery Road Freeway Underpass . | Photo by admin, 2010.
Great North Walk Track adjacent to Wakefield Road. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Great North Walk crossing through power line maintenance Road. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Great North Walk facing Wakefield road. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Yellow flower. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Looking down Wakefield Road. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Sign pointing towards Teralba. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Following Rhondda Road. | Photo by admin, 2010.
An intersection between Rhondda Road and Private Haul Road. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Rhondda Road. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Rhondda Road facing Railway Street. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Looking up at the Stairs at Teralba Station. | Photo by admin, 2010.
Teralba train station. | Photo by admin, 2010.
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Safer Bushwalks
Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
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Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start (-32.9652215,151.4793692)
Mode Car (There is free parking available.)
DirectionsFrom Pacific Motorway, M1
  • Turn on to Freemans Drive Exit then drive for 510 m
  • Keep left onto Freemans Drive Exit and drive for another 3.4 km
  • At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Freemans Drive, B82 and drive for another 2.3 km
Finish Teralba Station (-32.962395,151.6036812)
Mode (end) Car Shuttle   Bus   Car   (There is free parking available.) Train  
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
From the picnic area next to 'Watagan Forest Motel' (on Freemans Drive), this walk follows the 'Wakefield' sign gently up alongside Freemans Drive, away from the motel. The walk leads behind the safety barrier beside the road for about 400m, until coming to an intersection with an unsealed road marked with a 'Sugarloaf State Conservation Area' sign (on the left).
From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post, gently uphill along the dirt road, initially passing the 'Sugarloaf State Conservation Area' sign on your right. The walk continues for about 700m (with one steep uphill section), until leading down to an intersection with a track and GNW arrow marker, and a couple of timber fence posts (on the left).....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start heading along Leggetts Drive.
Find the picnic table at the start.
Find the Watagan Forest Motel at the start.
Watagan Forest Motel
Watagan Forest Motel

Watagan Forest Motel is located on Branxton-Toronto Road. This retro-style motel is located right on the Great North Walk. The motel offers six rooms for around $99 per night - each with a double bed (four rooms also have twin singles), a television, bathroom with shower, air conditioning, and breakfast included. Room service is available. Adjoining the motel is a service station, which also offers dining room meals as well as a small grocery selection (bread, milk, bottled water, rice, pasta, etc), open until 8:30pm daily. A rest area is situated next to the motel, with covered picnic tables and garbage bins. For further information, phone (02)4938 0149.
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Watagan Forest Motel is located on Branxton-Toronto Road. This retro-style motel is located right on the Great North Walk. The motel offers six rooms for around $99 per night - each with a double bed (four rooms also have twin singles), a television, bathroom with shower, air conditioning, and breakfast included. Room service is available. Adjoining the motel is a service station, which also offers dining room meals as well as a small grocery selection (bread, milk, bottled water, rice, pasta, etc), open until 8:30pm daily. A rest area is situated next to the motel, with covered picnic tables and garbage bins. For further information, phone (02)4938 0149.

After another 325 m (at the intersection of Leggetts Drive & Gap Road) veer left, to head along Gap Road (a vehicle track).
After another 790 m turn left.
After another 2 km continue straight, to head along Brunkerville Trail.
After another 1.2 km (at the intersection of Sugarloaf Range Road & Brunkerville Trail) continue straight, to head along Sugarloaf Range Road.
After another 350 m (at the intersection of Wakefield Forest Road & Sugarloaf Range Road) continue straight, to head along Wakefield Forest Road.
After another 620 m continue straight, to head along Wakefield Forest Road.
After another 480 m (at the intersection of Aubs Ridge Road & Wakefield Forest Road) continue straight, to head along Wakefield Forest Road.
After another 530 m continue straight, to head along Wakefield Forest Road.
After another 630 m continue straight, to head along Wakefield Forest Road.
After another 235 m continue straight, to head along Archery Road.
After another 90 m continue straight, to head along Archery Road.
After another 6 m (at the intersection of Aubs Pipeline Trail & Archery Road) continue straight, to head along Archery Road.
After another 40 m head through the tunnel (about 90 m long)
After another 20 m (at the intersection of Archery Road & Archery Road East) continue straight, to head along Archery Road.
After another 285 m continue straight, to head along Archery Road.
After another 9 m (at the intersection of Archery Road & Watagan Track) turn left, to head along Watagan Track (a vehicle track).
After another 950 m continue straight, to head along Watagan Track.
After another 145 m continue straight, to head along The Great North Walk.
After another 165 m (at the intersection of Wakefield Road & The Great North Walk) turn left, to head along Wakefield Road (a road).
After another 590 m find the "Eddie Peterson Memorial Park" (20 m on your left).
Eddie Peterson Memorial Park
Eddie Peterson Memorial Park

The Eddie Peterson Memorial Park on Wakefield Road is a fabulous place for a rest and a snack. There is a grassy area, toilet, water and shelter, all next to a community tennis court. Eddie Patterson Memorial Park is managed by the Lake Macquarie City Council as a public reserve. Near the memorial park there is a fire station and a school.
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The Eddie Peterson Memorial Park on Wakefield Road is a fabulous place for a rest and a snack. There is a grassy area, toilet, water and shelter, all next to a community tennis court. Eddie Patterson Memorial Park is managed by the Lake Macquarie City Council as a public reserve. Near the memorial park there is a fire station and a school.

At the intersection of Miller Road & Wakefield Road continue straight, to head along Wakefield Road.
After another 880 m (at the intersection of School Road & Wakefield Road) continue straight, to head along Wakefield Road.
After another 1 km (at the intersection of Rhondda Road & Wakefield Road) turn right, to head along Rhondda Road (a highway|tertiary).
After another 340 m continue straight, to head along Rhondda Road.
After another 260 m continue straight, to head along Rhondda Road.
After another 205 m continue straight, to head along Rhondda Road.
After another 2.4 km (at the intersection of Rhondda Road & Railway Street) turn left, to head along Railway Street (a highway|tertiary_link).
After another 250 m turn sharp right.
After another 35 m head up the steps (about 15 m long)
Then cross the bridge (about 15 m long)
Turn right, to head along StreetToTransitConnection.
Then head down the steps
Continue another 15 m to find Teralba Station at the end.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Great North Walk: Heaton Gap to Teralba Station


Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length 14.8 km
Time 5 h to 6 h
Quality of track Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient Very steep (4/6)
Signage Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route
Entity|rest area: There is one 9.5 km from the start.


Order of key facilities on route
ItemFrom StartName & link to notes
Entity|rest area
9.5 kmEddie Peterson Memorial Park
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