Martins Lookout Loop Walk
Download & Print Map and Notes6 hrs 30 mins
842 m
Hard track
Springwood
(0km) Springwood Station → No. 18 Sassafras Gully Rd
1.2 km
23 mins
35m
-38m
Very easy
(1.19km) No. 18 Sassafras Gully Rd → Int. Victory and Sassafras Gully Trks
1.4 km
33 mins
28m
-186m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads down the hill, keeping the rock outcrop on the left. The walk passes a track on the left (which heads over the rock outcrop) and turns down the hill. As the walk winds down the hill, a few smaller tracks are passed before nearing a creek. The walk crosses the creek a few times as it heads down the gully to a larger creek junction. The walk crosses the junction, then follows the larger gully, soon coming to a ‘Sassafras Gully Rd’ sign (pointing back the way you came)[4].
(2.59km) Int. Victory and Sassafras Gully Trks → Perch Ponds camping area
3.1 km
1 hr 5 mins
80m
-147m
Hard track
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the direction of the ‘Perch Ponds’ sign[8] across the hillside. The walk soon nears the creek on the left, then undulates above it for a short while. The track crosses a steeply banked creek junction, then continues following the main creek (which is on the left). The walk stays near this creek, coming into a campground clearing with large boulders.
Continue straight: From the campground clearing, the walk exits the clearing, keeping the main creek to the right, and immediately crosses a side creek. The walk keeps the main creek on the right as it slowly climbs the hillside. The track then heads downhill, passing under a few rock overhangs and soon entering the campground clearing of ‘Perch Ponds’.
Perch Ponds Campsite
(5.69km) Perch Ponds camping area → Martins camping area
1.2 km
27 mins
51m
-67m
Hard track
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows direction of the ‘Long Track’ sign, down the hill. The track winds down near the creek and passes a sandy beach access before soon entering a second clearing.
Martins campsite
(6.86km) Martins camping area → Int. Martins Lookout and Bunyan Lookout Trk
230 m
6 mins
13m
-14m
Moderate track
(7.09km) Int. Martins Lookout and Bunyan Lookout Trk → Bunyan Lookout
960 m
38 mins
222m
-25m
Experienced only
Bunyan Lookout
(7.09km) Int. Martins Lookout and Bunyan Lookout Trk → Martins Lookout
530 m
26 mins
180m
-2m
Hard track
Martins Lookout
(7.62km) Martins Lookout → Int. Martins Falls and Magdala Ck trks
1.7 km
1 Hr
160m
-273m
Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads towards the bottom of the rocky outcrop. The track heads across the hillside under the rocky outcrop and then turns left, descending the hill steeply. The walk winds down the hill for a short time to a signposted intersection.
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the direction of the ‘Springwood Stn Via…’ sign across the hillside. The walk keeps the valley to the left as it winds down near the creek, on the left. The walk continues down across the creek to immediately lead up the hill into the clearing of Perch Ponds. The walk crosses the clearing to the signs at the other side.
Turn right: From Perch Ponds, the walk follows the ‘Magdala Gully-Fairy Dell’ sign[9], up the hill. The track winds up the hillside for a short time, keeping the creek on the right, then comes to a ‘Martins Falls’ sign[10].
(9.33km) Int. Martins Falls and Magdala Ck trks → Behind Martins Falls
30 m
1 mins
1m
-2m
Hard track
Martins Falls
(9.33km) Int. Martins Falls and Magdala Ck trks → Int. Lawsons Lookout Trk and Fairy Dell Trk
3.5 km
1 hr 14 mins
206m
-105m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk keeps the valley on the right as it heads up the hill. The walk winds up the hill, crossing the creek after some time. The walk continues up the hill, now with the creek on the left, to an intersection, with arrows engraved in the rock.
Turn left : From the intersection engraved with arrows[11], the walk heads down across the creek. The track then keeps the Magdala Creek on the left before crossing for the first of many times. The walk continues up along Magdala Creek and crosses a rock shelf below some small falls, coming to a ‘Lawson’s Lookout’ sign[12].
(12.86km) Int. Lawsons Lookout Trk and Fairy Dell Trk → Lawsons Lookout
410 m
11 mins
39m
-11m
Hard track
Lawsons Lookout
(12.86km) Int. Lawsons Lookout Trk and Fairy Dell Trk → Int. Fairy Dell and Picnic Point Tracks
140 m
3 mins
13m
-1m
Moderate track
(13km) Int. Fairy Dell and Picnic Point Tracks → Picnic Point
160 m
6 mins
33m
-2m
Hard track
Picnic Point
(13km) Int. Fairy Dell and Picnic Point Tracks → Fairy Dell Reserve picnic area
390 m
9 mins
44m
-5m
Hard track
Fairy Dell Reserve picnic area
(13.39km) Fairy Dell Reserve picnic area → Int. Springwood Ave and Fairy Dell Reserve
150 m
3 mins
21m
0m
Easy track
(13.53km) Int. Springwood Ave and Fairy Dell Reserve → Springwood Station
270 m
5 mins
11m
-4m
Very easy
Maps for the Martins Lookout Loop Walk walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Springwood | 1:25 000 Map Series | 90304S SPRINGWOOD | NSW-90304S |
Penrith | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9030 PENRITH | 9030 |
Cross sectional view of the Martins Lookout Loop Walk bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Martins Lookout Loop Walk
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length | 13.8 km | ||
Time | 6 hrs 30 mins | ||
. | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
Signs | Minimal directional signs (4/6) | ||
Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
6km of this walk is very steep and another 6km has short steep hills. Whilst another 1.5km is flat with no steps and the remaining 150m has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
7km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and another 4.8km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (1.6km) follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
7km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 4.8km has minimal directional signs. The remaining (1.7km) is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 14km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 14km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
6km of this walk has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) and another 5km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced). The remaining (2.1km) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Martins Lookout Loop Walk walk starts and ends at the Springwood Station (gps: -33.699107, 150.5638)Your transport options to Springwood Station are by;
Train. (get details)
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Central Tablelands weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/mllw
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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