Bradleys Head Walk

HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast

The HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast was erected in 1934, following the HMAS Sydney’s decommissioning in 1928. The mast stands as a sign of respect for ‘Australian officers, sailors and ships lost at sea and in combat’[2]. HMAS Sydney itself was a Chatham Class light cruiser which saw action in WW1. More info.

(0km) HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head → Athol Hall

740 m
18 mins
49m
-31m

Moderate track

From the intersection, this walk heads to the end of the car park, with Sydney Harbour to the left. The walk continues to the intersection with Bradleys Head amphitheatre.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads along the hillside, with the amphitheatre and harbour on the left, for approximately 10m to the intersection signposted as the way to ‘Cannons Picnic Area’.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads around the hillside, keeping the water below on the left. After a few hundred meters, there is a seat overlooking Sydney Harbour. This walk continues around for another 400m, undulating with the boardwalk, to meet the signposted stairs to ‘Athol Hall’.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Athol Hall’ up the stairs, crossing a large grassy area. The walk then continues up to Athol Hall entrance.

Athol Hall

Athol Hall, built in 1908, was once a hotel. Sections of the original building date back to the 1800’s. The hall has an excellent vantage point over the harbour with the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and city all well within its scope. Athol Hall today is a cafe and function centre with the cafe open Tues-Fri and Sun, 11am -3pm. More info.

(0.74km) Athol Hall → Athol Hall car park

100 m
2 mins
5m
0m

Easy track

Turn left: From the entrance to Athol Hall, this walk heads up the hill, with the views of Sydney Harbour on the left. The walk continues up the road, where it crosses to the parking toll booth.

(0.84km) Athol Hall car park → Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track

110 m
2 mins
0m
-10m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the corner of Bradley Head Rd and the car park, this walk heads down the hill just behind the parking pay booth. The track meanders down the hill to a signposted intersection.

(0.95km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track → Taylors Bay Lookout

50 m
1 mins
0m
-6m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads away from the main tracks winding into the bush. The track winds past two white benches, to a small rock shelf overlooking the water. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.

(0.95km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track → HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head

790 m
17 mins
29m
-42m

Easy track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Bradleys Head’ sign along the hillside, keeping the water glimpses to your left. After about 600m this track leads to a boardwalk which then leads to a road. Here the walk turns left to follow the footpath down the hill for about 150m, to the clearing with the HMAS Sydney’s mast, a car park and toilets.

Maps for the Bradleys Head 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.

Parramatta River	1:25 000 Map Series	91303N PARRAMATTA RIVER	NSW-91303N
Sydney	1:100 000 Map Series	9130 SYDNEY	9130

Cross sectional view of the Bradleys Head Walk bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Bradleys Head 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	1.7 km
		Time	1 Hr
		.
Grade 3/6 Moderate track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
		Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

950m of this walk is flat with no steps and another 610m has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (180m) has short steep hills.

Quality of track

Around 1.6km of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path, whilst the remaining 110m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 1.6km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 180m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 1.7km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 1.7km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 1.6km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 110m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Bradleys Head Walk walk starts and ends at the HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head (gps: -33.85306, 151.24632)
Your transport options to HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head are by;

Bus. (get details)

Car. Parking fees apply in the area.
(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 Metropolitan weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.

Forecast snapshot

Park Information & Alerts

Download Pdf

Open iPhone app

Short URL = http://wild.tl/1c

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 🙂

Bradleys Head Walk

HMAS Sydney Memorial Mast

(0km) HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head → Athol Hall

Moderate track

Athol Hall

(0.74km) Athol Hall → Athol Hall car park

Easy track

(0.84km) Athol Hall car park → Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track

Moderate track

(0.95km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track → Taylors Bay Lookout

Moderate track

(0.95km) Int. Borogegal Walking Trail and Taylors Bay Lookout track → HMAS Sydney Mast, Bradleys Head

Easy track

Maps for the Bradleys Head Walk walk

Cross sectional view of the Bradleys Head Walk bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Bradleys Head Walk

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Some more details of this walks Grading

Gradient

Quality of track

Signs

Experience Required

weather

Infrastructure

Similar walks

Other Nearby walks

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

Fire Danger

Weather Forest

Park Information & Alerts

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