Dobroyd Head Walk
Download & Print Map and Notes
1 Hr
2.5 km Circuit
109 m
Hard track
Arabanoo Lookout
Arabanoo Lookout provides great views over Port Jackson, North Harbour and to Manly. The lookout also has some interesting information signs and plarques[1][2][3][4][5] providing information on the significance of the area. There are two large stone seats at the lookout.
This lookout is named after Arabanoo, an Aboriginal man kidnapped in December 1788, by British marines on Governor Phillips orders. The Governor believed that this was justified as he wished to facilitate communication between the British and the Aborigines. Arabanoo lived in the company of the Europeans until the 18th May 1789 where he died due to smallpox infection.
(0km) Int. Dobroyd Scenic Dr and Arabanoo Trk → Reef Beach platform
1 km
21 mins
7m
-85m
Moderate track
From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Manly’ and ‘The Spit’ sign down the hill. The track winds down through bush which quickly becomes heath. The heath becomes short and thins out on the left, before the walk comes to an intersection, with a sign pointing back to ‘Arabanoo Lookout’.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Manly’ sign down the hill. The track winds slightly as it heads down the spur, with low heath and views of Manly most of the way down, coming to a clear rock shelf. The walk then continues with thick green heath on the right and less dense heath on the left, before coming to the signposted intersection.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Manly via Reef Beach’ sign down the hill to a fenced lookout. From the lookout, the track heads further along the hillside to wind down past some more views. The track soon passes by a large rock shelf, as it comes close to the water and then comes to a boardwalk with bench seat behind Reef Beach.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Manly’ sign down the hill. The track winds slightly as it heads down the spur, with low heath and views of Manly most of the way down, coming to a clear rock shelf. The walk then continues with thick green heath on the right and less dense heath on the left, before coming to the signposted intersection.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Manly via Reef Beach’ sign down the hill to a fenced lookout. From the lookout, the track heads further along the hillside to wind down past some more views. The track soon passes by a large rock shelf, as it comes close to the water and then comes to a boardwalk with bench seat behind Reef Beach.
Reef Beach
Reef Beach is a strip of sand facing north-east, towards the Manly Ferry Terminal in North Harbour. The beach is in Sydney Harbour National Park and has toilet facilities about 80m behind the beach. The beach was once a nudist beach, but clothing is no longer optional. The beach is fairly well protected from surf and provides a great place to rest and enjoy the views when walking around Dobroyd Head.
(1.03km) Reef Beach platform → Dobroyd Head Sign
460 m
11 mins
38m
-10m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, keeping the water on the right. The track soon passes a toilet block on the left and then flattens out before coming to the signposted intersection with the high-tide alternate route on the left.
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the sign for ‘Alternate route to Manly during Hightides’, heading up the alternate rock and wooden steps. The walk passes an interesting sandstone feature on the left before leading up to a flat section of track. The walk soon comes to a sign posted intersection.
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the sign for ‘Alternate route to Manly during Hightides’, heading up the alternate rock and wooden steps. The walk passes an interesting sandstone feature on the left before leading up to a flat section of track. The walk soon comes to a sign posted intersection.
(1.5km) Dobroyd Head Sign → Int. Dobroyd Scenic Dr and Arabanoo Trk
980 m
20 mins
64m
-14m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign ‘Dobroyd Head’, leading up a few stairs then following the hillside for a while. The track continues to an area where the heath on the right is thin and fallen over, however, on the left, it is thick and green. From here the track soon comes to a signposted intersection.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘The Spit’, up the hill. The track heads up the hill, with the heath on the right becoming thicker as the track gains altitude. As the track winds up the hill, it reaches a rock platform with great views over Manly, before continuing up to the signposted intersection with track to Arabanoo Lookout to the right.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Arabanoo Lookout’ up the hill. The track heads up the hill, with the heath becoming thicker bushland towards the top, where the track then meets Dobroyd Scenic Drive.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘The Spit’, up the hill. The track heads up the hill, with the heath on the right becoming thicker as the track gains altitude. As the track winds up the hill, it reaches a rock platform with great views over Manly, before continuing up to the signposted intersection with track to Arabanoo Lookout to the right.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Arabanoo Lookout’ up the hill. The track heads up the hill, with the heath becoming thicker bushland towards the top, where the track then meets Dobroyd Scenic Drive.
Tania Park
Tania Park is home to a large oval[7], and is found on Dobroyd Scenic Dr, Balgowlah Heights. This oval can be accessed on the Manly to Spit walking track and is home to the start of the Arabanoo Lookout path. The oval has basic facilities at the western edge such as toilets[8][9], children’s playground [10], drinking water [11], BBQ [12] and picnic tables [13].
Maps for the Dobroyd 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.
| Sydney Heads | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91302N SYDNEY HEADS | NSW-91302N |
| Sydney | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9130 SYDNEY | 9130 |
Cross sectional view of the Dobroyd Head Walk bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Dobroyd 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 | 2.5 km | ||
| Time | 1 Hr | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| 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
1.5km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 900m has short steep hills. The remaining (110m) is very steep.
Quality of track
Around 2km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 460m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 1.6km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 900m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 2.5km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 2.5km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 1.6km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 860m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Dobroyd Head Walk walk starts and ends at the Int. Dobroyd Scenic Dr and Arabanoo Trk (gps: -33.80836, 151.2688)Your transport options to Int. Dobroyd Scenic Dr and Arabanoo Trk are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/dhw
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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