Middle Head
Download & Print Map and Notes
1 Hr
1.9 km Circuit
101 m
Moderate track
(0km) Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd → Middle Head Fort
770 m
15 mins
24m
-18m
Moderate track
From the intersection of Chowder Bay and Middle Head Rd, this walk heads down through the car park to the far end, where there are signs. The walk heads along the fenceline passing the Sydney Harbour NP sign. The fencline is followed as it tends right, coming to a gate.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads through the gate, keeping the view of the water to the right of the track. Note that if the gate is closed, visitors can walk around the right-hand side of the fence. The walk then follows the fenceline, (on the left of the track), to then continue up a small hill along the fenceline and to a short stone wall. The walk continues over the stone wall to the fork in the road.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads gently uphill along the signposted and asphalt ‘Old Fort Rd’[1], initially keeping the toilet to the right and ‘Barracks No.1’[2] to the left. After about 130m the old road heads over a rise and then leads down between the metal bollards[3] to come to an intersection in a large clearing beside a row large gun timber brackets (bases)[4], marked with a ‘Middle Head’ sign[5]
Continue straight: From beside the row of large gun timber brackets (bases)[6], this walk heads downhill for 50m along the wide gravely trail[7] towards the water to come the large network of concrete and sandstone forts and gun emplacements[8][9][10]. The area can be explored, taking care of cliff edges and large potential falls into the fortifications.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads through the gate, keeping the view of the water to the right of the track. Note that if the gate is closed, visitors can walk around the right-hand side of the fence. The walk then follows the fenceline, (on the left of the track), to then continue up a small hill along the fenceline and to a short stone wall. The walk continues over the stone wall to the fork in the road.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads gently uphill along the signposted and asphalt ‘Old Fort Rd’[1], initially keeping the toilet to the right and ‘Barracks No.1’[2] to the left. After about 130m the old road heads over a rise and then leads down between the metal bollards[3] to come to an intersection in a large clearing beside a row large gun timber brackets (bases)[4], marked with a ‘Middle Head’ sign[5]
Continue straight: From beside the row of large gun timber brackets (bases)[6], this walk heads downhill for 50m along the wide gravely trail[7] towards the water to come the large network of concrete and sandstone forts and gun emplacements[8][9][10]. The area can be explored, taking care of cliff edges and large potential falls into the fortifications.
Outer Middle Head Battery
The Outer Middle Head Battery is the main complex in the Middle Head Fortifications. Work for building the fortifications started in 1801 and the last batteries were constructed in 1942, with the majority of the work being done 1870 and 1911 . There is a network of tunnels and rooms underground that was build to support the gunning placements to protect Sydney Harbour from enemy invasion. There are formal tours available or you can take care and explore the area yourself.
(0.77km) Middle Head Fort → Disappearing Gun Pit South
270 m
5 mins
4m
-7m
Moderate track
Turn around: From the Middle Head Fort complex, this walk heads gently uphill away from the concrete and sandstone forts and gun emplacements[12][13][14] along the wide gravel trail[15] for about 50m to come to an intersection in a large clearing beside a row large gun timber brackets (bases)[16], marked with a ‘Middle Head’ sign[17].
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the built-up forts and road, to cross the clearing to the signposted ‘Inner Middle Head Forts’. The track follows the arrow on this sign for approximately 200m through the bush to a sunken concrete fort on the right.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the built-up forts and road, to cross the clearing to the signposted ‘Inner Middle Head Forts’. The track follows the arrow on this sign for approximately 200m through the bush to a sunken concrete fort on the right.
(1.03km) Disappearing Gun Pit South → Disappearing Gun Pit North
100 m
2 mins
0m
-18m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the southern fort (surrounded by bush), this walk winds right, away from the fort keeping the sea on the right of the track. The track quickly leads to an intersection near the fort at the sea cliff.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads along the clear dirt track[18] towards the distant water view between two long sandstone trenches[19]. After 60m this walk heads across the grassy section[20] to come to the top edge of the northern Disappearing Gun Pit[21][22] beside the ocean cliffs[23]. Take extra care as the ground slopes towards the gun pit and cliff edges – stay 2 body lengths back from any significant drop.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads along the clear dirt track[18] towards the distant water view between two long sandstone trenches[19]. After 60m this walk heads across the grassy section[20] to come to the top edge of the northern Disappearing Gun Pit[21][22] beside the ocean cliffs[23]. Take extra care as the ground slopes towards the gun pit and cliff edges – stay 2 body lengths back from any significant drop.
(1.13km) Disappearing Gun Pit North → Middle Head Oval NE Gate
570 m
16 mins
48m
-42m
Moderate track
Turn around: From the Disappearing Gun Pit[24][25], this walk heads uphill along the wide grassy[26] then dirt track[27] for about 60m. The track leads between to sandstone trenches and comes to an unsignposted intersection with another track at the top of the sandstone trench/fort[28] (on the left).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads directly away from the water views and sandstone forts, along a mostly flat but clear dirt track for about 90m to pass the sign pointing back to ‘Inner Middle Head Forts’[29]. About 10m after this sign the walk comes to an intersection beside a white metal pole fence[30] and the sealed Governors Rd[31].
Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the grass hill beside the old house, keeping the house on the left. The track then turns left and down the hill with the fence, to continue along the fenceline. Near the end of the fence, the track turns right, down the hill and comes to a management trail.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads uphill along the wide gravel trail. After about 20m the trail narrows for about 5m (to 90cm) to pass a pile of spoil[32] then continues up for another 110m coming to a grassy area beside the ‘Sydney Harbour National Park’ sign[33], with an arrow point back down ‘Cobblers Beach Road’.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads along the line of the cyclone fence, on the left, for approximately 150m to the gate in the white picket fence of Middle Head Oval, near the ‘Middle Head’ sign.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads directly away from the water views and sandstone forts, along a mostly flat but clear dirt track for about 90m to pass the sign pointing back to ‘Inner Middle Head Forts’[29]. About 10m after this sign the walk comes to an intersection beside a white metal pole fence[30] and the sealed Governors Rd[31].
Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the grass hill beside the old house, keeping the house on the left. The track then turns left and down the hill with the fence, to continue along the fenceline. Near the end of the fence, the track turns right, down the hill and comes to a management trail.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads uphill along the wide gravel trail. After about 20m the trail narrows for about 5m (to 90cm) to pass a pile of spoil[32] then continues up for another 110m coming to a grassy area beside the ‘Sydney Harbour National Park’ sign[33], with an arrow point back down ‘Cobblers Beach Road’.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads along the line of the cyclone fence, on the left, for approximately 150m to the gate in the white picket fence of Middle Head Oval, near the ‘Middle Head’ sign.
(1.7km) Middle Head Oval NE Gate → Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd
170 m
5 mins
25m
-12m
Easy track
Turn left: From the gate, this walk heads across the oval to the far side, next to the baseball nets.
Veer left: From the gate, this walk heads to the intersection of Middle Head Road and Chowder Bay Road.
Veer left: From the gate, this walk heads to the intersection of Middle Head Road and Chowder Bay Road.
Maps for the Middle Head 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 Middle Head bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Middle Head
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 | 1.9 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
1.5km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 240m has short steep hills. The remaining (170m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 1.2km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 630m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 1.2km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 630m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 1.9km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 1.9km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 1.2km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 660m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Middle Head walk starts and ends at the Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd (gps: -33.827793, 151.26147)Your transport options to Int. Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/1d
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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