Nielsen Park Circuit
Download & Print Map and Notes
40 mins
1.8 km Circuit
54 m
Easy track
(0km) Greycliffe Ave Car Park → Nielsen Park Cafe
200 m
3 mins
0m
-7m
Very easy
From the lower end of the car park on Greycliffe Ave, this walk heads around the gate and along the sealed path (driveway) towards the water, passing the ‘Sydney Harbour National Park’ sign[1]. After ≈50m, the path leads to a four-way intersection just past the garbage bins.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads towards the water following the wide path[2]. The path soon bends left (near the toilet block, on the right[3]) and heads behind the beach, past the large information sign[4]. Soon the path heads over the ‘Dressing Pavilion’ tunnel[5] and, ≈50m later, comes to the front of the Nielsen Park Cafe[6] with it’s great water views[7].
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads towards the water following the wide path[2]. The path soon bends left (near the toilet block, on the right[3]) and heads behind the beach, past the large information sign[4]. Soon the path heads over the ‘Dressing Pavilion’ tunnel[5] and, ≈50m later, comes to the front of the Nielsen Park Cafe[6] with it’s great water views[7].
Shark Bay
Located at the northern end of Nielsen Park, this beach faces north across Sydney Harbour. The sandy beach offers a swimming net enclosure[8], public toilets[9][10] and change rooms[11], showers[12] and is a popular place for people to simply relax. The beach is a focal point of Nielsen Park and also boasts a cafe[13]. Protected by the harbour, there is no surf at this beach. The beach is not patrolled. This is a lovely spot, with natural shade not far from the beach.
Nielsen Park Cafe
Open 8-5 daily, this historic cafe offers inside seating and a range of meals, including breakfast, sandwiches and hot food. This is one of a number of buildings in Nielsen Park which are available for functions. For further enquiries, contact 9337 1574. More info.
(0.2km) Nielsen Park Cafe → Western end of Shark Bay
90 m
1 mins
1m
0m
Very easy
Continue straight: From Nielsen Park Cafe, this walk heads the short distance along the path in front of the cafe and behind the beach (keeping the water to your right)[14]. The path heads past the ‘William Albert Notting’[15] and ‘Niels R.W. Nielsen, MLA’[16] memorial[17] (on your left) to soon find a four-way intersection (at the base of some steps) at the eastern end of Shark Bay[18].
(0.28km) Western end of Shark Bay → Greycliffe House
90 m
3 mins
13m
0m
Easy track
Turn sharp left: From the intersection, this walk heads directly away from the water[19] and up the path then steps[20], towards the grand building on top of the hill (not following the ‘Hermitage Forest Walking track’ sign[21]). The path heads past the sandstone toilet block[22] (on your right) and then at the top of the hill, the path bends to the right, in front of the ‘Greycliffe House’ information sign[23], coming to the driveway and a four-way intersection, in front of Greycliffe House[24]. Now Continue straight to rejoin the main walk .
(0.28km) Western end of Shark Bay → Degaussing range
70 m
2 mins
11m
0m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Hermitage Foreshore Walking Track’ sign[25] up the stairs. The path soon flattens out though the open grassy area, and heads up a few more steps to come to an intersection with a road (driveway) next to the fenced degaussing range (on your right)[26].
Degaussing range
This degaussing range, found at Steele Point, was constructed in 1960 and is still operated by the Royal Australian Navy today. Degaussing is the process of removing (or at least reducing) a magnetic field. This degaussing range services four areas in the harbour (about 500m from the building), where metal ships passing over will be automatically de-magnetised. Why? Mostly to prevent the triggering of seabed mines. More info.
(0.35km) Degaussing range → Steele Point Gun Emplacement
50 m
1 mins
0m
-7m
Easy track
Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the driveway, keeping the degaussing range fence just to your left[30]. At the end of the driveway, the walk heads across the grass[31] to find the Steele Point Gun Emplacement[32] just behind the degaussing range. Beware of the unfenced drop into the emplacement[33]. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.
Steele Point Gun Emplacement
Construction of this initial emplacement took about three years and was completed in 1874. The sandstone pit once had a steel dome (to protect from shells) and was part of a series of gun emplacements protecting from the threat of invasion. Today, you will find a series of tall sandstone channels[35] and the circular pit where the main gun once stood[36]. A set of un-railed steps leads into the pit – please take care in the area, as the pit is not fenced.
(0.35km) Degaussing range → Greycliffe House
100 m
2 mins
4m
-2m
Very easy
Turn left: From the degaussing range, this walk follows the ‘Greycliffe House’ sign[37] along the road (driveway), following the tall hedge. The road soon leads past a small car park[38] and then bends right, entering into the grounds of Greycliffe House[39]. Just past the small sandstone wall[40], the road comes to a four-way intersection (with some steps on the right and an information sign on the left)[41].
Greycliffe House
Greycliffe House was completed in 1851 by John Reeve, son-in-law to the explorer W C Wentworth. The house was unoccupied between 1898 and 1911, when it was taken over by the State Government and used as a baby hospital and Tresillian mothercraft home in to the 1930s. Many of the plantings are from this era. Today, the building is home to the Sydney Harbour South office of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and is one of few remaining examples of gothic architecture in Sydney. More info.
(0.45km) Greycliffe House → NP Workshop driveway
540 m
12 mins
30m
-12m
Easy track
Turn right: From in front of Greycliffe House, this walk follows the ‘Vaucluse Rd Via Mt Trefle’ sign[43] up the steps. The track soon bends left and heads high past Greycliffe House and a ‘Surviving the City’ information sign[44]. The track then gently winds through the bush over Mt Trefle (the high point, but not very high), coming to a ‘Greycliffe House’ sign[45] pointing back along the track, just near the back of the fenced workshop. Here the walk continues to generally follow the fence around the NP workshop. Heading along the side of the workshop, there is a view of some houses on Vaucluse Rd. At the front of the workshop, this walk turns left to follow the driveway down to find a ‘T’ intersection with a wider road (driveway).
(0.99km) NP Workshop driveway → Boomgate on Vaucluse Rd
60 m
1 mins
0m
-3m
Very easy
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the wide driveway towards Vaucluse Rd and the boom gate[46] (Keeping the fence and grassy clearing on your right). The walk heads around the boom gate and past the ‘Sydney Harbour National Park – Nielsen Park’ sign[47], coming to an intersection with Vaucluse Rd.
(1.05km) Boomgate on Vaucluse Rd → Southern end of Nielsen Park
90 m
1 mins
1m
-3m
Easy track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Nielsen Park Entrance 400’ sign[48] along the side of Vaucluse Rd (or crosses to the footpath on the other side) and soon comes to an intersection at the top of some steps (on your left) at the southern end of Nielsen Park.
(1.13km) Southern end of Nielsen Park → Greycliffe Ave Car Park
630 m
11 mins
7m
-27m
Easy track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads down the steps[49], along the footpath and through the open park[50]. The walk ignores the side tracks and, after ≈210m, the path leads past an old house, then continues past more side tracks to find the back of the Nielsen Park Cafe[51]. Here, the walk heads to the front of the cafe[52] to find Shark Bay and the beach[53].
Turn right: From Nielsen Park Cafe, this walk heads along the path, keeping the beach and water to your left. After ≈50m, the path heads over the ‘Dressing Pavilion’ tunnel[54] and soon passes a large information sign[55]. At the sign, the path bends right and then comes to a four-way intersection near a large number of garbage bins[56].
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the wide sealed path (driveway) directly away from the water, past the garbage bins. The path soon leads past the ‘Sydney Harbour National Park’ sign[57] and through the gate to Greycliff Ave.
Turn right: From Nielsen Park Cafe, this walk heads along the path, keeping the beach and water to your left. After ≈50m, the path heads over the ‘Dressing Pavilion’ tunnel[54] and soon passes a large information sign[55]. At the sign, the path bends right and then comes to a four-way intersection near a large number of garbage bins[56].
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the wide sealed path (driveway) directly away from the water, past the garbage bins. The path soon leads past the ‘Sydney Harbour National Park’ sign[57] and through the gate to Greycliff Ave.
Maps for the Nielsen Park Circuit 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 Nielsen Park Circuit bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Nielsen Park Circuit
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 | 1.8 km | ||
| Time | 40 mins | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 2/6 Easy track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6) |
| Quality of track | Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6) | ||
| Signs | Clearly signposted (1/6) | ||
| Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
Around 1km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 720m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 1.1km of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path, whilst the remaining 630m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
This whole walk, 1.8km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 1.8km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 1.8km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 1.8km 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 Nielsen Park Circuit walk starts and ends at the Greycliffe Ave Car Park (gps: -33.850846, 151.26857)Your transport options to Greycliffe Ave Car Park are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/npc
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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