West Head Lookout
Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, Sydney, New South Wales
Hailed as having some of the best views in Sydney, West Head Lookout lets you soak up panoramic vistas of Lion Island Nature Reserve, Hawkesbury River, and the beaches of the central coast—to name just a few. Facing directly out from the lookout in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, you can also see Broken Bay on the left and Pittwater on the right, plus sparkling blue water and lighthouses perched on the headlands.
The calm McCarrs Creek flows directly next to the lookout, and you can walk down to the West Head Beach to enjoy a small stretch of golden sand. There are plenty of benches on the sandstone viewing area, on which you can sit and listen to birdsong and the sound of the waves below. West Head Lookout is often included on tours of Sydney’s Northern Beaches area, which comprises Manly Beach, Palm Beach, Church Point, and the historic Newport Arms.
It’s easy to access the lookout point from the main road, so it’s suited to both wheelchairs and strollers.
West Head Lookout is part of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, which is renowned for its variety of bird species—bring your binoculars to increase your chances of spotting a rare breed.
Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks, as there aren’t many shops near the lookout point.
From central Sydney, it’s a 1-hour drive to West Head Lookout via either the A3 or M2 roads. Another option is to take the 270 bus to Myoora Road part of the way, but you’ll need to take a taxi the remainder of the way, which is around 20 minutes from the final bus stop, and plan your transportation back.
During the daylight saving period in Australia (October through April), the lookout is open from early morning until the middle of the evening. For the rest of the year, it closes a couple of hours earlier. There’s not much shade here, so try to visit before 10am and after 2pm.
From West Head Lookout, you can access the Aboriginal Heritage walk, on which you’ll find Aboriginal engravings and rock art of great cultural significance. It’s an easy 1-hour walk that lets you delve deeper into local history, and passes an occupation shelter that Aboriginal people used to light fires in during the winter months.
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