Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW

A short walk from Patonga on the NSW Central Coast up to view points over the scenic Hawkesbury River just north of Sydney.

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW

I’d never been to Patonga before, a sleepy village at the southern border of the Central Coast, just over the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney. It’s a very pretty and chilled out area, with one restaurant/bar on the waterfront. There’s also a bushwalking track that ascends about 160m over 2 to 3 kilometres from the beach to a trig point. The forest is nice, and there’s a couple of spots along the way with good views, including an official lookout, Warrah Lookout.

Afterwards I walked with friends along the foreshore around Dark Corner to a beach I saw from up high. A nice little addition with some interesting rock formations and various bird life.

Track Notes

You start on the Dark Corner Track, then turn right onto the Pearl Beach Patonga Firetrail until you reach Warrah Lookout. You can extend the walk by going on to Pearl Beach, but I walked along Doyles Track to the car park near the trig, where friends had parked their car. Overall short but steep-ish in places. The walk forms a short section of the long-distance Great North Walk. There are track notes on Wildwalks.

Patonga to Warrah Trig: The Scenery

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
A kookaburra welcoming us to Patonga.

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
Patonga Beach

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
A cycad on the way up the hill.

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
An interesting rock overhang that I came across accidentally when I walked off track maybe 30 metres. Near the top if you want to find it.

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
Patonga and Brisk Bay.

 

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
Looking out towards Barrenjoey Head, West head and Palm Beach at the very northern edge of Sydney.

 

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
Australian wildflowers are quite interesting.

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
Purple Flag

 

A drumstick

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
Patonga Beach

 

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
A plover. These birds used to dive bomb me and my school friends as we walked home over the playing fields behind our school. I suspect their nests were nearby and it was hatching season. Australia has aggressive birds.

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
Interesting rock patterns at the northern end of Patonga Beach.

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
At the northern end of Patonga Beach.

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
Not seen one of these before.

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
Quite a few pelicans about.

 

Patonga to Warrah Trig, Central Coast NSW
Not often I get such a clear in-focus shot of a bird. This Kookaburra was quite tame, and was hanging around the children’s  play area on Patonga Beach.

 

 

Author: Edward Hathway

I'm a clinical psychologist and keen hiker.

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