Artillery track
Malabar Headland National Park
Overview
Artillery track is in Malabar Headland National Park along Boora Point walking track. Experience Sydney’s historic heritage and see the gun emplacements and rail tracks that formed part of the Malabar Battery.
Starting at South Maroubra and the Arthur Byrne Reserve carpark, follow Boora Point walking track for 2km and then turn right onto Artillery track.
Artillery track extends for almost 600m through one of the largest surviving areas of endangered eastern suburbs banksia scrub, protected within this park.
The trail features historic heritage with Word War II gun emplacements built in 1941 and 1942 to defend Sydney. This command post was manned by members of the Australian Women’s Army Service for a time.
In addition to gun emplacements, the battery includes a 4-level observation post tower and other structures. The 2-gun emplacement posts were connected to the observation post by a sandstone trench. Today you can see the clear tracks of the railway that once carried arsenal as you walk through it.
The Malabar Battery became redundant after WWII and the historic structures contain shafts and other hazards, so please stay on the walking track and supervise children on your visit. The structures also serve as important habitat for eastern bent-wing bats, a protected species which should not be disturbed.
When you reach the end of the trail, retrace your steps the way you came, or re-join Boora Point walking track and continue south to Malabar Beach or north to Maroubra Beach.
If you a prefer a longer walk, continue around to Western Escarpment walking track to make your way back to Arthur Byrne Reserve carpark.
Accessibility
Artillery track has several steps and uneven surfaces so it is difficult to access for people who use wheelchairs.
Nearby
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Boora Point walking track
Explore spectacular coastline views in Malabar Headland National Park on Boora Point walking track. Only 30 minutes from Sydney city, you’ll find epic sandstone cliffs, whale watching opportunities and swimming spots.
These maps give a basic overview of park attractions and facilities, and may not be detailed enough for some activities. We recommend that you buy a topographic map before you go exploring.
Map
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Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/artillery-track/local-alerts
Park info
- in Malabar Headland National Park in the Sydney and surrounds region
Eastern section: Often closed because of the ANZAC rifle range operation. Closed every Saturday and every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Check local alerts and safety messages before visiting.
Western section: Open all year but may close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Artillery track.
Maps and downloads
Learn more
Artillery track is in Malabar Headland National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Ancient landscapes
Malabar Headland National Park is part of the traditional land of the Bidjigal and Gadigal People. Malabar Headland is a significant area (Bora Ground) for Aboriginal people. The word Bora is used throughout Eastern Australia to describe an initiation site or ceremony.
Plants a plenty
Alive with wildflowers in spring, Malabar Headland contains the last known population of the once extensive Port Jackson mallee in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. It’s also home to the eastern suburbs banksia scrub – one of the most critically endangered ecological communities in NSW. The park supports at least 7 distinct plant communities and this diversity of habitats is only matched in the eastern suburbs in Kamay Botany Bay National Park.
- Western Escarpment walking track Get back to nature on Western Escarpment walking track in Sydney's Malabar Headland National Park, near Maroubra. This short track through native heath boasts coastal views, bird life and wildflowers.
Dramatic cliffs
Malabar Headland is home to many of the pre-colonial landscapes that once occurred throughout the eastern suburbs. You’ll find coastal rock platforms, sea cliffs and headlands in the eastern section, and sandstone escarpments and remnants of aeolian sand dunes in the western section. These were believed to have been formed as a result of the last major glacial period.
Walk the coast
If you’re keen for a walk with never-ending ocean views as your backdrop, follow the rugged coastal cliffs along Boora Point walking track which links to the iconic eastern beaches coastal walk. During whale watching season, you might even spot a whale or two on their annual migration.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)
Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.
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Eastern bentwing-bat (Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis)
Eastern bentwing-bats congregate in caves across the east and north-west coasts of Australia, in colonies of up to 150,000. These small Australian animals weigh around 13-17g and can reach speeds of up to 50km per hour. Eastern bentwing-bats use both sight and echolocation to catch small insects mid-air.
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Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
The humpback whale has the longest migratory path of any mammal, travelling over 5000km from its summer feeding grounds in Antarctica to its breeding grounds in the subtropics. Its playful antics, such as body-rolling, breaching and pectoral slapping, are a spectacular sight for whale watchers in NSW national parks.
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White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.
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Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.