Fairfax walk
Sydney Harbour National Park
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Fairfax walk.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
1km loop
Time
30min - 1hr
Quality of markings
Clearly sign posted
Experience required
No experience required
Gradient
Flat
Quality of path
Well-formed track: There's a section at the start of the walk that's concrete, then the rest of the walk is along an asphalt path. The track is 2m wide along its length.
Steps
No steps: There are no steps along Fairfax walk. There is a sandstone staircase up to Burragula lookout, but you can also reach the lookout platform via a flat concrete pathway.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Fairfax walk starts at the North Head precinct of Sydney Harbour National Park.
To get there, take Sydney Road to Manly, then take Darley Road onto North Head Scenic Drive.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
There's an asphalt carpark at the start of the walk. The carpark includes 2 accessible parking spaces.
Facilities
There are no toilets along Fairfax walk. The nearest toilets are behind Bella Vista Cafe, opposite the North Head Sanctuary Visitor Centre, Manly (Sydney Harbour Federation Trust). The toilets are accessible and can be reached along a concrete footpath.
Seats and resting points
There are seats and resting points at the 2 lookouts along the walk:
- Burragula lookout has sandstone seating with a backrest
- Yiningma lookout has sandstone block seating without backrests or armrests
There's also one small sandstone seat along the walk and a timber bench with a backrest at the start of the walk.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
Fairfax walk is flat and step-free. The walk loops around North Head along a sealed asphalt pathway, with a concrete section at the start of the track.
There are 2 lookouts along the walk, with seats and resting points:
- Burragula lookout has sandstone seating with a backrest
- Yiningma lookout has sandstone block seating without backrests or armrests
There's also one small sandstone seat along the walk and a timber bench with a backrest at the start of the walk.
The asphalt carpark at the start of the walk has 2 accessible parking spaces.
Prohibited
Drones
Flying a drone for recreational purposes is prohibited in this area. Drones may affect public enjoyment, safety and privacy, interfere with park operations, or pose a threat to wildlife. See the Drones in Parks policy.
This area may be a declared Drone Exclusion Zone, or may be subject to Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) rules for flying near airports, aerodromes and helicopter landing sites. See CASA's Drone Flyer Rules.
Commercial filming and photography
Commercial filming or photography is prohibited without prior consent. You must apply for permission and contact the local office.
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Operated by
- Middle Head office
- Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm.
- 02 9960 6266
- npws.sydneynorth@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 2 Governors Road, Mosman NSW 2088
Park info
- in Sydney Harbour National Park in the Sydney and surrounds region
Sydney Harbour National Park is open sunrise to sunset but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
Bradleys Head: $8 per vehicle per day. North Head: $5 per vehicle per day. Tap and pay card or phone payments accepted at pay machines. Coin payment available at Fairfax carpark machines only. Chowder Bay: Monday-Friday: $3 per hour, to a maximum of $16 per day. Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: $4 per hour, to a maximum of $20 per day. If you hold an NPWS All Parks or Multi Parks Pass, you can park free for up to four hours per day - additional time can be purchased. Car parks operated by Sydney Harbour Federation Trust or Mosman Council are not covered by your pass. Please check signs carefully. Park’nPay: You can also pay for your visit to any area via the Park’nPay app.
Other fees:
Landing fees or tour fees apply to visit Sydney Harbour islands. All public visitors to Shark, Clark or Rodd Island, need to pay a $7 per person landing fee. To arrange, please contact 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS). Annual NSW Parks Passes do not cover landing fees.
Buy annual pass