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Great North walk - Watagans National Park

Watagans National Park

Open, check current alerts 

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Nearby alerts

Applies from Mon 2 Sep 2024, 4.54pm to Thu 30 Jan 2025, 4.54pm. Last reviewed: Mon 4 Nov 2024, 9.15am

Safety alerts: Major Roadworks in Jilliby State Conservation Area - ongoing

Major roadworks are ongoing in Jilliby State Conservation Area (Southern Precinct) and part of Ourimbah State Forest.

Partial and intermittent road closures should be expected. The roads that will be affected are:

  • Red Hill Road
  • Prestons Ridge Road
  • Bradleys Point Road
  • Campbells Point Road and
  • Tooheys Road.

Visitors are asked to avoid the area (if possible). Otherwise, please be aware of trucks and machinery using and working on the above roads and to drive to the conditions. Warning signs and traffic control will be in place. Work is expected to be completed by December 2024. The work is funded as part of the Fire Access and Fire Trail (FAFT) program aimed at providing safe and strategic fire trails for fire response and access.

For more information, please contact the NPWS Central Coast Area Office at Lake Munmorah on 02 4972 9000 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.

Affects 1 park nearby. Show list

Applies from Wed 23 Oct 2024, 2.50pm to Sat 30 Nov 2024, 3.06pm. Last reviewed: Wed 23 Oct 2024, 3.09pm

Closed areas: Sugarloaf SCA

Some parts of Sugarloaf State Conservation Area will be closed from Wednesday 23 October to Saturday 30 November 2024 while Road Maintenance is occurring. The closed areas are:

  • Quarry Trail
  • Ryhope Trail

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office (02) 4946 4100

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Applies from Tue 1 Oct 2024, 12.00am to Mon 31 Mar 2025, 11.59pm. Last reviewed: Fri 27 Sep 2024, 3.04pm

Fire bans: Wollemi-Yengo Reserves

A park fire ban is in place in this park and remains in effect unless otherwise extended or removed. During park fire ban periods, all campfire and solid fuel (wood, heat beads, charcoal, briquettes, hexamine) barbecues and stoves are prohibited. Gas and electric barbecues and cookers are permitted as long as:

  • They're under direct control of an adult
  • The ground within 2m of the barbecue is cleared of all flammable materials
  • There's an adequate supply of water (minimum of a bucket)

If a Total Fire Ban is in place, different rules apply. Contact the local park office before bringing a gas or electric barbecue or cooker.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information about fire bans in parks and reserves including your responsibilities, visit the NSW National Parks fire safety page.

Affects 3 parks nearby. Show list

Applies from Wed 8 Mar 2023, 9.09am. Last reviewed: Sat 2 Nov 2024, 8.42am

Closed areas: Muirs Lookout Picnic Area - Closed

Muirs Lookout Picnic Area on Prickly Ridge Road has been closed due to ageing infrastructure, obstructed lookout views to the coast and very low public visitation. Alternative picnic facilities are located nearby in Olney State Forest and Watagans National Park. Further information on other places to visit can be obtained via the NPWS or Forestry Corporation websites. 

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Fri 19 Jul 2024, 10.21am to Sat 19 Jul 2025, 10.21am. Last reviewed: Sun 17 Nov 2024, 11.15am

Closed areas: Gap Creek Forest Walk Closed

Gap Creek Forest Walk is closed due to the risk of landslip and rockfall.

Penalties apply for non-compliance.

For more information, contact NPWS Central Coast office on 02 4972 9000

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Wed 31 Jul 2024, 5.00pm to Sat 7 Dec 2024, 11.00pm. Last reviewed: Tue 22 Oct 2024, 11.59am

Safety alerts: Werakata National Park Closure for deer control shoot operation

Parts of Werakata National Park will be closed within a date range of 1700 (5pm) Wednesday 31st July 2024 to 2300 Saturday 7th December 2024 for deer control shoot operations preventing localised economic impacts and protecting Threatened Ecological Communities within the park.

 

When active the shoot operation area will be delignated by signage advising visitors “do not enter” at any time during the nighttime operation.

 

Penalties apply for non-compliance.

 

For more information, call the local park office on 02 4984 8200 or email conservation.hccb@environment.nsw.gov.au.

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Applies from Wed 13 Apr 2022, 10.37am. Last reviewed: Sat 9 Nov 2024, 4.11pm

Safety alerts: Prickly Ridge Road 4WD only

The section of Prickly Ridge Road between Watagan Forest Road and Cut-Rock Road is suitable for 4WD vehicles only.

To prevent further damage to the road and to protect visitor safety, please avoid this area and other trails in the reserve that are still slippery and potentially hazardous.  

For further information, please contact the Central Coast Area Office at Lake Munmorah on 02 4972 9000.

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Tue 7 Oct 2014, 1.53pm to Thu 7 Oct 2027, 11.00am. Last reviewed: Mon 14 Oct 2024, 11.31am

Closed areas: Parts of Sugarloaf State Conservation Area closed

Parts of Sugarloaf State Conservation Area are closed for approved underground mining operations. The affected areas (see map) have been closed to protect visitor safety, because they're subject to subsidence and remediation activities from the mining operations.

Great North walk remains open. An update will be provided should this situation change.

If you're visiting the park, please be aware of subsidence and pollution incidents that took place in 2013, which were greater than what was expected from normal mining operations. These included a cliff fall in the north, and a subsidence and grout leak incident in the central part of Sugarloaf State Conservation Area.

If you're planning to visit the park during this time, please stay on formed tracks and trails and observe all barriers, warning signs and safety messages. Areas subject to possible cliff fall or subsidence in both areas of the park are clearly marked.

For more information, call the NPWS Lower Hunter area office on 02 4946 4100. NSW National Parks safety page.

Affects 1 park nearby. Show list

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/great-north-walk-watagans-national-park/local-alerts

Park info

  • in Watagans National Park in the North Coast region
  • Watagans National Park is always open, but may have to close at times due to poor weather, roads closures or high fire danger.

See more visitor info

Emergency services

For all NSW fires visit the Rural Fire Service

For the latest information on wildfires in your area please contact the NSW Rural Fire Service.

View all alerts for NSW

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