Watagans National Park
Overview
Watagans National Park, one hour from Newcastle, offers stunning wilderness right on your doorstep: hiking, biking, lookouts, and quiet campgrounds for longer escapes.
Read more about Watagans National Park
Watagans National Park boasts some of the country’s finest rainforest scenery. Moss-covered walls and boulders, towering canopies of red cedar and Illawarra flame trees pepper the walking track to Gap Creek Falls. You can also expect extraordinary views down toward rainforest gullies at Monkey Face and Gap Creek lookouts.
The Watagan Mountains also house a rich cultural heritage; more than 40 Aboriginal sites highlight art and engraving techniques, and remnants from previous forestry operations showcase settlement history in the area.
Bangalow and Gap Creek campgrounds provide overnight comfort for those who wish to continue exploring; you can pitch a tent next to your car and take advantage of the free barbecue areas and picnic tables available to you.
Whether you arrive with a walking, cycling or 4WD tour in mind, remember to bring your sense of adventure as you’ll discover new things to do every time you visit.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/watagans-national-park/local-alerts
Contact
- 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.
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Lake Munmorah office
02 4972 9000
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4pm. - 1 Blue Wren Drive, Wybung NSW 2259
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Email: npws.centralcoast@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Lake Munmorah office
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Girrakool office
02 4320 4200
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, hours vary. - 59 Girrakool Rd, Somersby, NSW 2250
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Email: npws.centralcoast@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Girrakool office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Watagans National Park.
Map
Map legend
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Newcastle:
- Travel south along the F3 Expressway and take the Awaba exit at Ryhope
- Turn right onto Cessnock Road and then left onto Freemans Drive at Freemans Waterhole
- Turn right onto Mount Faulk Road from Freemans Drive just after crossing over the F3 expressway for the second time
- Follow Mount Faulk Road uphill into the park
From Gosford:
- Travel north along the F3 Expressway and take the Morriset/Coorangbong exit near Freemans Waterhole
- Turn left into Freemans Drive, and travel south to Martinsville Road on the left.
- Follow Martinville Road to Watagan Road on the left and follow uphill to Watagan Forest Road
- Turn right and follow approximately 6km to the park
From Cessnock:
- Travel from Cessnock to Kitchener and Quorrobolong via Quorrobolong Road
- Turn left into Sandy Creek Road and travel east for 5km
- Turn right into Heaton Road then onto Watagan Road (unsealed) which will bring you to the northern end of the Watagans
Parking
- Bangalow campground See on map
- Gap Creek campground See on map
- Monkey Face lookout See on map
Road quality
The roads in Watagans National Park are unsealed, and only some roads are accessible by 2WD in dry conditions only. For all other roads 4WD vehicles are recommended in all weather conditions. Gates and roads may be temporarily closed to prevent damage when wet. There is no long vehicle access. Please contact Lake Munmorah office on 02 4972 9000 for more information.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- Most roads require 4WD vehicle
Weather restrictions
- Dry weather only
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information
By public transport
There is no public transport to Watagans National Park.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Watagans National Park.
Spring
Camp at Gap Creek or Bangalow campground and enjoy a campfire as the sun sets.
Summer
Cooling off at Boarding House Dam is especially popular during summer months Enjoy the moist and cool Circuit walking track .
Winter
Late winter sees the bloom of Illawara flame trees which can be seen across the valley from Gap Creek lookout Check out the views from the various lookouts, while the air is crisp and clean .
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
16°C and 30°C
Highest recorded
44°C
Winter temperature
Average
5°C and 16°C
Lowest recorded
-6.7°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
December
Driest month
July
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
91.4mm
Facilities
Toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
Drinking water
Maps and downloads
Prohibited
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.
Nearby towns
Cessnock (18 km)
Some of the finest wines in the world are created in the Hunter Valley and its towns, gourmet food is acclaimed and luxury, boutique accommodations are matched by the most beautiful natural scenery.
Newcastle (49 km)
Newcastle is a harbour city surrounded by amazing surf beaches that are linked by a great coastal walk, the Bathers Way. The walk from Nobbys Beach to Merewether Beach takes about three hours and is a great way to explore the city.
Gosford (63 km)
Gosford is a great destination for a family day trip or holiday. It's situated on Brisbane Water National Park and surrounded by state forests, lakes and beaches.
Learn more
Watagans National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Fascinating Aboriginal landscapes
The park is of great importance to the Awabakal and Darkinjung People, and rare insights into art and engraving techniques have been found at over 40 recorded locations in the Watagan Range and surrounding lands. Given that there are only six known Aboriginal engraving sites in the wider Sydney region, this one is particularly noteworthy for its display of more than 100 abstract motifs carved into walls throughout the park.
Building a nation
Log chutes and old saw mill sites used during past forestry operations still stand among the plants as a testament to the region's rich settlement history. By the 1820s, a fertile timber industry had established itself, providing cedar and hardwood from the area to the building and growing coal mining industries. Increased timber production provided employment and wealth to the region, and you can still see relics from these operations throughout the park.
- Boarding House Dam picnic area A popular picnic spot with daytrippers in summer, Boarding House Dam picnic area offers all the amenities, as well as local history, paddling, and hiking opportunities.
- Turners walking track Steep and challenging, Turners walking track in Watagans National Park, near Cessnock, boasts rainforest views, historic heritage and superb birdwatching.
Breathtaking views
From Monkey Face lookout, there are spectacular views down over Martinsville Valley, and 6km along Georges Road to the north, Narrow Place lookout provides a 180-degree panorama toward Cessnock, Hunter Valley and beyond the Barrington Ranges. There are so many ways to enjoy the scenery, whether by horse riding, 4WD touring in the wetter months, mountain bike riding or pulling into a shaded picnic area to cool down after a walk.
- Boarding House Dam picnic area A popular picnic spot with daytrippers in summer, Boarding House Dam picnic area offers all the amenities, as well as local history, paddling, and hiking opportunities.
Blossoming rainforest
The area is rich in plant life, producing moist forests and a wealth of plant species. Mountain blue gums and blackbutt trees shelter the smaller brush cherry, climbing vines and tree ferns. Across late winter and into early spring, colourful orange-coloured banksias, brilliant purple happy wanderers, and the many hues of yellow wattle trees all flower in bright abundance.
- Circuit walking track Circuit walking track is a short walk near Newcastle. Plunging into rainforest, following the creek as it passes a dramatic moss-covered rock wall, this is a great place to visit.
- Great North walk - Watagans National Park The section of Great North walk in Watagans National Park features great scenic lookouts and wonderful birdwatching. It is best suited to experienced bushwalkers.
- Monkey Face lookout Monkey Face lookout provides excellent scenic views over the Martinsville Valley, with space for a picnic.
- The Narrow Place lookout For scenic views of Hunter Valley, you can't go past The Narrow Place lookout in Watagans National Park. Visit this historic lookout, near Cessnock, to go sightseeing or birdwatching.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Watagans National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. View the detailed park and fire management documents.