Great North Walk

Stretching 250 kilometres from Sydney to Newcastle, the Great North Walk is one of Australia's great long-distance treks, winding through national parks, historic towns and dramatic Hawkesbury River gorges. It's a walk that reveals the ancient landscapes and colonial stories of New South Wales at a hiker's pace, with well-marked trails, camp sites and huts along the way.

Highlights & What to See

• Bouddi National Park – Coastal cliffs, secluded beaches and Aboriginal engraving sites make this a wild and beautiful section.
• Hawkesbury River – Cross the river by ferry at Wisemans Ferry, one of the oldest ferry crossings in Australia, and hike up to the historic Great North Road – a convict-built masterpiece.
• Mount Wondabyne – A steep climb rewards with sweeping views over the Hawkesbury River and the surrounding bushland.
• Patonga – A charming fishing village at the mouth of the Hawkesbury, perfect for a seafood lunch and a swim before heading inland.
• Congewai Valley – Lush rainforest pockets and waterfalls along the northern end of the walk, near the Hunter Valley wine region.
• Aboriginal heritage – Look for rock engravings, grinding grooves and shell middens that speak to millennia of Indigenous custodianship.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most walkers tackle the full route in 10 to 14 days, camping or staying in basic huts. If you only have a day, the best sections are the 12-kilometre stretch from Patonga to Mount Wondabyne or the easy Bouddi Coastal Walk (8 km return). For a self-drive itinerary, allow two to four days to sample the highlights, using the ferry at Wisemans Ferry as a natural break point.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Hunter Valley Wine Country – A short drive from the northern trailhead, it's the perfect reward after a long walk.
• Central Coast beaches – Avoca, Terrigal and The Entrance offer classic surf and sand for a post-hike recovery.
• Kuringgai Chase National Park – Aboriginal rock art and the Basin Track link directly to the walk's southern end.
• Wisemans Ferry – The historic settlement itself is worth a stop, with a pub, general store and the convict-built Great North Road nearby.
• Barrington Tops National Park – For a complete wilderness contrast, head north to ancient rainforests and alpine plateaus.

Please check official sources for current details.