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Fairfax walk

Sydney Harbour National Park

Affected by closures, check current alerts 

Current alerts in this area

Last reviewed: Fri 9 June 2023, 4.16pm

Applies from Sat 17 Oct 2020, 10.59pm. Last reviewed: Fri 9 Jun 2023, 4.16pm.

Closed areas: North Head partial closure

Some parts of North Head in Sydney Harbour National Park are closed due to fire damage and geological instability. The closed areas include:

  • Bluefish Point
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant emergency access road

Do not enter the closed areas.

Open areas include:

  • Q Station
  • North Head Sanctuary and Bella Vista Cafe (entry via North Fort)
  • Parking areas at North Fort
  • The track between Shelly Beach and Bluefish Drive
  • Bluefish Drive to the Avenue of Honour
  • Collins Flat Beach
  • Collins Beach Road
  • Fairfax lookouts

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the National Parks Contact Centre on 1300 072 757 or Sydney North area office on 02 9451 3479 between 9.30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Applies from Thu 25 May 2023, 9.04am to Fri 16 Jun 2023, 6.00pm. Last reviewed: Fri 2 Jun 2023, 3.57pm.

Safety alerts: Notice of pest control operations

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be conducting a fox trapping program at North Head from Thursday 25 May to Friday 16 June 2023.

Please keep to marked trails and follow safety signage.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the local office.

Applies from Wed 5 Dec 2018, 7.23pm. Last reviewed: Sat 15 Apr 2023, 9.03am.

Other planned events: North Head Scenic Drive gate opening times

The North Head Scenic Drive gate opening times are:

  • From 1 October to 31 March - from 5am to 8.30pm
  • From 1 April to 30 September - 6am to 6pm

Nearby alerts

Applies from Sat 17 Oct 2020, 10.59pm. Last reviewed: Fri 9 Jun 2023, 4.16pm

Closed areas: North Head partial closure

Some parts of North Head in Sydney Harbour National Park are closed due to fire damage and geological instability. The closed areas include:

  • Bluefish Point
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant emergency access road

Do not enter the closed areas.

Open areas include:

  • Q Station
  • North Head Sanctuary and Bella Vista Cafe (entry via North Fort)
  • Parking areas at North Fort
  • The track between Shelly Beach and Bluefish Drive
  • Bluefish Drive to the Avenue of Honour
  • Collins Flat Beach
  • Collins Beach Road
  • Fairfax lookouts

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the National Parks Contact Centre on 1300 072 757 or Sydney North area office on 02 9451 3479 between 9.30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Affects 1 park and 3 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Thu 25 May 2023, 9.04am to Fri 16 Jun 2023, 6.00pm. Last reviewed: Fri 2 Jun 2023, 3.57pm

Safety alerts: Notice of pest control operations

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be conducting a fox trapping program at North Head from Thursday 25 May to Friday 16 June 2023.

Please keep to marked trails and follow safety signage.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the local office.

Affects 1 park and 5 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 29 May 2023, 7.18pm to Mon 17 Jul 2023, 7.21pm. Last reviewed: Fri 2 Jun 2023, 3.55pm

Closed areas: Clark Island closed for essential wharf maintenance

Clark Island is closed for essential wharf maintenance from Thursday 1 June to Monday 17 July 2023.

Affects 1 park and 2 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Wed 31 Mar 2021, 11.53am. Last reviewed: Wed 10 May 2023, 6.42pm

Closed areas: Bluefish Point closed

The Bluefish Point bushland area is closed to public access for public safety and to protect important plant and animal communities. For your safety and to help conserve the landscape, please stay on sign-posted walking tracks when visiting Sydney Harbour National Park.

Shelly Beach to Bluefish walking track is open.

Affects 1 park and 2 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Fri 24 Mar 2023, 9.31am. Last reviewed: Thu 18 May 2023, 12.27pm

Closed areas: Section of Casuarina track closed for track maintenance

Part of Casuarina track is closed from Thursday 23 March 2023 until further notice due to maintenance on the footbridge.

The closed area is the section of Casuarina track between the end of Boree Road and the Carrol Creek track intersection.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.

Affects 1 park and 3 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Tue 24 Jan 2023, 10.00am. Last reviewed: Tue 14 Mar 2023, 7.11am

Closed areas: Gardeners Cottage closure

Gardeners Cottage will not be available for bookings until the replacement of the concrete seawall at Shark Beach, Nielsen Park has been completed. For more information on the seawall replacement please visit the project website or call the NPWS Vaucluse office on 02 9337 5511.

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Fri 3 Feb 2023, 12.17pm. Last reviewed: Tue 14 Mar 2023, 7.06am

Closed areas: Shark Beach and northern section of Nielsen Park closed

Shark Beach and the northern section of Nielsen Park are closed while the concrete seawall at Nielsen Park is being replaced. For more information on this project, please visit the project webpage or phone the NPWS Sydney South office on 02 9337 5511.

Affects 1 park and 7 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 26 Dec 2022, 12.25pm. Last reviewed: Thu 18 May 2023, 12.59pm

Closed areas: Areas of North Head closed

Some areas of Sydney Harbour National Park are closed for public safety due to steep and unstable ground. The closed areas are:

  • Old Man's Hat
  • Cannae Point
  • Quarantine Head

The bushland surrounding these areas is also closed.

The following main visitor areas will remain open:

  • Q Station
  • North Head car parks
  • Collins Flat Beach

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.

Affects 1 park and 3 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Tue 31 Jan 2023, 10.52pm to Tue 1 Aug 2023, 3.53am. Last reviewed: Mon 23 Jan 2023, 11.55am

Other planned events: ‘1080 pest management’

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will be conducting a baiting program using manufactured baits, fresh baits and Canid Pest Ejectors (CPEs) containing 1080 poison (sodium fluroacetate) for the control of foxes. The program is continuous and ongoing between 1 February 2023 and 31 July 2023 in Garigal National Park. Don’t touch baits or ejector devices. Penalties apply for non-compliance.

 

All baiting locations are identifiable by signs.

Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW national parks and reserves. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.

Fox baiting in these reserves is aimed at reducing their impact on threatened species.

For more information, contact the local park office on:

Forestville 9451 3479 (business hours)

NPWS after-hours call centre: 1300 056 294 (after hours)

Affects 1 park nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 9 Jul 2018, 11.06am. Last reviewed: Fri 5 May 2023, 4.22pm

Closed areas: Fort Denison closed

Fort Denison is currently closed.

Conservation and upgrade works are currently underway. Key elements include the construction of a new accessible wharf and maintenance and upgrade to buildings and services. Fort Denison will be closed to visitors until these works have been completed.

Penalties apply for non-compliance.

Standard work hours during the construction phase will be between:

  • 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday
  • 8am and 1pm on Saturday

For more information, visit the project webpage or call the NPWS Sydney South area office on 02 9337 5511. Visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Wed 10 Feb 2016, 3.18pm. Last reviewed: Thu 18 May 2023, 12.59pm

Closed areas: Flat Rock track partial closure

The section of Flat Rock track from the Killarney Drive entrance to the Downpatrick Street entrance, is permanently closed where the old track passes through private property near Killarney Point.

Please note:

  • Walkers heading west should exit Flat Rock track at the eastern end of Killarney Drive and use Killarney Drive until you reach Downpatrick Street. Then walk down the street and re-enter Flat Rock track from the Downpatrick Street fire trail.
  • Walkers heading east should exit Flat Rock track at the Downpatrick Street fire trail and use Downpatrick Street, then Killarney Drive until you reach the end of Killarney Drive. Re-enter Flat Rock track from the Killarney Drive entrance.

For more information, please contact the NPWS Forestville area office on 02 9451 3479 between 9.30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Affects 1 park and 1 location 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/fairfax-walk/local-alerts

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.

  • Park entry fees:

    Bradleys Head carpark: $8 per vehicle per day. North Head carpark: $5 per vehicle per day. There are pay machines that accept cards and coins - no change given. Chowder Bay Road parking: 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. You can also pay for your visit 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
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