Turners walking track

Where

Watagans National Park

Distance

1km one-way

Time suggested

30min - 1hr 30min

Grade

Grade 4

Price

Free

What to
bring

Drinking water, hat, sunscreen

Please note

• There is limited mobile reception in this park
• The weather in the area can be extreme and unpredictable, so please ensure you’re well-prepared for your visit.
• Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go bird watching

Watagans National Park, near Cessnock, boasts some of the most scenic rainforest in the Newcastle region, and Turners walking track is a great way to explore this rainforest. Self-reliant bushwalkers will love the challenge of this old logging track, offering wilderness views and great birdwatching, with easy access to Great North walk.

Starting from Boarding House Dam picnic area, this track winds steeply through rainforest of towering blackbutts and blue gums, before giving way to open eucalypt forest. Along the way, you might see brush turkeys or lyrebirds darting through the trees or foraging for tasty treats on the forest floor.

You’ll also pass the historic remnants of O’Hara’s Sawmill, built as a temporary mill in the 1950s to salvage timber after WW2. Choose to retrace your steps to the picnic area, or alternatively, the track can be accessed via Watagan Forest HQ campground, in Heaten State Forest.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info