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Western Escarpment walking track

Malabar Headland National Park

Open, check current alerts 

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Nearby alerts

Applies from Fri 31 Mar 2023, 4.00pm. Last reviewed: Fri 31 Mar 2023, 4.05pm

Other planned events: Steele Point Cottage re-opening

Steele Point Cottage has re-opened for accommodation bookings from 4 April 2023. Please see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/accommodation/steele-point-cottage.

 

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Tue 19 May 2020, 4.18pm. Last reviewed: Fri 31 Mar 2023, 2.56pm

Closed areas: Closed areas due to rifle range operations

The eastern section of Malabar Headland National Park will be closed on the following dates/times due to rifle range operations:

  • Every Saturday, 8am to 5pm
  • Every 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday of the month, 8am to 5pm
  • Women on Target shoot, Thursday 13 April to Sunday 16 April 2023
  • Anzac Day shoot, Tuesday 25 April 2023
  • Service Rifle Championships, Saturday 10 June to Sunday 11 June 2023
  • DRA Weekend, Saturday 24 June to Sunday 25 June 2023

Do not enter the eastern section of the park (including Boora Point walking track) when:

  • Red flags are flying above the range
  • The 'rifle range in use' warning signs are displayed at the park entry (South Maroubra Beach and Fishermans Road carpark)
  • Park entry gates are closed.

The western section of the park (Western Escarpment walking track) is open when the rifle range is in use.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local area office on 02 9337 5511 or the ANZAC Rifle Range on 02 9661 4532.

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Thu 30 Mar 2023, 11.43am to Fri 7 Apr 2023, 1.00am. Last reviewed: Fri 31 Mar 2023, 2.49pm

Closed areas: Middle Head, Obelisk Beach and tracks closed for aerial operations

Some areas in this park are closed from 7am until 5pm on Thursday 6 April 2023 for aerial operations. 

The closed areas are:

  • Middle Head Forts
  • Obelisk Beach
  • Obelisk Beach track
  • Obelisk Battery
  • 1801 Battery

These areas will remain open:

  • Cobblers Beach
  • Cobblers Beach track
  • Chowder Bay road, though there may be delays when flights are in progress
  • Sydney Harbour Trust precincts at Middle Head and Georges Heights

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

Affects 1 park and 3 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Fri 8 Oct 2021, 9.33am. Last reviewed: Thu 30 Mar 2023, 4.07pm

Closed areas: North Head scenic area closures

The following areas in the North Head scenic area will be closed until the end of April 2023:

  • Fairfax walking track
  • Fairfax lookout
  • Fairfax carpark and bus stop

These areas are closed while new lookouts are being built. Find out more about this project on this web page. These closures may be extended without notice.

The following areas remain open:

  • North Head Scenic Drive and loop road are open to vehicles.
  • The bus stop opposite the Bella Vista Café is open.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the 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 Tue 31 Jan 2023, 10.02pm to Tue 1 Aug 2023, 2.03am. Last reviewed: Fri 17 Mar 2023, 4.03pm

Other planned events: 1080 feral animal 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 Wednesday 1 February and Monday 31 July 2023 in the following areas:

  • Chowder Bay and Dobroyd, Bradleys, Georges, Middle and North Headlands
  • North Head includes the adjoining land of Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, Australian Institute of Police Management and Quarantine Station.

Don’t touch baits or ejector devices.

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.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information contact the NPWS Middle Head office on 02 9960 6266 or North Head Sanctuary Manly (Harbour Trust Lands) on 02 8969 2128 during business hours, or 1300 056 294 outside business hours.

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Applies from Wed 13 Oct 2021, 4.28pm. Last reviewed: Tue 14 Mar 2023, 8.56am

Closed areas: Kurnell Visitor Centre closed for upgrades

Kurnell Visitor Centre is currently closed until further notice. The site is being prepared for a new visitor centre as part of the Kamay 2020 Project. 

Learn more about the improvements being made as part of the Kamay 2020 Master Plan Project or email the local area office.

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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 Wed 31 Mar 2021, 11.53am. Last reviewed: Mon 13 Mar 2023, 4.53pm

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.

The Shelly Beach to Bluefish walking track is open.

Affects 1 park and 2 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 26 Dec 2022, 12.25pm. Last reviewed: Fri 24 Feb 2023, 4.03pm

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 Mon 13 Mar 2023, 3.28pm to Wed 5 Apr 2023, 3.28pm. Last reviewed: Fri 10 Mar 2023, 12.15pm

Other planned events: Arthur Byrne carpark access trail to Boora Point walking track closed

The Department of Finance will be conducting works on this access trail from Monday 13 March to Tuesday 5 April 2023. During this time, please use the beach as an alternative route to enter the park.

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Sat 17 Oct 2020, 10.59pm. Last reviewed: Tue 28 Feb 2023, 9.39am

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
  • Fairfax lookouts

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

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the National Parks Contact Centre on 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) 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 Mon 9 Jul 2018, 11.06am. Last reviewed: Thu 16 Feb 2023, 1.39pm

Closed areas: Fort Denison closed

Fort Denison will be closed until late 2023.

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

Noise monitoring stations will be set up in Kirribilli and Cremorne to check any over-water noise so that it does not exceed legal levels. It is not expected to be high.

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

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/western-escarpment-walking-track/local-alerts

Park info

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.

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