Reserve

Coastal Walk Easy 1 hour

5.6km return. Form the end of Spoon Rocks Road at Caves Beach, the Wallarah Peninsula coastal walk meanders through heath and forest to the headland south of Pinny Beach. Passing through Wallarah Peninsula National Park for around 3km (return), there are some spectacular views over the coast and an abundance of wildfl owers during spring. The shady forested area around Camp Yondeo is a great place to stop for a rest.

Radar BunkersThe remains of “Radar Station 208” are camoufl aged amongst dense woodland on top of a 93 metre high hill. It was part of a network of nine installations established on mainland Australia using the British imported ACO radar. Radar operations were mostly staffed by the Women’s Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). It was disbanded in January 1947.

Murray MinesIn around 1863 the Murray Brothers purchased 340 acres in the area just south of Galgabba Point and opened out tunnels in a cliffside at the water’s edge. A jetty was built at the spot and for a short time they were able to put out about 400 tons of coal each week. The problem of moving the coal from the lake proved insurmountable and the mines at Point Morisset were soon closed.

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Wallarah PeninsulaWalking and Cycling TrailsNational Parks & Wildlife Service and Stockland work closely together on issues such as bushfire management including maintenance of fire trails; managing pest species; recreation, education and public information; security and access and conservation management including bush regeneration.

Wallarah Peninsula TrackModerate 2 hours one way from Murrays Beach to Caves Beach Park at Caves Beach and do a car shuttle to Murrays Beach if you want to do a one way walk.

Starting from Murrays Beach foreshore follow Jetty Point Drive to the Wallarah Peninsula Track. Follow the marked fi re trail to the footbridge over the Pacifi c Highway. There are some steep parts with loose gravel along this walk.

From the footbridge it is a 10 minute walk along the old Pacifi c Highway to the entrance to the National Park which is a beautiful shaded trail. There is a steep downhill section with loose gravel, once this starts to level out look to your North and you will see a palm corridor. Once you leave the National Park you follow the fi re trail once more, taking the fi rst South fork. It is another 30 minutes to Pinny Beach through a variety of vegetation types. Take some time to explore the rock pools at Pinny Beach before returning along the Coastal Walk to Caves Beach.

Black Neds BayIn 1871 the plight of an Aboriginal family came to public attention when an attempt was being made to take away the land on which they lived. Black Ned’s Bay is the area that was made over as a reserve for “Old Ned” and his family. The bay on the eastern side of Galgabba Point is named after. Ned’s wife Margaret “Queen Margaret”.

Foreshore LoopEasy 1/2 hour

From the public car park at Murrays Beach follow the sealed foreshore path south to Point Morisset lookout. From here the path is unsealed. Take the left fork when you see the fi rst bridge follow the track through the green corridors between the residential lots. Cross over Jetty Point Drive and follow the walking track and then Saltwater Row back to the car park.

LEGENDSealed Footpath

Foreshore Loop

Unsealed Footpath

Wallarah Peninsula Track

Coastal Walk

Cycleway

Fire Trail (emergency service vehicles only)

Stockland’s Wallarah Peninsula Project*

*As development of this land proceeds a network of open space corridors, walking and cycle trails will be established in accordance with the approved North Wallarah Peninsula Masterplan. The location of existing trails or roads may change without notice. Map correct as at May 2007.Disclaimer: Persons enter upon the land shown including Stockland’s Wallarah Peninsula project at their own risk. Stockland accepts no responsibility or liability for any injury or damage to property or people as a result of them accessing the land.

Galgabba PointThe Galgabba Point Landcare Group is an award winning National Landcare site. Volunteers are welcomed to join the Landcare group to help with some weeding or learn about this special part of our country. Creators, protectors, builders within the natural environment of LIVING CORRIDORS OF LIFE.

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Wildfl owers

Explore the beauty of wildfl owers in the coastal heaths of Wallarah National Park. From late winter to early spring you’ll see the shapes and colours of the season in wax fl owers and coral heath and many more native species. Watch honeyeaters feast on the nectar of banksias, see a carpet of white fl annel fl owers drift in the breeze. The coastal heath has a great diversity of native plants providing food for the many nectar feeding birds and mammals found in the area.

Whale Watching

Southern Right Whales are often seen off the coast between late May and August. During this annual migration humpback whales can be seen from high vantage points. Watch for the blow as they expel vapour when breaking the surface for a breath. Southern right whales too can be seen in our waters around June and July, seeking calm, sheltered bays to give birth. Both species of whale are acrobatic, often leaping from the water and thrilling spectators.

Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are regularly seen in the lakes and coastal areas of the region, especially green turtles.

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To help look after your national park please:

· Leave all Aboriginal sites and places, plants, animals and rock formations as you fi nd them – they are all protected.

· Dead wood and rocks provide shelter for many animals so don’t disturb or remove them.

· Leave your pets at home.

· Fires can be dangerous and are not permitted in this park.

· Tracks are for walking and cycling - motor bikes and cars are not permitted in this park.

· Leave only footprints - take your rubbish home with you.

Wallarah National Park

Just east of Lake Macquarie, Wallarah National Park is about 30 kilometres south of Newcastle and 120 kilometres north of Sydney.

Littoral Rainforests

Littoral rainforests occur behind coastal headlands, dunes and sheltered areas near the coast. Weeds, clearing, fi re and disturbance by visitors threaten these small pockets of vegetation. Wallarah National Park conserves some of the last signifi cant littoral rainforest areas around the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie. These rainforest remnants contain a wide variety of species including cabbage tree palms, tuckeroos, hard corkwood, bangalay and the rare and endangered magenta lillypilly.

Lake Macquarie

Lake Macquarie is New South Wales largest coastal salt water lake. It is 110 square kilometres in area, four and a half times the size of Sydney Harbour, and is tidal with access to the Pacifi c Ocean via the channel at Swansea.

It is a popular recreation area on which there are a number of sailing clubs, who compete regularly. It is also popular for a myriad of other water sports such as swimming, kayaking and fi shing.

Pulbah Island

Pulbah Island Nature Reserve is located in the south of Lake Macquarie and is a signifi cant place in Aboriginal culture. The Reserve is popular for walking, fi shing, swimming, boating, bird watching and nature appreciation and regular community bushland management days are carried out by National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Coastal Heathland

On the ocean side of the national park you will see Coastal Heathland. Coastal heath is a vegetation community growing on rocky, dry, windblown, salty coastal headlands on the Wallarah Peninsula. The diffi cult growing conditions limit the vegetation to low-growing gnarled shrubs and groundcovers.

Plants often have a thick cuticle layer on their leaves to resist the drying effects of salt, and to retain moisture. The direction of the prevailing wind can be seen by the wind pruned shape of the vegetation.

The ground covers and dense shrubs are an important part of the coastal ecosystem, providing food and habitat to small birds and insects. Flowers are usually brightly coloured and prolifi c, resulting in spectacular spring displays.

Sugar GliderPetaurus breviceps

The Sugar Glider is distinguished by a “fl ying membrane” between its front and rear legs which allows it to glide distances of up to 50m from tree to tree.

They are nocturnal and nest in tree hollows. They live in family groups which may include up to seven adults, and scent-mark their territory.

Sugar Gliders feed on fl ower blossoms, tree sap and insects and their larvae.

EchidnaTachyglossus aculeatus

The Echidna is a medium sized mammal which is distinguished by a covering of long sharp quills. They have very strong legs, claws and snout for foraging for ants and termites around and in fallen logs.

Sugar Glider

Echidna

Lace MonitorVaranus varius

The Lace Monitor, which is related to the Goanna, is a very large lizard coloured striped grey/brown.It is distinguished by powerful legs and long sharp claws. It is a very agile climber and seeks refuge in trees when threatened. It feeds on insects, reptiles, small mammals and bird nestlings.

Lace Monitor

White-bellied Sea EagleHaliaeetus leucogaster

The White-bellied Sea Eagle is a large bird with white body plumage and dark grey wings and back.

The birds are found in pairs, and build large nests from sticks and leaves and live high in trees or on cliff tops. The female does most of the brooding, and both vigorously defend their nest.

They feed mainly on fi sh, sea snakes, ducks and land mammals such as rabbits.

White-bellied Sea Eagle

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Habitat Corridor

A habitat corridor has been established between Wallarah National Park and Lake Macquarie and provides a continuous link of wildlife habitat and assists in the migration and colonisation of a variety of plants and animals. Plant species found in the corridor such as the Swamp Mahogany provide an important winter food source for threatened species including the Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot.

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