The 5.5 km return walk from Seaforth Oval to Bluff Lookout is an exciting bush trail in Garigal National Park with fantastic views of Bantry Bay.
It’s a fairly challenging bushwalk with a few climbs to conquer, but the views from the lookout at the end make it a worthwhile adventure.
In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about this energising walk, including a map and practical tips.
| Seaforth Oval to Bluff Lookout | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 5.5 km (return) |
| Duration: | 3 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate / hard (steep sections) |
| Wheel-friendly: | No |
| Dog-friendly: | No |
| Trailhead: | Google Maps |
Getting There
The walking track to Bluff Lookout starts from Seaforth Oval, which comes with a generously sized car park.
The oval is located at the southern end of Wakehurst Parkway in Seaforth. If you’re driving in via Spit Rd, turn left into Sydney Rd after crossing the Spit Bridge, and follow Frenchs Forest Rd until you reach Wakehurst Pkwy.
If you’re travelling by public transport, there is a bus stop on Wakehurst Parkway next to the oval.
Shorter Access Trail
If you only want to visit Bluff Lookout and aren’t interested in doing the long walk from the oval, you can also get there very easily and quickly from Ararat Reserve in Frenchs Forest (see map).
Park your car on Bantry Bay Road and follow the short Bluff Trail to the lookout.
Below is a map of the walk from Seaforth Oval to Bluff Lookout.
Track Notes
We rate the walking track from Seaforth Oval to Bluff Lookout as moderate to hard. While it’s not a very long walk, there are steep sections, and the path can sometimes be rough and muddy.
We recommend wearing proper hiking shoes for this walk and bringing a full bottle of water, as well as a couple of snacks to boost your energy.
Read our guide on the best bushwalks in Sydney for more fantastic walking tracks like this one.
1. Timber Getters Track
The start of the walking track can be found next to the information boards at the northern end of the Seaforth Oval car park.
From there, the trail heads straight into the bush and soon arrives at the Timber Getters Track and Engraving Track intersection.
This is where you need to turn left to continue the main walking trail via the Timber Getters Track through pleasant bushland scenery.
This section of the walk is quite easy as it goes downhill for the most part, heading towards Bantry Bay.
2. Bantry Bay
The Timber Getters Track arrives at the Bantry Bay Picnic Area, which is home to a picnic table, an open grassy area, lots of trees, and a public wharf.
It’s worth walking onto the wharf because the views of Bantry Bay from there are very pretty.
The buildings on the opposite side of the bay were once part of the Bantry Bay Explosives Depot and were used to store military explosives until 1974.
3. The Bay Track
From the picnic area, continue on the main walking trail via the Bay Track, which follows the eastern shoreline of the bay.
This is the most enjoyable part of the walk, as you get to take in beautiful views of the bay from different angles.
Towards the northern end of the bay, the track gets a lot more challenging with steep sections, a bit of rock scrambling, and a couple of creek crossings.
4. Bluff Lookout
The last section of the walk to Bluff Lookout is the steepest part and feels much longer than it is.
As you make your way up to the official lookout, take a few moments of rest to allow yourself to soak in the bay views that keep getting better the higher up you get.
Bluff Lookout is an unfenced rocky area that offers fantastic views towards Middle Harbour and the city skyline. On a clear day, you may even be able to identify some of Sydney’s iconic skyscrapers.
There is a lot of space at the lookout to settle in and take in the views, or even have a picnic.
Back to Seaforth Oval
Once you’ve finished exploring Bluff Lookout, you have three options to return to Seaforth Oval.
1. Return the same way:
The most obvious thing to do is to simply retrace your steps via the same walking track.
2. Return via the Engravings Track:
The Engravings Track is an easy trail that runs parallel to Wakehurst Parkway. The distance is about the same, but it’s much easier with no climbing. To get there, follow the Bluff Trail to Ararat Reserve, and make your way to the start of the Engravings Track via Bantry Bay Rd.
3. Return via the Gahnia Mountain Bike Track:
The third option is to return via the Gahnia Mountain Bike Track, which connects with the Engravings Track. The start of this track is behind Bluff Lookout and is signposted.
