Located on the Bicentenial Way in Forster New South Wales, Bennetts Head Lookout is a popular place for whale watching during migration season. We were lucky and saw a few swimming south, but they were too far out to get a good look. Several tour operators provide whale watching trips locally, with one of the operators using the lookout to spot whales and direct the boats.
Getting There
Parking is available next to the main lookout on Bennetts Head Road. Alternately, the lookout would make a great rest stop if you were walking the Bicentennial Track.
The Lookout
As well as whales the lookout gives great views down the coast and over the ocean. As well as the main viewing platform near the road, several others are located a little further along the Bicentennial Track only a few minutes walk away. Some whale watchers had been there for several hours and mentioned that whales had swum in closer to the shore earlier. Unfortunately during our visit, they decided to stay out at sea.
This is a great lookout, especially during the whale migration when newly born calves swim south with the adults to the Antarctic.
View from the LookoutView of the cliffs from the lookoutMemorial to those who lost their lives off Cape Hawke
Located near the New South Wales Mid-north coast Town of Bulahdelah, the Boolah-Dillah Track is an Aboriginal Place of cultural significance. Carved trees decorated with Aboriginal carvings can be found along the track. Historically carved trees were markers for burials, safe travelling paths, boundaries and had an important role in ceremony for the local Worimi People. Predominantly found in NSW, carved trees are rare in the rest of Australia. Scar trees however, which have had a section of bark removed for burial wraps, canoes, coolamons (a traditional carrying vessel), shelters and shields are more common and widespread. Lost due to land clearance for agriculture and forestry carved trees are now extremely rare.
The newly carved trees were created as a result of workshops held by the Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Council and sculptor John Van Der Kolk. Young people and elders developed the designs which tell cultural stories with young people learning skills in carving and reconnecting with traditional skills.
Getting There
Access to the track is via an overpass of the Pacific Highway. This one lane bridge leads to a small parking area on the other side.
Highway overpass to the track start
The Track
Two carved trees mark the start of the track which leads into the forest. Although flat at first the track soon becomes steep. Despite this, the uphill sections were not too bad, as we took plenty of breaks to admire the forest around us. As well as the trees, the understory is full of ferns and some beautiful grass trees.
Start of the track with carvings on either side
Flat section of the trackNarrow track next to a moss covered boulderGrass TreeGrass Tree
After a 1.1 km walk the track ends at the Worimi Cultural Area where the surrounding trees have carvings. As this is an ongoing project, several trees have newly prepared areas while other carvings are yet to be finished.
Tree carvingGoanna carvingJust started carving of a manTree carvingNew carving yet to be completedRest place with bench seats
Past the Cultural Area, the track continues as the Mountain Track, which passes through more forest to a lookout with great views over the surrounding area.
What Did We Think?
At just 2.2 km return, this was a great little walk. The steep sections might be challenging for some, but by resting and taking your time to admire the surroundings, it very enjoyable.
Named after First Lord of the Admiralty, Edward Hawke by Captain Cook (a Lieutenant at the time), the Cape Hawke Lookout Track is on the northern end of the Booti Booti National Park. With only a 10-minute drive to travel the 11km from the centre of Forster, it was easy to find. Parking is available in a small carpark at the start of the track, but this will fill up quickly on a busy day. From here it’s uphill for 500m with 420 steps to the top. Don’t be put off by the climb, as there is a bench seat provided to sit and rest on before tackling the rest of the climb.
Maintained by NSW National Parks and Wildlife, the track was in very good condition during our visit. Trees have regrown around the 8m tower, but the view is still amazing and worth the climb.
The area is covered with littoral rain forest that is quite dense and very shady on a hot day. Although we heard animals moving through the vegetation, all we saw were some brush turkeys.
The walk downhill back to the car was much easier than going uphill.
Start of the track uphillMemorial to James Cook naming Cape Hawke on 12 May 1770The lookout towerThe view from the top of the lookout towerView of Forster from the lookout tower
