Wisemans Ferry
Located on the New South Wales Central Coast and North of Sydney, Wisemans Ferry is a historic town connected to the Great North Road.
Hawkins Lookout Wisemans Ferry
Travelling north from Sydney, the road passes through some wonderful scenery with very tight windy roads in places. Just outside Wisemans Ferry is Hawkins Lookout which provides great views over the mountains and the Hawkesbury River. We made a quick stop here to admire the views before continuing on to the town.
The Hawkesbury River From Hawkins’ Lookout
Convict Trail Memorial
Near the ferry landing is a carpark with a cafe and memorial site. The memorial commemorates the building of the Great North Road and the ferry crossing. We relaxed here for a while with a snack and coffee after the drive, before boarding the ferry.
Convict Trail Memorial
The Ferry
The ferry master will direct you when it is safe to drive on board and park in the marked spaces. Once parked, turn off your engine and enjoy the short ride to the other side. Use of the ferry is free, so no payment is necessary.
The Ferry on the Hawkesbury River
The Great North Road
The entrance to the Great North road is to the left of the ferry crossing. There is only limited parking available, with no dedicated car park. In busy times this will be a problem and you may need to walk some distance to get there.
The Great North Road was built by convict labour between 1825 and 1836 to link Sydney to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.
Information Boards
Information boards, convict silhouettes and examples of tools, provide context for what you are looking at. This enables a greater understanding of what the convicts endured because you can visualise them working on the road or in the stone quarry.
Convict Trail 
Great North Road Information Plaque 
Information Plaque at the Quarry Site 
Great North Road Information Plaque 
Convict Silhouettes at the Quarry Site 
Convict Shackles on Display
The Road
The road surface is well maintained and although it goes uphill is not a difficult walk if you take it slowly. Remember to take water, use sunscreen, and wear a hat, because there is not much shade.
The dry stonewall buttresses on the downhill side of the road are of excellent workmanship, especially when you consider the conditions the convicts were working in.
The Great North Road 
Stone Retaining Wall on the Great North Road 
Stone Retaining Wall on the Great North Road 
The Great North Road
Sites Along the Way
Along the walk, there are several sites of interest. The first is the remains of a large quarry, where stone was quarried for use in the road. Tools on display here show how primitive the work was and how difficult it would have been.
The second spot is called Hangman’s Rock, although is doubtful if this is what it was used for. Steps are cut into the rock, enabling you to climb up for a better look.
The Quarry Site on the Great North Road 
Hangman’s Rock on the Great North Road
What Did We Think?
We stopped at Hangman’s Rock and returned to our car, although you can continue to Finches Line Walking Track which will bring you out south of the Ferry crossing. This is a part of Australia’s colonial history and it is great that the site has been preserved and presented so well for visitors. This part of the Great North Road is only a short walk, but lets you see some important historical sites. We enjoyed the walk and the history on display.
If you are interested in the Great North Road, read our post on the northern section.
Our photos are available for purchase on
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.