The Basin Track and Mackerel Track
Northern Beaches, NSW
West Head ridge walk to The Basin campground and a Pittwater lookout over Mackerel Beach, via a major Aboriginal engraving site.
About this place
Start 8.5km along West Head Road from the Liberator General San Martin Drive junction. The Basin track (6.4km return) follows the ridge to The Basin Aboriginal art site — one of the park's finest engraving galleries — then drops to the campground for a swim and picnic. Mackerel track (3.2km return) branches after the art site to a point looking down on Mackerel Beach and Currawong; the beach itself is ferry or boat only. Combined the two tracks are 9.6km return. You can walk down and ferry back to Palm Beach.
Access & getting there
West Head Road, 8.5km from the Liberator General San Martin Drive junction. Parking at the Basin Trail trackhead. Do not park at West Head or Resolute and walk the road verge in busy traffic. Park entry $12 per vehicle.
Basin Trail trackhead, West Head Rd, Ku-ring-gai Chase NSW 2105
Safety notes
Steep descent to the campground. Unpatrolled swimming. Do not touch engravings. Limited mobile coverage. Mackerel Beach is not reached on foot.
Gear notes
Water, hat and swim kit. Shoes with grip for the descent.
On the map
Community photos
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Events nearby
Linked Hikezilla events coming soon.
Connected challenges
Tied to challenges — coming soon.