Walk 42 B:- Stanwell Park to Austinmer via Stanwell Tops
At A Glance
Route Summary:- This walk takes the Wodi Wodi Track uphill behind Stanwell Park Station, then continues up on the Stanwell Tops Tracks to Stanwell Tops Conference Centre and passes through this on a sealed public road, then for about 1.4 km along coal mine service roads over Stanwell Creek and dam and over coal mine dam spillway; then for 0.9 km. on an unconstructed walking track to a junction with The Forest Walk; then for the next 10.5 km. along the escarpment on walking tracks and briefly on service roads to Sublime Point, then for 0.8 km. steeply down on good track with ladders to Austinmer streets and houses with the final 0.9 km along sealed vehicular roads to Austinmer Station
RQI:- 85
Highlights:- Stanwell Creek and dam; pristine bush; abandoned coal mining infrastructure with large dam; spectacular views; Sublime Point
Negatives :- 0.9 walk along Austimer streets; 2 hours between trains
Length:- 16.15 km
Grade:- Medium to Hard
Weather:_All weather except when Stanwell Creek is in flood
Continuous walking time with a few 3-4 min. stops:-4 hrs.
Train Time from Central to Start :-. 1hr. 5 mins. Stanwell Park; every 2 hours; South Coast Line
Train Time from finish to Central:-. 1 hr 28 mins; every 2 hours; South Coast Line.
Total Climb :- 400 m.
Total Descent :- 455 m.
Water:- Stanwell Park Station (may be locked); Sublime Point
Toilets:- Stanwell Park Station (may be locked); Sublime Point
Café/Kiosk :- irregularly at Sublime Point
Published 1:25,000 Map :- Appin
Walk 42B Track Notes
Stanwell Park to Austinmer via Stanwell Tops
04/11/14
Km./Hrs.min. Kilometers in bold are shown on map
0.00/0.00 Stanwell Park Station
0.25/0.05 Track junction and signage:- ‘Stanwell Tops 800 m’ on right; takethis
0.66/0.15 Track Junction and signage:- ‘Beach’ backtrack down; go left now more gently uphill
0.77/0.17 Track T junction with wider track; turn left, go past lookout on left
1.02/0.22 Gully crossing
1.05/0.23 Gully crossing; sporadic fading red bunting on trees.
1.16/0.25 Track junction with wider track; turn right; left goes to lookout
1.35/0.28 At clearing under power lines with houses in front; veer right just before houses to a gate and public vehicular road.
1.45/0.30 At public road; turn left and follow this sealed vehicular road past some large welcoming to Stanwell Tops signs to its end at a track junction with gated gravel service roads ahead and on left.
1.90/0.34 At end of sealed road, take service road on left past open gate.
1.99/0.35 At Y junction, follow service road straight ahead then veering right; ignore left and right roads
2.14/0.37 At locked gate with pedestrian walkaround.
2.31/0.40 At Stanwell Creek with massive sandstone outcrop and boulder dam wall on right; cross on dam wall, then continue on walking pad.
2.43/0.42 Locked gate with pedestrian walkaround and concrete filled metal posts on right.
2.45/0.43 Major 5-way track junction with power lines in front; take the first road hard left on overgrown service road.
2.57/0.44 Track joined by power lines and service road from right; continue straight along power lines.
2.93/0.48 At solid open gate, and about 15 m further on, another solid yellow open gate with service road joining from right; continue straight along power lines.
3.07/0.50 Abandoned fenced pumping station and earth dam wall, both on right; continue straight over minor gully and leakage from dam.
3.11/0.51 Track Y junction with another open heavy yellow gate on left; go left through gate; track on right goes to dam wall about 20 m away; after a few meters you arrive at an about 50 m wide expanse of stripped sandstone (dam spillway) and weir on right; service road visible on other side.
3.23/0.53 Middle on sandstone spillway; continue crossing to serviceroan, then follow this.
3.28/0.54 Track junction about 10 m before another open heavy yellow gate; take the narrow walking pad on left, leaving the service road.
3.91/1.01 Track T junction at a point overlooking Stanwell Park Town and Beach; go right
4.04/1.04 Crossing rocky gully
4.16/1.06 Major track junction; NPWS post; track on left is the Forest Walk; continue straight.
4.40/1.11 Lower Stanwell Lookout with warning sign
4.53/1.13 Upper Stanwell Lookout with warning sign
4.73/1.16 Track junction; veer right
5.49/1.24 Track X junction with coaly service road and large concrete tank ahead; cross service road at right angles and continue on walking track; if you took the coal road shortcut option, you re-join the walking track here
6.02/1.36 Track junction with service road; go left and after about 30 m right on arrowed post on walking track
6.47/1.42 Track junction with service road; cross at right angles to timber steps
6.67/1.45 Cross creek on iron stained outcrop at right angles
7.13/1.51 At metal bridge over creek
7.18/1.52 Track junction; veer right- straight goes to lookout
9.64/2.27 At junction with service road; go right, then after about 20 m on service road, go left at signage:- ‘Sublime Point 5 km.’
9.86/2.30 Cross creek on galvanized iron bridge
10.38/2.36 Track T junction with service road along power lines; go left and follow service road along power lines for some distance to about 30 m after power lines kink to the left above escarpment ; note arrowed post and resumption of walking track on right
11.41/2.48 Track junction at power lines and service road; turn right and walk about 50 m along service road past a turning circle to a wide walking track on left where you should see a gate about 100 m ahead just before you turn left.
14.09/3.21 Track junction and signage:- ‘Forest Walk 4.7 km’ backtrack; continue straight.
14.48/3.26 At Sublime Point; turn left; walk to fenced lookout; then turn right and follow concrete path to start of steps down on left
15.13/3.42 Track junction with Gibsons Track on right
15.35/3.47 At public road; turn left, follow public vehicular road to first turn on right, then follow this down to Austinmer Station
16.15/3.56 Austinmer Station
Route Quality Index
On public road:- 1.25 km/ 8%
On locked service/fire trail 2.36 km/ 15%
On walking track:- 12.54 km/ 77 %
RQI= 77+8+0=85
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