Whatarippavista!!
A Virtual Reward
Prepare to be impressed. The views from West Head lookout are some of Sydney's best. On your visit, you'll be greeted with a real visual feast. From West Head lookout, you can see Broken Bay on your left, Pittwater on your right and Barrenjoey Headland and Lighthouse in front.
You can also enjoy amazing vistas across the Hawkesbury River to Lion Island Nature Reserve and the beaches of the Central Coast, including Patonga and Umina Beach.
The lookout itself is a large sandstone viewing area which has been recently upgraded. Rest on one of the benches and absorb the sounds of the birds and waves below before heading to the nearby Resolute picnic area for lunch. Goannas will sometimes appear looking for food, however please do not feed them. Normally elusive, lyrebirds are conspicuous at West Head during their mating season, from May to July.
Lion Island viewed from West Head
The first inhabitants of the area were the Garrigal people who were hunters and gatherers within their land. More than 800 important Aboriginal sites have been identified in the park including rock engravings, cave drawings, paintings and stencils, axe grinding grooves and middens.
If you enjoy bushwalking, there are a number of tracks you can take. One in particular is the West Head Army Track which starts near the walkway down to the lookout. This track takes you to the WW2 Gun Battery. This is a 450m (one way) track that is listed as hard. There are many steps leading down and of course, you will need to negotiate these coming back up. It is estimated you will need 1hr - 1.5hrs for your visit. For more information, check out this link....
West Head Army Track
Alternatively, try the Aboriginal Heritage Walk. This is a 4.4km loop walk with very steep gradients that should take 2.5hrs - 3.5hrs to complete. For more information, check out this link.....
Aboriginal Heritage Walk
As West Head is in a national park, you will need to pay an entry fee of $12 per car, (unless you have a virtual NPWS sticker associated with your vehicle). If there is no one to take your money at the collection booth on West Head Rd, (up from McCarrs Creek Rd), just continue to West Head and find a ticket machine there. The gates to West Head are open between 6am and 8:30pm daily, during daylight saving. At other times, the gates are open from 6am to 6:00pm. Parking is available near the lookout.
I hope you enjoy coming to this fantastic location and exploring the area.
Cheers, Calypso62
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Cylindrical Plinth
LOGGING TASKS
To claim this virtual as a find, you will need to visit the lookout in person and answer three simple questions as well as take a photo. Send your answers to me via the Message Centre or email. You may log your find immdediately however please communicate your responses to me within 48 hours of your visit.
Please Note: Any found logs without any direct correspondence with me and photo, may be deleted.
Go to the cylindrical plinth with the bronze map on top and look for the answers to the following questions:
1) What mountain is next to the 3 Mile Radius ring?
2) Can you name the bay on the 5 Mile Radius ring?
3) What island does the 7 Mile Radius ring pass through?
Photo:
4) Take a photo at the lookout showing any part of this wonderful view. Include your geocaching name in the photo as well as yourself if you wish. Your geocaching name sign could be prepared before hand or it could be simply written on a piece of paper, your hand, a coffee cup, on a t-shirt, using a skywriter, any way you like! How creative can you be? Upload this photo to your online log.
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Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.
Joint FTF Honours
Bella at Waggy and Kid Ron Satan
Virtual Virtuosos
Did you know that NSW has a geocaching association? Geocaching NSW aims to enhance and improve the activity of geocaching and holds regular events where geocachers meet to enjoy their common interests. Visit the association website here.