Grade 1

Gap Beach Walking Track (6km)

Hat Head National Park

New South Wales

6km

3.5 hrs

Grade 5

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Hike at a Glance

Quick overview: Take on the challenging 6km Gap Beach walking track in Hat Head National Park, near South West Rocks, Australia. Ideal for experienced bushwalkers and birdwatchers, this Grade 5 trail starts from Overshot Dam at Little Bay picnic area and winds steeply up Little Smoky Mountain, before descending through a unique coastal rainforest to North Gap Beach. Enjoy a refreshing swim and a picnic under the palms, while spotting dolphins and birds of prey from the shore.

Max elevation: 0m

Min elevation: 0m

Total Ascent: 0m

Hike overview


Track grade


Grade 5 (Difficult) - Walks for the Most Experienced: Grade 5 represents the most challenging walking tracks on the AWTGS. These are only recommended for very experienced and fit walkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep, and unmarked. Walks may be more than 20 kilometers. These challenging walks demand a high level of fitness and experience to navigate difficult terrain, significant elevation changes, and potentially unformed paths.

Walk map and GPX file

Gap Beach Walking Track (6km)


Explore safely


Planning this hike? Most incidents develop before you even start. Safe outcomes depend on how navigation, hydration, environment, load and judgement work together. Small oversights can compound quickly in Australian conditions. See how it happens in the Hiking Safety Systems Foundations. Then use the Hiking Safety Systems, planning calculators, and make sure a trusted contact has your trip plan before heading out.

Leave a trip plan


Register your plans

Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.

Planning checklists


Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.

Getting there


Getting to the trailhead: Hat Head National Park.

Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.

Get there with Google Maps

Accommodation nearby


Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.

Nearby towns: Crescent Head, Frederickton, Gladstone, Hat Head, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, South West Rocks

About the region


Similar walks nearby


Looking for more walks in or near Hat Head National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.

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Gap Beach Walking Track (6km)


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Acknowledgement of Country

Gap beach walking track (6km) trail hiking australia

Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.

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