Crackneck Point just got a whole lot better. The Bateau Bay lookout – already one of the best whale watching spots on the Central Coast – reopened today, 21 June 2023, following a significant upgrade by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), and it’s worth getting up there.
The facelift has been in progress for a few weeks, and the result is a revitalised precinct that’s more accessible and more comfortable to spend time in.
If you’re looking for a spot of whale watching on the Central Coast, you’re in for a treat.
What’s new at Crackneck Point Lookout?
The most noticeable change is accessibility. Wheelchair-friendly pathways now run through the site, which was long overdue for a spot this popular.
There’s also an expanded visitor area with a landscaped picnic setup using timber and sandstone seating, new viewing areas positioned to make the most of the headland, and fresh interpretive signage about humpback whales and their annual migration route up the coast.
As if it wasn’t already the perfect spot for a weekend picnic!
Traffic flow during busy periods has also been addressed. The new layout is designed to keep things moving when the car park fills up during peak whale season – which you’ll know, if you’ve been up there on a clear winter morning, happens fast.
Vehicles parked on site now have better sightlines to the ocean too, which is a really useful upgrade for anyone who can’t quite make it to the viewing platform.
Central Coast Visitor Information Centre at The Entrance opens its doors
The upgrade was managed by NSW NPWS with public consultation involved to ensure that conservation, environmental impact and improving visitor infrastructure was taken into account. Construction was carried out by Goanna Services, a local Aboriginal-owned company based on the Central Coast.
“The new arrangement will improve visitor safety, provide universal access to the spectacular ocean views, including for those in parked vehicles, and better manage the flow of traffic during peak periods,” said Steve Atkins, NPWS Central Coast Area Manager.
Whale watching at Crackneck, Central Coast
Crackneck Point Lookout sits within Wyrrabalong National Park on the stretch of coastline between Bateau Bay and Forresters Beach. The headland position gives you an unobstructed view out over the Pacific Ocean, which makes it one of the better land-based whale watching spots on the Central Coast during the annual humpback migration.
The best spots for whale watching on the Central Coast
The migration season runs roughly May through November, with the northward journey happening earlier in the season and the return south – often with calves in tow – later in the year. Humpbacks are the most commonly spotted species from Crackneck, though southern right whales make an occasional appearance too. Early morning tends to give you the flattest water and the best visibility, so it’s worth dragging yourself out of bed for.
“Crackneck Point Lookout is very popular with the local community and is one of the best locations to observe whales on the Central Coast,” said Mr Atkins.
“Visitors to Central Coast national parks contribute more than $1 billion to our local economy each year and help generate over 2,520 jobs for the region,” he explained. “It’s fantastic to see this national park project completed so that locals and visitors to the Central Coast can enjoy the site’s unique vantage point as the annual humpback whale migration continues“.
What else can you do at Crackneck?
Surfers have long used Crackneck for a wave check – the elevated position gives you a clear read on conditions along the Bateau Bay and Forresters Beach stretch before you drag the board out of the car.
It’s also a well-known launch site for hang gliding and paragliding. The Central Coast Sky Surfers Club manages the launch, and on the right day you’ll watch pilots soaring the cliff face with the ocean sprawling out behind them, which is not a bad thing to stumble across on a weekend walk. Cloudbase Paragliding runs tandem flights from the site too, if you’re after something a bit more memorable than a picnic.
Worth knowing: the launch closes to pilots on Sundays in June to keep the viewing area clear for whale watchers, which tells you something about how serious it gets up there mid-season!
How to drive to Crackneck Lookout
Crackneck Lookout is at the end of Hilltop Street, Bateau Bay.
From Bateau Bay Road, turn into Burrawong Street, then take the first right onto Hilltop Street and follow it to the end. There’s a sealed car park at the lookout with accessible parking spots.
Why should I visit Crackneck Point Lookout, Central Coast?
With the new seating, picnic area and improved viewing spots, it’s a good option even when the whales aren’t cooperating. Pack something to eat, bring the kids, explore the Wyrrabalong Coastal Track and just take it all in.
Here at Coasties, we’re already massive fans of Crackneck as one of our top picks for whale watching on the Central Coast – and this upgrade certainly does have us excited.
Go check it out on your travels soon.
Walk the Wyrrabalong Coastal Track from Bateau Bay to Forresters Beach
