When was the last time you visited Mount Sugarloaf? Many of us visited as kids and have since only viewed the summit from a distance. Some have never climbed Lake Macquarie’s highest point or enjoyed a Mount Sugarloaf walk. If you’ve forgotten about this hidden gem add it to your list. With so many different walks on offer, you can choose one perfect for your family.
Getting to Mount Sugarloaf
Follow George Booth Road in West Wallsend until you arrive at Mount Sugarloaf Road. Turn off here and follow the road to the top. There is a car park at the top. If that’s full, park where the facilities are. There is also an additional car park lower down which is a good place to park if you choose a longer walk. You will have passed this on the way up.
Mount Sugarloaf has toilet facilities, picnic tables, and barbeques for the public. There are also several beautiful grassy areas where you can stop, spread out your blanket, and have a bite to eat.
We arrived around 9 am and went exploring first. Head up to the Summit and check out the view. Then come back down and choose a Mount Sugarloaf walk that’s perfect for you. There are detailed signs to guide you on your way.
History of Mount Sugarloaf
The Awabakal people call the mountain ‘Warrawelong’. With views over the Awabakal area, it was a place to teach and hold sacred ceremonies. When Captain James Cook first saw Mount Sugarloaf on 10th May 1770, he described the shape of it as ‘like the Crown of a hatt’. In the 1860s, as the early settlers arrived, the area became popular due to the work available in the coal mines. Even the mountain itself was mined. You must stick to the tracks because of this.
The mountain was once named “Great Sugar Loaf” because of how much its shape looked like a Brazilian sugar product. The sugar was formed into conical shapes for the export trade. This product was called “sugar loaves”. The resemblance was uncanny and the name stuck.
Snow on the mountain
The summit of Mount Sugarloaf is the highest point in the Lake Macquarie area. Sitting 412 metres high. it’s easily identifiable by the television and radio aerials at the highest point. Did you know that on Sunday, July 18th, 1965, ten centimetres of snow fell on the mountain? There was such excitement in the local Lake Macquarie area that the police had to close the roads to stop people heading up to it. In 1975, snow covered the top of the mountain again to the delight of the locals.
Summit Lookout
You can follow the linear track which takes you up a steep hill to a set of steep steps from the car park. This is not suitable for wheelchairs or prams. Once you get to the top you’ll enjoy the amazing views overlooking Lake Macquarie and into Newcastle then to the ocean. This walk takes about fifteen minutes each way with kids and covers about half a kilometre there and back. It won’t be long before the kids find the giant boulders along this walk which they can climb and explore. This area is gorgeous, so don’t rush back down.
Summit Loop Walk
Explore a loop of Mount Sugarloaf on this walk. It’s a moderate walk that will take about an hour. Head to the Western lookout and enjoy amazing views of the Hunter Region. There is a section of this track that is wheelchair-pram friendly. Once you leave the lookout, the trail takes you back around the front of the mountain facing Lake Macquarie. You’ll finish this walk back at the car park.
Cliff Walk
From the Western lookout, you can continue to follow the Cliff Walk along to the Northern viewpoint on a rocky ridge. This area is usually the quieter part of the walking tracks.
If the kid’s feet are getting sore, or you need a pit stop, there are plenty of options to end a walk and return to the picnic area. We chose a section of this walk that included the Cliff walk, and both lookouts, and then headed back to have some snacks. All the tracks are well-signposted and have directional posts along the way to help guide you.
Additional walking tracks
For the more experienced adventurers, there are plenty of options. You can learn all about the trails once you arrive.
Put a Mount Sugarloaf walk with your family on the list. There’s nothing quite like immersing yourself in our gorgeous bushland. The kids can choose a walking stick and start exploring. Remember to pack some snacks, plenty of water, and the mozzie spray in summer!
If you’d like to explore more of Lake Mac, head to our Out & About section.
