A tour of the secret huts hidden at Crater Cove, located in the National Park at Dobroyd Head, on the Sydney Northern Beaches. The views make this one of the best walks in Sydney. It is a time capsule unlike any other that I have come across on a walk in Sydney.
The huts were built between 1923 and 1963. Originally they were used as a weekend escape for fishing from the rocks, but they have also been lived in on a permanent basis at various times up until 1984, when the National Park Service kicked the inhabitants out of the huts and locked them down.
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Crater Cove contains 5 huts (or 7 huts, if you count the 3 sections of the big one separately). Due to the proximity of the huts to the cliffs and the minimal maintenance that has been performed over the years, they have degraded over time. All of the huts are locked, although you can look in the windows.
Our entry point to the track is via Tania Park in Balgowlah Heights. We then make our way down the headland along part of the Spit Bridge to Manly Coastal Walk, before taking an unmarked track off to the right, which is where the tougher walk starts. Deep ruts exist along the track, if it has been raining you will need to watch your step. In the video you can see that the area has undergone significant fire reduction burns in recent times, which makes most of this track relatively easy to follow. In some older photos which I came across the greenery was significantly overgrown, with the entrance to the track almost impossible to find. Your mileage may vary.
Small trails connect each of the huts. The ones along the cliff side are easy enough to find, just a bit of bush bashing, pushing aside various plants, to navigate between them. The couple up the top are quite well hidden though. Just as I was about to finish up the walk I happened to look up the hill and notice a couple of huts which I hadn’t explored. The path up was also hidden, but once again a bit of persistence paid off.
Each of the huts contains a combination of items left over from several decades ago when the huts were occupied permanently, but also many more modern items which have been left behind by National Park Rangers or caretakers. On the day that I visited there appeared to be a caretaker inside one of the huts, I could hear a radio playing. Reports from some other visitors indicate that some of these caretakers aren’t too happy with visitors to the area.
It isn’t illegal to visit the huts, and they are amazing, I recommend to visit them. Just remember to be respectful and leave no track. Also keep a close eye out for little man-made touches, such as a little stream which had been cemented/dammed off slightly to retain water, which I like to image was used for washing up.
While down at the huts also take the time to venture down to the water, easily accessed from nearby the last hut along the cliff. The water and rock shelf are beautiful, it is no wonder that fishermen enjoyed living in this special spot for so long.
This definitely isn’t a pram friendly walk, with stairs and some tough terrain the whole way along. It also isn’t recommended to bring small children along this section of trail.
Crater Cove – Other Adventures Nearby
Consider making your visit to the Secret Huts of Crater Cove an extension of the Spit Bridge to Manly Coastal Walk. The Crater Cove Track comes straight off the Spit to Manly Coastal Walk track, so you couldn’t find a better opportunity to link up these two amazing Sydney walks.
Crater Cove – Getting There
Public transport should be able to get you the Dobroyd Head Park, however traveling by car is much easier and free parking is available at the beginning of the trail.
View our big list of walks, to check out our other adventure options.
Gear used:
- Camera: https://amzn.to/2YU36Zu
- Awesome value camera mount kits: https://amzn.to/2LFJF34
