Diamond Head Loop Walking Track, Crowdy Bay National Park, NSW.

Forest Walking Track: 1.5 km one way, Grade 3. 
Diamond Head Loop Walk: 4.3 km loop, Grade 3. 
Metcalfes Walking Track: 700 meters one way, Grade 3.

We combined the Forest Walking Track, Diamond Heed Loop, and Metcalfes Walking Track into a loop of about 6.5 kilometers starting from Diamond Head Campground and walking via Indian Head Campground, Kylies Hut and Kylies Campground.

Forest Walking Track

We started on the Diamond Head Loop Walk from Diamond Head Campground, turned into the Forest Walking Track and walked to Indian Head Campground.

Young Eastern Grey Kangaroo having a scratch at Indian Head Campground.

We continued on via the walk-in trail to Kylies Hut. 

Kylies Hut

From Kylies Hut we took Metcalfes Walking Track to Kylies Beach Campground.

Brackish creek on Metcalfes Walking Track.

We saw both and Red and Little Wattlebirds in this section of the track.

Red Wattlebird.

Little Wattlebird.

Amenities at Kylies Beach Campground.

From Kylies Beach Campground we walked out the 4WD beach access into the Kylies Beach section of Crowdy Beach. There were several Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos eating banksia cones in the Banksia trees along the track.

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo eating a banksia cone.

Photographing birds on Kylies Beach.

Sooty Oystercatchers on the rocks at Kylies Beach.

At the northern end of Kylies Beach we found a rough, unofficial, track that climbed up the hill and joined up with the Diamond Head Loop.

We climbed up from Kylies Beach to rejoin the track.

From here we rejoined the Diamond Head Loop track and started the return north to Diamond Head along the coastal cliffs. We arrived at Kylies Lookout shortly after rejoining the track.

View looking south from Kylies Lookout.

This section of the track is very scenic with great outlooks over the ocean and a variety of rock formations. It is also a great vantage point in the winter for whale watching.

The Natural Arch

Diamond Head Loop Walking Track.

Looking south on the Diamond Loop Walking Track.

More coastal rock formations.

A Mapping Authority marker on Diamond Head.

Walking through heath; looking south on the Headland Walk.

Looking north from the Headland Loop Walk.

After a very pleasant mornings walk we arrived back at Diamond Head Campground.

Indian Head Campground and Kylies Hut Campground, Crowdy Bay National Park, NSW.

Indian Head Campground.

Indian Head Campground is the smallest of the three campgrounds at the northern end of Crowdy Bay National Park and also the furtherest from the beach. There was no one camping there when we were there in August 2018 and it was very tranquil with Eastern Grey Kangaroos snoozing on the grass. It is cheaper than Diamond Head Campground for solo campers as there is no $24 minimum.

Indian Head Campground.

Amenities block and access to Kylies Hut Trail in the background.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo snoozing at Indian Head Campground.

The campground has access to the excellent Diamond Head Loop Walk (4.3 km, Grade 3). Or you can walk to Diamond Head Campground via the Forest Walking Track which is three kilometers return, Grade 3. I will cover the walks in Crowdy Bay National Park in a separate blog.

Kylies Hut Walk-in Campground:

It is only a 400 meter walk to Kylies Hut Walk-in Campground from near the amenities block in Indian Head Campground. Alternatively, it is only 500 meters from Kylies Beach Campground. We didn't camp there but it is a lovely grassy area for those who don't mind walking their gear in. There are no toilets or showers in the campground. Camping and lighting fires inside the hut is prohibited except in an emergency. Otherwise the rules and costs are the same as for Indian Head Campground as detailed below.

Kylies Hut 

Kylies Hut was built by local man Ernie Metcalfe for the well known Australian author Kylie Tennant. Kylie's book "The Man on the Headland" features the Diamond Head and Crowdy Bay area. We saw plenty of birds on the fringes of the campground in the short time we were there.

Eastern Spinebill

Eastern Yellow Robin.

Details for Indian Head Campground:
Where: Crowdy Bay National Park, NSW. 52 km, 48 minutes, south of Port Macquarie via the highway. 351 km, 4 hours, north of the Sydney Bridge. Leave the highway at Ocean Drive near Kew, through Laurieton and Dunbogan. Dunbogan Head Road becomes Diamond Head Road on entering the national park. It is about 7 km of unsealed road to the Diamond Head Campground rangers office, book in, then a further 3 km of unsealed road to the campground at the end of Indian Head Road.
Access: The 2WD, all weather, unsealed road was in good condition when we were there in August 2018. 
Bookings & Fees: No pre-bookings. Pay camping and entry fees at Diamond Head Campground ranger office before setting up. $12 per adult, $6 per child 5 - 15 yrs, free for children 0-4 years old. There is a daily vehicle fee for park entry of $8 or buy an annual pass. 
Sites: Undefined grassy sites. The campground is suitable for tents, roof-top tents, camping beside vehicles, camper trailers, caravans and motorhomes. 
Facilities: Amenities block with cold showers and non-flush toilets. We had Telstra phone reception. Walks. Fires permitted in off-the ground braziers only. Firewood and ice can be bought from the rangers office at Diamond Head Campground. No water. No power.  
Prohibitions: No pets. No fires on the ground. No gathering firewood. No smoking.
Contact: Port Macquarie National Parks Office 02 6588 5555 enquiries only, no booking.