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coming out of cronulla park +
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small village behind beach +
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following disused pipeline +
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boat harbour aquatic reserve +
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the sir joseph banks drive carpark +
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looking back up the coast +
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path up to the cape bailey lighthouse +
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great example of a hanging swamp lining the cape bailey walk +
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Actinotus helianthi (Flannel Flower) +
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The view at the Int of Cape Bailey and Radar Track +
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winding through the eucalypt littered forest +
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botany discovery centre +
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Cross sectional view of the Cronulla to Botany Bay Discovery Centre bushwalking track  Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Cronulla to Botany Bay Discovery Centre bushwalking track  Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
| |
|
Length |
13km |
| Time |
4 hrs 30 mins |
| . |
|
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard |
AS 2156.1 |
Gradient |
Short steep hills (3/6) |
| Quality of track |
Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) |
| Signs |
Directional signs along the way (3/6) |
| Experience Required |
Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6) |
| Weather |
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) |
| Infrastructure |
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6) |
*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk. Gradient
9km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 2.4km has short steep hills. The remaining (1.5km) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
9km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 2.5km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. Whilst another 1.3km follows a smooth and hardened path and the remaining 700m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
Around 11km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 2.5km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
11km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience and another 1.7km requires some bushwalking experience. The remaining (700m) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 13km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 7km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 6km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
(0 km)
Cronulla Station
to
Cronulla Park
Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath |
Length = 349 m |
Time = 6 mins |
| Climb = 1 m |
Descent = -5 m |
From the train station, the walk crosses Cronulla street at the traffic lights and continues along the laneway running between the park and the row of shops. The walk then crosses Surf lane at the pedestrian crossing and continues along the wide laneway to the intersection with Gerrale street, at the pedestrian crossing.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk crosses the road at the pedestrian crossing and follows the footpath into the park for a short distance before turning left onto another footpath. The walk follows this footpath (passing two intersecting footpaths) to the intersection with another footpath at the edge of the beach.
|
(0.35 km)
Cronulla Park
to
Louera Beach footpath (east)
Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath |
Length = 956 m |
Time = 16 mins |
| Climb = 13 m |
Descent = -11 m |
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the footpath north keeping the ocean on the right. The footpath passes the rocks and two ocean pools, continuing around the back of a beach and past the North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club, to the intersection of the footpath at the corner of the Prince street car park.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the footpath north, keeping the beach to the right). At the end of the first cat park area the walk goes down the ramp and along the fenced path running along the back of the beach. The path passes a set of concrete stairs after about 200m and continues to the intersection with a short ramp heading down to Elouera Beach.
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(1.31 km)
Louera Beach footpath (east)
to
Pimelwi Rocks
Track: Moderate - beach |
Length = 4.53 km |
Time = 1 hr 11 mins |
| Climb = 18 m |
Descent = -23 m |
|
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk heads down the short ramp to the beach and north-east along the beach, keeping the ocean to the right. The walk passes the Elouera Surf Life Saving Club and continues all the way along the beach, approximately 4.5 kilometres, until it reaches the eastern end of the Bate Bay at the Pimelwi Rocks point.
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(5.83 km)
Pimelwi Rocks
to
Boat Harbour Beach (east)
Track: Moderate - beach |
Length = 459 m |
Time = 8 mins |
| Climb = 5 m |
Descent = -4 m |
|
Turn left: From the point, this walk follows the beach east around the bay, keeping the ocean on the right. The walk passes a number of shacks before coming to the signposted intersection of the coastal walk footpath.
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(6.29 km)
Boat Harbour Beach (east)
to
Sir Joseph Banks Drive Carpark
Track: Moderate - bushtrack |
Length = 1.11 km |
Time = 19 mins |
| Climb = 18 m |
Descent = -15 m |
Veer right: From the eastern side of the beach, this walk heads up the small concrete path that climbs up out of the bay to the top of the ridge. The walk then follows the track south-east across the grassy hill, keeping the ocean on the right as it runs alongside an old disused pipeline along the coast. The track cuts across the mouth of some sand dunes and continues along through a small clearing, winding down the hill to the back of a small shelly beach. From the beach, the walk follows the coast west, keeping the ocean on the right, until it comes to the blue 'Boat Harbour Aquatic Reserve' sign.
Continue straight: From the 'Boat Harbour Aquatic Reserve' sign, this walk heads north-east up and away from the ocean (keeping the ocean to the right, winding along the track to the Sir Joseph Banks Drive car park.
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(7.4 km)
Sir Joseph Banks Drive Carpark
to
Rock platform
Track: Hard - servicetrail |
Length = 695 m |
Time = 12 mins |
| Climb = 14 m |
Descent = -5 m |
|
Turn around: From the car park, this walk follows the sandy management trail south-east (toward the ocean) down the gentle hill and bends to the left, keeping the coast on the right. The walk passes the mouth of some sand dunes, coming to the clearly visible management trail. This trail winds through the grass, then up a small hill and onto a rock platform that opens out onto the coast. (The track passes a number of small tracks leading back to the coast and heading further inland.)
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(8.09 km)
Rock platform
to
Int of Cape Baily lighthouse track
Track: Moderate - servicetrail |
Length = 694 m |
Time = 16 mins |
| Climb = 42 m |
Descent = -25 m |
|
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads east along the edge of the scrub and over the rocks, keeping the ocean on the right. The walk follows the edge of the heath, until winding inland of a small patch of scrub and up onto a rock platform. The walk continues along the management trail that winds towards the lighthouse through tall heath, and up and alongside the cliffs until coming to an intersection with the bush track, just near the lighthouse.
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(8.79 km)
Int of Cape Baily Lighthouse track
to
Cape Baily Lighthouse
Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack |
Length = 83 m |
Time = 2 mins |
| Climb = 8 m |
Descent = 0 m |
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the sandy bush track, heading up and away from the ocean. The track is relatively defined for most of the way, however in the last 20m the track becomes quite overgrown and a little less defined (the lighthouse is always visible). Once at the lighthouse, there are good views inland, however the views to the east are largely blocked by the high scrub.
(Retrace your steps back to the main track, then veer left to continue along this walk.)
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Cape Baily Lighthouse
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Alt = 40 m |
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Established in 1950, the lighthouse was required so north-bound shipping could hug the coast and avoid the strong southerly currents further out to sea. This lighthouse can be found a stone's-throw from the Cape Baily coastal walk, about 1.5 kilometres north from the Joseph Banks Drive car park. More info
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(8.79 km)
Int of Cape Baily lighthouse track
to
Sand dune int
Track: Moderate - bushtrack |
Length = 953 m |
Time = 18 mins |
| Climb = 22 m |
Descent = -28 m |
|
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track, keeping the ocean and the cliff tops to the right. After a few hundred meters, the track heads a little more inland and over several small sand dunes, then climbs a short hill and turns right to head down the hill toward the swamp. About halfway along the edge of the swamp, the track turns right and climbs up a sand dune to the track intersection, in the middle of the depression in the dune.
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Hanging Swamps
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Alt = 29 m |
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There are a number of hanging swamps that can be found along the Cape Baily walk. They are home to a number of different plants and animals like reeds and frogs. Hanging swamps are formed on high ground when rainfall seeps out of surrounding hills and accumulates in a slight depression, over time forming a swamp. Interestingly, they are sometimes difficult to see from far away as the thick build up of reeds and other plant life often cover the water.
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(9.74 km)
Sand dune int
to
Tabbigai Gap Track Int
Track: Moderate - bushtrack |
Length = 546 m |
Time = 9 mins |
| Climb = 6 m |
Descent = -8 m |
|
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk heads north, keeping the ocean on the right (about 150m away) and the hanging swamp on the left. The walk follows the overgrown track through thick scrub until it comes to a sand dune clearing. From the clearing, the track continues north, up and out of the other end of the clearing. From here, it goes down the other side, along another overgrown track winding north through thick scrub, into another long sand dune clearing. From the second clearing, the walk continues north through to another overgrown track, which it follows for a short distance to a wider sandy track, then a little further north to the apex of Tabbigai Gap.
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(10.29 km)
Tabbigai Gap Track Int
to
Int of Cape Baily and car park tracks
Track: Moderate - bushtrack |
Length = 1.01 km |
Time = 17 mins |
| Climb = 19 m |
Descent = -10 m |
|
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads north (keeping ocean on the right) along the sandy trail, passing a small bush track on the right. The walk soon heads over rock and sandy sections, and there are several areas where wind and water erosion has developed small holes along the rock shelf that give it a very interesting look. After a little while, the walk reaches an intersection with several other bush tracks on a large rock-shelf.
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(11.3 km)
Int of Cape Baily and car park tracks
to
Int of Cape Baily and link track
Track: Moderate - bushtrack |
Length = 665 m |
Time = 11 mins |
| Climb = 7 m |
Descent = -6 m |
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads north-west along the rock-shelf. This soon changes to a sandy bush track. After a short distance along the sandy track, the walk arrives at an intersection with a wide management trail.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk heads north along the wide sandy bush track, keeping the water tank and radar installation on your left as the track winds through the heath forest. The walk winds around to a small bush track which appears on the right (this is just before more-obvious intersection a little further up).
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(11.96 km)
Int of Cape Bailey and link track
to
End of Polo Street
Alternate Exit:
Track: Moderate - servicetrail
( Show detail)
|
Length = 424 m |
Time = 8 mins |
| Climb = 2 m |
Descent = -19 m |
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail west (keeping the water tank on the left) for a very short distance until it comes to the 'T' intersection of the Cape Bailey walking track service trail.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail north-west, away from the water tank (with the power lines on the left-hand side), through the bush and down a gentle hill, continuing along until it heads around a National Parks gate at the end of Polo Street. (End of the alternative exit track)
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(11.96 km)
Int of Cape Baily and link track
to
Int of Yena Servicetrail and link track
Track: Moderate - bushtrack |
Length = 476 m |
Time = 8 mins |
| Climb = 7 m |
Descent = -8 m |
|
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads north along a sandy bush track, away from the water tank and radar installation. This is a very sandy trail with several small ups and downs. The track continues until reaching an intersection with a service trail.
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(12.44 km)
Int of Yena Servicetrail and link track
to
Carpark
Track: Moderate - servicetrail,bushtrack,servicetrail,servicetrail |
Length = 695 m |
Time = 15 mins |
| Climb = 13 m |
Descent = -33 m |
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads north-west through the ferny forest until it meets up with a wide, sandy, bush track (which heads up and to the right).
Turn right: From the intersection with the bush track, this walk heads north-east along a narrow sandy bush track that has several small ups and downs. Soon, the walk comes to an intersection with a small bush track at the top of the knoll - this is Kurnell Lookout, views obstructed by trees.
Continue straight: From the intersection at Kurnell Lookout, this walk heads north-east along the track for a short while until coming to an intersection with a management trail.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads north-west, down along the wide gravelly management trail, with dense ferns on either side, until coming to Cape Solander Drive.
Continue straight: From the road, this walk heads north-west along the old road, now a service trail. This continues for a short period before passing over a small bridge. Just beyond this, the track opens out onto the Botany Bay Discovery Centre car park. The discovery centre is to the right.
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Visitor Centre
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Alt = 13 m |
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This visitors' centre can be found on Cape Solander Drive, inside Kamay Botany Bay National Park. It provides great information about the area's history and environment, plus there is a souvenir shop, where some simple food and drink is also available. A Trailrider is also available for free hire for people with limited mobility[1]. There is a male & female toilet block[fac=8276] on the eastern side of the Visitor Centre. And a large parking area[fac=8277] in front.
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Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk
Public Transport links currently not working, sorry
Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk
| Store |
Address |
Phone |
Distance (straight line) |
| Boots Great Outdoors | 23 Koonya Cct, Caringbah | (02) 9542 8988 | 4.1 km | Paddy Pallin Adventure Equipment | 587 Kingsway, Miranda | (02) 9525 6829 | 5.2 km | Caravan Accessories Pty Ltd | 33 Rocky Point Rd , Kogarah | (02) 9588 3400 | 9.4 km | Carlton Canvas Co | 337 Princes Hwy, Carlton | (02) 9587 0208 | 9.1 km | Hurstville Disposals & Outdoor Centre | 235 Forest Rd , Hurstville | (02) 9580 4445 | 10.9 km |
A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Cronulla to Botany Bay Discovery Centre.
Fire DangerThis walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a LOW MODERATE rating and No fire ban in place. (Tomorrow the Fire Danger Rating is LOW MODERATE, No fire ban.) (Downloaded 7 years ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information. Weather and ClimateWeather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here | | °C (feels like °) | | km/h from the | | % humidity (as at ) |
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 Botany Bay National Park Link to official closures and fire bans pageRegion: Sydney & Surrounds Park fees Camping Facilities I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment. |
Hiking near Sydney 
5 km
Check out the facilities at 
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times.
There is free parking available.
not too much longer now :)