Lake Toolooma Trail walking track

Map of Walk

Location

Sponsor of Lake Toolooma Trail bushwalking tracknotes

Map of Lake Toolooma Trail
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Map Scale

1 km

Base maps are used under licence and is © Department of lands Panorama Avenue Bathurst 2795 www.lands.nsw.gov.au

Maps that cover the walk area (please always carry maps of the area)

Print a map and track notes here

Appin

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-90291S

Campbelltown

1:50 000 Map Series

CW-90291

Wollongong

1:100 000 Map Series

9029

Photo Gallery




	Following the Bullawarring Track +




	Winding down the valley +




	Following the Lake Toolooma service trail +




	Lake Toolooma dam wall +




	Views of Lake Toolooma from the service trail +




	Following the Camp Couts driveway +




	Camp Couts from gates +




	Passing through Camp Couts +




	Following the powerlines along the service trail +

Terrain

Cross sectional view of the Lake Toolooma Trail bushwalking track

Cross Section of the Lake Toolooma Trail bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Lake Toolooma Trail bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the Lake Toolooma Trail 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	6km
		Time	2 hrs 30 mins
		.
Grade 3/6 Track: Moderate	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		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
2.4km of this walk has short steep hills and another 2.3km is flat with no steps. The remaining (990m) has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track
Around 4.3km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 1.5km follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs
Around 3km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 2.7km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required
Around 5km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining About 10m .

Weather
This whole walk, 6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
Around 3.4km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 2.3km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Track Notes

Wildwalks
Wildwalks
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Catch the train to Waterfall Station
Catch the train to Waterfall Station
Check out the facilities at Waterfall Station You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your train trip to the end of the walk. Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill\|Chatswood\|Dural\|Epping\|Gosford\|Hornsby\|Katoomba\|Manly\|Parramatta\|Penrith\|Strathfield\|Sutherland\|Sydney\|

Catch the bus to Waterfall Station
Catch the bus to Waterfall Station
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip to the end of this walk. (Links currently not working sorry) Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill\|Chatswood\|Dural\|Epping\|Gosford\|Hornsby\|Katoomba\|Manly\|Parramatta\|Penrith\|Strathfield\|Sutherland\|Sydney\|

Drive to Waterfall Station
Drive to Waterfall Station
There is free parking available. You can drive or ride to the start of this walk Use these links to plan your trip to the start of this walk. Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill\|Chatswood\|Dural\|Epping\|Gosford\|Hornsby\|Katoomba\|Manly\|Parramatta\|Penrith\|Strathfield\|Sutherland\|Sydney\|

(0 km) Waterfall Station to End of Warabin Rd Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road	Length = 725 m	Time = 14 mins
	Climb = 10 m	Descent = -22 m
From Waterfall Railway Station, this walk takes the ramp out of the station onto Kooraban St. The walk follows Kooraban St over the Princess Highway, then turns right into Warabin St. This is followed to the end, where it comes to the intersection with the service trail signposted as the 'Bullawarring Track'.

(0.73 km) End of Warabin Rd to Int of Bullawarring Track and Warabin Servicetrail Walk: Easy - servicetrail	Length = 93 m	Time = 2 mins
	Climb = 0 m	Descent = -4 m
Veer left: From the end of Warabin St, this walk passes the large National Park gate and the sign saying 'Bullawarring Track - Heathcote National Park', heading along the service trail for a short while before coming to the signposted intersection of the Bullawarring Track at the top of the long set of wooden stairs.

(0.82 km) Int of Bullawarring Track and Warabin Servicetrail to Int of Bullawarring Track and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 282 m	Time = 9 mins
	Climb = 0 m	Descent = -52 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Bullawarring Trac Kingfisher Pool and Lake Eckersley' sign^[1] down to the bottom of a long set of wooden steps. From here, the walk continues down the hill along the rocky bush track to the top of some short cliffs, where the walk follows the rock shelf for a short distance before continuing steeply down the rocky slope and down the hill to the intersection of the Lake Toolooma service trail.

(1.1 km) Int of Bullawarring Track and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail to Int of Lake Toolooma service trail and Toolooma Dam bushtrack Sorry I am not sure of the rateing - servicetrail	Length = 658 m	Time = 13 mins
	Climb = 11 m	Descent = -22 m
Turn left : From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail south, keeping the bottom of the valley down to the right. The trail winds along for a while before coming to the intersection with a faint track (downhill on the right, towards the dam wall which is visible from the trail).

(1.76 km) Int of Lake Toolooma service trail and Toolooma Dam bushtrack to Lake Toolooma dam wall Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 28 m	Time = 1 mins
	Climb = 0 m	Descent = -5 m
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the track down the short, steep hill towards the lake and bends around to the right, winding through the bush to the end of the dam wall. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn sharp right to continue along this walk.)

Lake Toolooma	Alt = 148 m
Lake Toolooma
Lake Toolooma is a picturesque and well-hidden dam in the Heathcote National Park, just a stone's throw from Waterfall and the Camp Coutts Scout Facility. This lake is best enjoyed from the end of the dam wall, near the lily pads.

(1.76 km) Int of Lake Toolooma service trail and Toolooma Dam bushtrack to Int of Camp Coutts driveway and Lake Toolooma service trail Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 486 m	Time = 9 mins
	Climb = 14 m	Descent = -15 m
Continue straight: From here, this walk follows the management trail, keeping Lake Toolooma on the right as it heads through the bush. At the end of the lake, the trail bends to the left and continues along to the intersection with the asphalt management trail.

(2.24 km) Int of Camp Coutts Driveway and Lake Toolooma service trail to Coutts Creek Scout Facility Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 513 m	Time = 9 mins
	Climb = 8 m	Descent = -9 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the asphalt management trail west, down the gentle slope and through the bush to the Camp Coutts car park. From the car park, the walk heads through the large scout camp gate ('Stan Bales Gateway'^[2]) and along the driveway entrance, as the trail winds around the right-hand side of the scout camp buildings. The walk passes a toilet block and comes to an intersection with a management trail (which heads down and across the creek).

(2.76 km) Coutts Creek Scout Facility to Int of Lake Toolooma service trail and Camp Couts service trail Walk: Easy - servicetrail	Length = 316 m	Time = 6 mins
	Climb = 11 m	Descent = -5 m
Veer right: From the Camp Couts Scout camp, the walk follows the management trail down across the creek and back up the other side, passing a large, flat, grassy clearing on the left. The walk continues through the bush, passing some of the scout camp's picnic areas and comes to the intersection with another management trail.

(3.07 km) Int of Lake Toolooma service trail and Camp Couts service trail to Int of Waterfall Gully and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail (west) Track: Moderate - servicetrail,bushtrack	Length = 1.91 km	Time = 40 mins
	Climb = 57 m	Descent = -80 m
Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail up the hill. The trail soon steepens as it winds up the long hill to the rock platform at the top. Here, the trail bends to the right and continues along the ridge to the intersection with the Mt Westmacot track, just before the National Park gate. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail through the National Park gate and along the ridge, keeping the valley down to the right. The trail winds along beside the high tension power lines for a while before starting down the long and gradual hill. At the bottom of the valley,the walk comes to the signposted intersection with the 'Bullawarring Track'^[3] on the left (a short distance before the creek crossing). Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads north, crossing the creek and heading along the service trail for a very short period, before coming to an intersection with a bush track going off to the right.

(4.98 km) Int of Waterfall Gully and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail (west) to Int of Bullawarring Track and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 344 m	Time = 8 mins
	Climb = 31 m	Descent = -3 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Bullawarring Track - Waterfall' sign^[4] south-east away from the power lines, following the narrow but clear track for several hundred metres (ignoring faint tracks to the left). The track then lends slightly to the left and heads up the hill to an intersection with a service trail.

(5.33 km) Int of Bullawarring Track and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail to Int of Bullawarring Track and Warabin Servicetrail Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 282 m	Time = 9 mins
	Climb = 52 m	Descent = 0 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the narrow track and painted arrow^[5] in the middle of the rock step, heading east up the rocky steps. The walk climbs up some rough rock steps with some carved foot-holes in the rock outcrop, to the top of some short cliffs. From here, the walk follows the rock platform at the top of the short cliffs, and the painted arrows, to the bush track which continues up the long rocky hill. The walk continues up a long set of wooden steps to the signposted intersection with a service trail.

(5.61 km) Int of Bullawarring Track and Warabin Servicetrail to End of Warabin Rd Walk: Easy - servicetrail	Length = 93 m	Time = 2 mins
	Climb = 4 m	Descent = 0 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail, heading up the gentle hill towards the houses for a short while before coming to the end of Warabin Street.

(5.7 km) End of Warabin Rd to Waterfall Station Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road	Length = 725 m	Time = 14 mins
	Climb = 22 m	Descent = -10 m
Veer right: From the end of Warabin St, this walk follows the road up the hill and past the intersection of Yanagang Street, continuing up to the next intersection. Here, the walk turns left into Koorabin St, then passes over the Princes Highway and comes to the Waterfall Station entry ramp.

Catch the train from Waterfall Station
Catch the train from Waterfall Station
Check out the facilities at Waterfall Station You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your train trip from the end of the walk. Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill\|Chatswood\|Dural\|Epping\|Gosford\|Hornsby\|Katoomba\|Manly\|Parramatta\|Penrith\|Strathfield\|Sutherland\|Sydney\|

Catch the bus from Waterfall Station
Catch the bus from Waterfall Station
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip from the end of this walk. (Links currently not working sorry) Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill\|Chatswood\|Dural\|Epping\|Gosford\|Hornsby\|Katoomba\|Manly\|Parramatta\|Penrith\|Strathfield\|Sutherland\|Sydney\|

Drive from Waterfall Station
Drive from Waterfall Station
There is free parking available. You can drive or ride from the end of this walk Use these links to plan your trip from the end of this walk. Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill\|Chatswood\|Dural\|Epping\|Gosford\|Hornsby\|Katoomba\|Manly\|Parramatta\|Penrith\|Strathfield\|Sutherland\|Sydney\|

Getting there

Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk

Public Transport links currently not working, sorry

Public Transport Timetables

	To the start of the walk From Castle Hill Chatswood Dural Epping Gosford Hornsby Katoomba Manly Parramatta Penrith Strathfield Sutherland Sydney	From the end of the walk To Castle Hill Chatswood Dural Epping Gosford Hornsby Katoomba Manly Parramatta Penrith Strathfield Sutherland Sydney
Driving Directions

	To the start of the walk Drive from:	From the end of the walk Drive to:

Near by

Campsites in the park
Kingfisher Pool camping ground
Lake Eckersley camping ground
Mirang Pool camping ground

Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk

Store	Address	Phone	Distance (straight line)
Engadine Disposal & Outdoor Centre Pty Ltd	1042 Old Princes Hwy, Engadine	(02) 9520 3367	8 km
Paddy Pallin Adventure Equipment	587 Kingsway, Miranda	(02) 9525 6829	15 km
Onrope	11 Nelson Ave, Padstow	(02) 9709 6299	22.4 km
Boots Great Outdoors	23 Koonya Cct, Caringbah	(02) 9542 8988	16.6 km
Campbelltown Disposals & Firearms	Shop 405, Spotlight City Plaza 147-157 Queen St , Campbelltown	(02) 4628 3522	18.3 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Lake Toolooma Trail.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Lake Toolooma Trail Click to re-center search
3	VMG3	Mine commsite WESTCLIFF COLLIERY	19 km (to the SW)
1	SYD01	12/14 Ormonde Parade HURSTVILLE	21 km (to the NNE)
7	SYD07	7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN	40 km (to the NNW)
5	SYD05	Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA Emergency use only	45 km (to the NNE)
4	RIV04	Fire Service Rusden Road MT RIVERVIEW	56 km (to the NW)

Weather and Park info

Fire Danger
This 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)
This walk passes Illawarra/Shoalhaven 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 Climate
Weather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here

°C (feels like °)

km/h from the

% humidity (as at )

A graph displaying the average daily temperature range for the year

Heathcote National Park Link to official closures and fire bans page

Region: Sydney & Surrounds
Park fees Camping I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.

Walker Feedback

Comments

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AdamRainer - Interesting Walk

IP:124.168.168.xxx | 2010-01-04 10:12:30

The walk starts ok, then the track gets a little lost as you head down the gully. Be sure to look out for the one white arrow as you head along the rock ledge, otherwise the track will disappear into the undergrowth as an animal track. Basically you can't get lost even without a track, just head down the gully. Once you hit the fire trail, you quickly encounter the lake which really is interesting. The trail eventually loops back to this point on the fire trail, so remember where the track intersects with the trail, otherwise you'll be bush bashing it back to the car.

Sydnat - Shortish and interesting

IP:124.149.119.xxx | 2011-03-27 07:33:28

Matt's description of Lake Toolooma is spot-on. Well hidden. I've been to Heathcote several times and never knew it was there. The flowering lilies are really pretty. The dam wall is a good place to face your fears!

The scout facilities are quite interesting. Very much still in use, although one feels as though you've stepped back in time to an amphitheatre of sorts.

The second part of the walk, the service trail, is really nothing to write home about, but taking a side trip up Mt Westacott adds a lot of value to this walk. Great place to look out over the whole National Park.

My return trip (from the end of the road, not the station) was a very leisurely less than 2 hours, including the trip up Mt Westacott. Mostly an easy walk.

Arch - easy but steep

IP:121.44.163.xxx | 2011-12-09 05:38:28

trail is VERY wet at the moment due to a couple of weeks of non-stop rain. definitely look out for the arrows, had we missed them we would have gone in opposite directions. pretty easy walk, completed in less time than anticipated - though steep on the out take. excellent bird life, wedgetail eagle sighting as well as water dragons and tadpoles everywhere.

Jules

IP:203.26.177.xxx | 2012-08-27 03:22:34

Nice walk if you include Sydnat's suggestion of going up Mt Westmacott, spectacular views on a clear day.

Shaun - Pretty interesting.

IP:122.106.5.xxx | 2012-11-11 11:17:00

We did the trail backwards, just to avoid climbing steep hills at the end.

Good way to finish with the Dam! :)

Obviously if you're going to do it that way don't follow the arrows. D:

Debbie

IP:121.44.169.xxx | 2013-06-30 08:32:23

Great walk, and great description thanks!

The only section I got a little lost on was trying to find the 'arrow on the rock". When you pop out onto the service road, turn right and walk about 50mtrs up and you will see the arrow on your left. The narrow trail up here was not that well defined, and I didn't see any other arrows. I have extensive bush walking experience so managed to find my way after taking a few wrong turns and backtracking.

I did this walk after 2 weeks of torrential rain. Both creek crossings were flooded so shoes had to come off to wade through them. The second creek crossing was almost too deep and flowing too much to cross, I nearly turned back, but it was fine in the end. There was lots of flooding on the smaller trails, but still definitely doable if you don't mind getting your feet wet and muddy occasionally.

Wish I'd read this section before I left, I would have gone on the Mt Westmacott sidetrip if I'd known. Will have to go back :-)

Warren

IP:122.150.73.xxx | 2014-11-09 11:10:19

Not a very desirable walk IMO because the path has so much gravel & an ankle injury easy to do. The terrain is not as flat as the terrain map would lead you to believe & the distances seem longer. The tracks are not really signed well & we got lost & ended up on the highway.

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