Heathcote to Engadine via Audley
Dharawal Country

5 h 15 min to 6 h 30 min

14.9 km
oneway

↑ 559 m
↓ -570 m

Hard track
Covering a large section of central Royal National Park, this walk goes through the heath and scrub along a well managed and signposted track. The walk loops from Heathcote Railway Station around to Engadine Station. With public transport at both ends, toilets and water at both Uloola Falls and Reid's Park, this track has ample infrastructure to keep a walker out for a day, without losing the sense of getting away from it all. Let us begin by acknowledging the Dharawal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 
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Karloo Pools. | Photo by admin, 2007.
The heath. | Photo by admin, 2007.
Uloola Creek. | Photo by admin, 2007.
The toilet at Uloola Falls Campsite. | Photo by admin, 2007.
The track across the rockshelf. | Photo by admin, 2007.
The heath abounds with flowers (Narrow-leaf Drumstick). | Photo by admin, 2007.
Tuckawa Rill Creek. | Photo by admin, 2007.
Waratah (Telopea speciosissima). | Photo by admin, 2007.
Engadine Railway Station. | Photo by admin, 2007.
Downloads GPX PDF

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Safer Bushwalks
Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
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Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start (-34.0880118,151.0085082)
Mode Car (There is free parking available.) Train
DirectionsFrom Railway Parade, A1
  • Turn on to Railway Parade, A1 then drive for 1.1 km
  • Turn left onto Wilson Parade and drive for another 115 m
  • Turn right onto Wilson Parade and drive for another 1.1 km
  • Turn right and drive for another 95 m
Finish (-34.0676354,151.0150374)
Mode (end) Car Shuttle   Car   (There is free parking available.) Train  
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
From Heathcote Station, this walk heads south-east along Wilson Parade following the railway tracks. Shortly after passing the emergency services centre, the track comes to an intersection with a bush track signposted as the 'Karloo Track'.....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
Find the car park at the start.
After another 25 m turn left.
After another 45 m pass the toilet (35 m on your right).
Turn right, to head along Wilson Parade.
After another 15 m continue straight, to head along Wilson Parade.
After another 80 m pass the "Heathcote To Waterfall Info Board" (10 m on your left).
After another 35 m turn sharp left.
After another 810 m veer right, to head along Karloo Track.
After another 1.5 km (at the intersection of Karloo Track & Kangaroo Creek Track) continue straight, to head along Karloo Track.
After another 25 m (at the intersection of Karloo Track & Bottle Forest Track) veer right, to head along Karloo Track.
After another 25 m find the "Karloo Pool" (20 m on your left).
Karloo Pool
Karloo Pool

Karloo Pool is a popular swimming hole and informal picnic area. The pool is on junction of Kangaroo Creek and Heathcote brook, south east of Heathcote in the Royal National Park. The pool is surrounded by some very interesting rock formations, and a number of small cascades. There is some natural shade from the surrounding trees. There are no facilities.
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Karloo Pool is a popular swimming hole and informal picnic area. The pool is on junction of Kangaroo Creek and Heathcote brook, south east of Heathcote in the Royal National Park. The pool is surrounded by some very interesting rock formations, and a number of small cascades. There is some natural shade from the surrounding trees. There are no facilities.

After another 6 m pass the sign.
After another 315 m turn left, to head along Karloo Track.
After another 1.3 km continue straight, to head along Karloo Track.
After another 590 m cross the ford.
After another 10 m pass the "Uloola Falls" (8 m on your left).
Then find the "Ulloola Falls Campsite" (10 m on your left).
Ulloola Falls Campsite
Ulloola Falls Campsite

This clearing has six camping sites (maximum of 18 people), and wood fires are not allowed. The site has a toilet, and there is usually water in the creek (treat before drinking). In drier periods, contact rangers regarding water availability. Pre-arranged camping permits are essential.
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This clearing has six camping sites (maximum of 18 people), and wood fires are not allowed. The site has a toilet, and there is usually water in the creek (treat before drinking). In drier periods, contact rangers regarding water availability. Pre-arranged camping permits are essential.

After another 35 m pass the sign.
At the intersection of Karloo Track & Uloola Track turn sharp left, to head along Uloola Track.
After another 15 m pass the toilet (9 m on your left).
Then come to the "Uloola Falls Bush Campground".
W:www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
There is a fee to use this campsite.
After another 690 m (at the intersection of Peach Trees Trig Station Track & Uloola Track) continue straight, to head along Uloola Track.
After another 40 m come to the "Peach Trees Trig Station" (130 m on your right).
After another 2 km continue straight, to head along Uloola Track.
After another 400 m pass the summit (10 m on your left).
After another 860 m (at the intersection of Robertsons Roundabout & Uloola Track) turn right, to head along Robertsons Roundabout.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Currawong Flats. To start this optional side trip veer right here. On returning from this side trip veer right when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 640 m turn left, to head along Robertsons Roundabout.
After another 335 m (at the intersection of Engadine Track & Robertsons Roundabout) continue straight, to head along Engadine Track.
After another 630 m head up the 7 metal steps (about 160 m long)
After another 45 m continue straight, to head along Engadine Track.
After another 6 m pass the waterfall (15 m on your right).
After another 6 m find the "Kangaroo Creek Pools" (15 m on your right).
Kangaroo Creek Pools
Kangaroo Creek Pools

Kangaroo Creek Pools are found on the junction of Engadine Creek and Kangaroo Creek in the Royal National park. This is where Kangaroo creek begins to widen before it joins the Hacking River. The creek is lined with rock and provides a nice place for a splash and cool down. The is some limited shade from the trees in the valley. There are no facilities.
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Kangaroo Creek Pools are found on the junction of Engadine Creek and Kangaroo Creek in the Royal National park. This is where Kangaroo creek begins to widen before it joins the Hacking River. The creek is lined with rock and provides a nice place for a splash and cool down. The is some limited shade from the trees in the valley. There are no facilities.
After another 1.7 km (at the intersection of Engadine Track & Parklands Trail) continue straight, to head along Engadine Track.
After another 245 m (at the intersection of Parklands Trail & Engadine Track) continue straight, to head along Engadine Track.
After another 880 m (at the intersection of Engadine Trail & Engadine Track) continue straight, to head along Engadine Track.
After another 510 m continue straight.
After another 30 m continue straight.
After another 75 m continue straight.
After another 135 m continue straight.
After another 430 m turn right.
After another 90 m turn left.
After another 80 m turn right.
Then cross the bridge (about 15 m long)
Then head down the steps (about 15 m long)
Turn left.
After another 8 m come to the end.

An optional side trip to Currawong Flats.
Turn map Directions & comments
Start heading along Robertsons Roundabout.
After another 140 m come to a toilet.
The end.
About 15 m past the end is "Currawong Flats".
Currawong Flats
Currawong Flats

Currawong Flats is a large picnic area on the banks of the Hacking River in the Royal National Park. Carrawong Flats is on the western bank for the the Hacking River, Opposite Audley and just south of the junction with Kangaroo Creek. The Picnic area can be access by car or by foot by a wooden bridge, to Audley. The picnic area has a large flat and open grassy area with some shade from trees. There is a car park, toilets, garbage facilities, fire pit BBQ's, Picnic tables. Swimming and use of boats is not permitted in this section of the river.
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Currawong Flats is a large picnic area on the banks of the Hacking River in the Royal National Park. Carrawong Flats is on the western bank for the the Hacking River, Opposite Audley and just south of the junction with Kangaroo Creek. The Picnic area can be access by car or by foot by a wooden bridge, to Audley. The picnic area has a large flat and open grassy area with some shade from trees. There is a car park, toilets, garbage facilities, fire pit BBQ's, Picnic tables. Swimming and use of boats is not permitted in this section of the river.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 140 m to the main route.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Heathcote to Engadine via Audley


Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length 14.9 km
Time 5 h 15 min to 6 h 30 min
Quality of track Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient Very steep (4/6)
Signage Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route
Camp site: There are 2 on route, on average they are 5 km apart with the largest gap of 10.1 km.

Toilet: There are 3 on route, on average they are 3.8 km apart with the largest gap of 5.6 km.


Order of key facilities on route
ItemFrom StartName & link to notes
Toilet
110 m[toilet]
Campsite
4.8 kmUlloola Falls Campsite
Camp site
4.9 kmUloola Falls Bush Campground
Toilet
4.9 km[toilet]
Toilet
9.5 km + 145 m[toilet]
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Articles
Discover more details to thrive on track
Ulloola Falls Campsite
This clearing has six camping sites (maximum of 18 people), and wood fires are not allowed. The site has a toilet, and there is usually water in the creek (treat before drinking). In drier periods, contact rangers regarding water availability. Pre-arranged camping permits are essential.
Kangaroo Creek Pools
Kangaroo Creek Pools are found on the junction of Engadine Creek and Kangaroo Creek in the Royal National park. This is where Kangaroo creek begins to widen before it joins the Hacking River. The creek is lined with rock and provides a nice place for a splash and cool down. The is some limited shade from the trees in the valley. There are no facilities.
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