Map of Walk

Location

               
Map of Cape Banks Walk
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Map Scale 500 meters
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

Botany Bay

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-91303S

Bondi

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-91302S

Port Hacking

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-91294N

Sydney

1:100 000 Map Series

9130

Port Hacking

1:100 000 Map Series

9129

Photo Gallery

Terrain

Please note: This is a 'return' style walk and therefore these graphs only show the terrain for the first half of the walk (until the turn around point.)

Cross sectional view of the Cape Banks Walk bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Cape Banks Walk 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	2.6km
		Time	1 hr 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	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
		Experience Required	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
		Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)

*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
Around 1.2km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 110m has short steep hills.

Quality of track
Around 920m of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 360m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.

Signs
810m of this walk is clearly signposted and another 360m has minimal directional signs. The remaining (110m) has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required
Around 920m of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 360m requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.

Weather
Around 920m of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 360m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure
Around 920m of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 360m has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).

Track Notes

Since this is a 'return' style walk once you have had enough of the walk, turn around and retrace your steps back to the start.

Wildwalks
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Catch the bus to Int of Pistol Club Rd AND Coastal Cemetery Management Trail
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 Int of Pistol Club Rd AND Coastal Cemetery Management Trail
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) Int of Pistol Club Rd AND Coastal Cemetery Trail to Coast Hospital Cemetery Optional sidetrip: Walk: Easy - servicetrail	Length = 148 m	Time = 2 mins
	Climb = 0 m	Descent = -5 m
Turn sharp left: From the intersection[1](which is found about 1km past the 'helicopter sign' off Henry Head Rd), this walk follow the management trail around the locked gate[2], passing a 'Coastal Cemetery' sign[3] (on the right). Then this walk continues to follow the level trail[4] for about 150m, until coming to a large four-way intersection[5] and the Coastal Cemetery[6] (on the right). (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn left to continue along this walk.)

Coast Hospital Cemetery	Alt = 25 m
The Coast Hospital Cemetery on the northern side of Botany Bay, was first established in the early 1880’s and now houses as many as 2000 graves. It serviced the Coast (Prince Henry) Hospital, originally a smallpox hospital, as people who died of smallpox were required to be buried at the hospital grounds. The hospital was built far enough from the city to provide quarantine, and for this reason, the hospital in time became an infectious deseases hospital, also treating patients with influenza, bubonic plague, typhoid fever and leprosy. Unfortunately, the cemetery has now fallen into disrepair and many of the grave sites are in poor condition [7].

(0 km) Int of Pistol Club Rd AND Coastal Cemetery Management Trail to Southern End of Pistol Club Rd Walk: Easy - road	Length = 324 m	Time = 5 mins
	Climb = 1 m	Descent = -2 m
From the intersection[8] (which is found about 1km past the 'helicopter sign' off Henry Head Rd), this walk follows the road[9] gently uphill for about 140m, to come to views of the coastal cemetery[10] (on the left). Then this walk continues to follow the road gently downhill for about 200m, until coming to a locked gate[11] and 'Botany Bay National Park' sign[12].

(0.32 km) Southern End of Pistol Club Rd to World War Two Bunker Walk: Easy - servicetrail	Length = 97 m	Time = 2 mins
	Climb = 0 m	Descent = -6 m
Continue straight: From the southern end of Pistol Club Rd[13], this walk follows a management trail, passing around a locked gate[14] before coming to a 'Botany Bay National Park' sign[15] after about 10m. Then this walk continues to follow the trail, with a metal ring fence and the 'Westpac Helicopter' sign and shed (on the right) for about 90m, until coming to a World War Two Bunker[16] (on the left).

World War Two Bunker	Alt = 23 m
This World War Two bunker[17] is at the southern end of Pistol Rd and across from the Westpac Helicopter Shed[18]. This bunker consists of sheltered concrete ammunition storage rooms[19] below and a circular gun base[20] above, with surrounding coastal views.

(0.42 km) World War Two Bunker to Int of Cape Banks Management & Pistol Club Trail Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 109 m	Time = 2 mins
	Climb = 4 m	Descent = -2 m
Turn right: From the World War Two Bunker[21], this walk follows a management trail away from the 'Westpac Helicopter' sign and shed[22], keeping the metal ring fence to the right[23]. The walk follows the trail for about 20m, then turns left at a three-way intersection to head up a gentle hill. After about 35m, the trail starts to descend steeply to a three-way intersection[24] (and views of the water).

(0.53 km) Int of Cape Banks Management Trail & Westpac Helicopter Trail to Int of Cape Banks track & Cape Banks Management Trail Walk: Easy - servicetrail	Length = 385 m	Time = 8 mins
	Climb = 4 m	Descent = -18 m
Veer right: From this intersection[25], this walk follows the trail gently downhill[26] with the water on the left. Then this walk continues to follow the trail for about 400m to find the southern end of the Coastal Cemetery management trail[27]. The walk then follows a grassy track downhill[28] for about 15m to the 'Cape Banks Aquatic Reserve' sign[29] and bridge beyond[30].

(0.92 km) Cape Banks track to Cape Banks Track: Hard - bushtrack	Length = 363 m	Time = 6 mins
	Climb = 4 m	Descent = -4 m
Veer left: From the 'Cape Banks Aquatic Reserve' sign[31], this walk follows the track for about 20m to cross a metal foot bridge[32]. Then this walk continues to follow the rocky track (passing a golf tee-off green[33] on the right) for about 240m to the exposed Cape Banks headland[34].

Cape Banks	Alt = 12 m
Cape Banks on the northern side of the entrance to Botany Bay, offers possibly the best view in Botany Bay National Park. From the unfenced cliff top, you can watch the power of the ocean as waves crash into the sandstone rock face below, or watch boats of all shapes and sizes, sail peacefully across the sheltered waters of the bay. If you are lucky, you can enjoy the spectacle of migrating Humpback and Southern Right whales reasonably close to shore, spouting and sometimes breaching as they make their way northward and southward in pods of three or four[35]. The shipwreck of the SS Minmi can be seen at low tide, lying on rocks on the western side of Cape Banks. There are concrete foundations of buildings remaining on Cape Banks, from when World War Two servicemen were stationed there. More info

Drive from Int of Pistol Club Rd AND Coastal Cemetery Management Trail
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|

Catch the bus from Int of Pistol Club Rd AND Coastal Cemetery Management Trail
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|

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                  Castle HillChatswoodDuralEppingGosfordHornsbyKatoombaManlyParramattaPenrithStrathfieldSutherlandSydney Drive from:		From the end of the walk                  Castle HillChatswoodDuralEppingGosfordHornsbyKatoombaManlyParramattaPenrithStrathfieldSutherlandSydney Drive to:

Near by

Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk

Store	Address	Phone	Distance (straight line)
Kingsford Camping & Disposals	309 Anzac Pde, Kingsford	(02) 9663 3535	7.9 km
Outdoor Equipment	60 Spring St , Bondi Junction	(02) 9389 8122	11 km
Caravan Accessories Pty Ltd	33 Rocky Point Rd , Kogarah	(02) 9588 3400	10.6 km
Carlton Canvas Co	337 Princes Hwy, Carlton	(02) 9587 0208	11.6 km
Brandt Bros Est 1878	141 Devonshire St , Surry Hills	(02) 9318 2666	12.1 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Cape Banks Walk.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Cape Banks Walk Click to re-center search
1	SYD01	12/14 Ormonde Parade HURSTVILLE	14 km (to the W)
5	SYD05	Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA Emergency use only	32 km (to the NNW)
7	SYD07	7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN	39 km (to the NW)
6	VMB7	CB Repeater Site 16 Alan Rd BEROWRA HEIGHTS	43 km (to the NNW)
3	VMG3	Mine commsite WESTCLIFF COLLIERY	47 km (to the SW)

Weather and Park info

Fire Danger
This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a NONE rating and No Ban in place. (Downloaded 50 minutes ago)
Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban status, this rating is based on information from the RFS and BOM.

Weather and Climate
Weather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here

Rain, heavy at times. ~13.3°C (feels like ~10.3°) 39 km/h from the SE (gusting 44) ~85% humidity     (as at 23/10:35pm)

Botany Bay National Park Link to official closures and fire bans page

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

Walker Feedback