Map of Walk

Location

               
Map of Forest Island to Calala
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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

Otford

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-91294S

Port Hacking

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-91294N

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 Forest Island to Calala bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Forest Island to Calala 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	9km
		Time	3 hrs 30 mins
		.
Grade 3/6 Track: Moderate	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
		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
2.6km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1.7km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (110m) is flat with no steps.

Quality of track
2.7km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (730m) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs
Around 2.7km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 1.8km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required
Around 2.5km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.9km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

Weather
This whole walk, 4.4km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
Around 2.7km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 1.8km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

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.

National Parks Association of NSW - Learn more about the NPA www.npansw.org.au
Walk with a club - Enjoy bushwalking and make new friends                                                (community announcement) The NPA is more than just a bushwalking club. We are a conservation group that helps protect natural places As a member you can join any of our 1000 guided walks each year and enjoy our quaterly Magazine 'Nature NSW'. Membership fee is just $65 per year, concession fee also available. Learn More...

Drive to Int of Lady Carrington Drive and Sir Bertam Stevens Drive
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park. 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 Lady Carrington Drive and Sir Bertam Stevens Drive to Int of Lady Carrington Drive and Walumarra Bushtrack Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 653 m	Time = 12 mins
	Climb = 1 m	Descent = -22 m
From the car park on Sir Bertram Stevens Drive (500m north of the intersection with McKell Ave), this walk follows the Lady Carrington Drive trail through the National Park gate and down the long gentle hill. The track heads through the forest until coming to the signposted intersection with the 'Walumarra Track'[1].

(0.65 km) Int of Lady Carrington Drive and Walumarra Bushtrack to Bola Picnic Area Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 74 m	Time = 1 mins
	Climb = 0 m	Descent = -2 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the dirt road to the north, through the forest for a short distance before bending to the right and coming down to the signposted intersection with 'The Forest Path' at the Bola Creek picnic area[2].

Bola Picnic Area	Alt = 35 m
Bola Picnic Area, in the Royal National Park, is at the intersection of Lady Carrington Drive and Forest Island Track. The picnic clearing is in a gorgeous rainforest setting, with tall trees and ferns surrounding the area. There is no car access to the picnic area. One picnic table and bench seat are provided, with no other facilities.

(0.73 km) Bola Picnic Area to Int Palona Cave Trk and Lady Carrington Drive Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 1.04 km	Time = 22 mins
	Climb = 29 m	Descent = -46 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Audley 9km' arrow[3] down the short gentle slope and across Bola Creek, following the dirt road as it bends around to the left and continues up and along beside the creek. The road heads through the forest for a long while before coming to the hidden, signposted intersection with the faint 'Limestone Cave' bush track[4] (the timber sign is not obvious, it is behind a large tree on the left, just before the signposted 'Palona Brook'[5]).

(1.77 km) Int Palona Cave Trk and Lady Carrington Drive to Palona Cave and Waterfall Optional sidetrip: Track: Hard - bushtrack	Length = 781 m	Time = 19 mins
	Climb = 69 m	Descent = -9 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Limestone Cave 1.6km' arrow along the track, heading up the hill and away from the road. The walk continues up a long hill, winding through dense forest for a short while before flattening out and continuing along the side of the hill. The walk winds through the bush and passes several rock overhangs and outcrops either side of the track, as the walk make its way along to the Palona Caves at the end of the track. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn right to continue along this walk.)

Palona Cave	Alt = 77 m
Palona Cave is off Lady Carrington Drive, north of Bola Picnic Area, in the Royal National Park. Palona Cave is a large limestone overhang with a few cave decorations such as columns and stalactites. Being open to the environment, the cave has some green moss and is not reminiscent of other pristine white limestone caves. The cave is a unique feature for the area and is well worth allowing time to explore.

Palona Brook Falls	Alt = 73 m
The waterfalls on Palona Brook are just beyond Palona Cave. The brook is ephemeral (not permanently running), but when it is running, the waterfalls are a cool place to explore on warm days. The waterfall is made of up two main cascades, with a short landing in between. The water falls into a reasonably small rocky pool.

(1.77 km) Int Palona Cave Trk and Lady Carrington Drive to Palona Brook Picnic Area Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 108 m	Time = 2 mins
	Climb = 1 m	Descent = -4 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads downhill along the management trail as it bends to the right. The trail soon crosses the signposted 'Palona Brook' and comes to a picnic area on the right-hand side.

Palona Brook Picnic Area	Alt = 19 m
Palona Brook Picnic Area is found on the north side of Palona Brook along the old Lady Carrington Drive. The picnic area is home to a couple of wooden picnic tables and is next to the steep gully and culvert that Palona Brook flows through. A great spot to rest when visiting the nearby sandstone cove or walking the old road.

(1.88 km) Palona Brook Picnic Area to Calala Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 2.55 km	Time = 53 mins
	Climb = 95 m	Descent = -102 m
Continue straight: From the picnic area, this walk follows the old road, away from Palona Brook, keeping the Hacking River to the left. After about 1km, the trail leads to a plaque reminding of the tragic loss of Alan Rendell, who died whilst fighting bushfires in 1988. After another 400m of winding trail, the walk comes to the signposted 'Burunda Brook'[6]. A further 1.2km along the trail, the walk comes to a clearing and picnic area on the left, signposted 'Calala'[7].

Calala	Alt = 6 m
The signposted 'Calala' clearing lies between the old Lady Carrington Drive and the Hacking River. The large clearing has a picnic table and plenty of shade from the surrounding trees. There is access to a small sandy beach on the Hacking River, making this a lovely spot to rest on a warm day.

Drive from Int of Lady Carrington Drive and Sir Bertam Stevens Drive
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park. 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

Driving Directions
	To the start of the walk                  Castle HillChatswoodDuralEppingGosfordHornsbyKatoombaManlyParramattaPenrithStrathfieldSutherlandSydney Drive from:		From the end of the walk                  Castle HillChatswoodDuralEppingGosfordHornsbyKatoombaManlyParramattaPenrithStrathfieldSutherlandSydney Drive to:

Near by

Campsites in the park
Bonnie Vale camping ground
North Era camping ground
Uloola Falls 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	9.4 km
Paddy Pallin Adventure Equipment	587 Kingsway, Miranda	(02) 9525 6829	14.4 km
Boots Great Outdoors	23 Koonya Cct, Caringbah	(02) 9542 8988	15.8 km
Onrope	11 Nelson Ave, Padstow	(02) 9709 6299	23.7 km
Dans Caravans	422 Hume Hwy, Yagoona	(02) 9790 7047	26.8 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Forest Island to Calala.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Forest Island to Calala Click to re-center search
3	VMG3	Mine commsite WESTCLIFF COLLIERY	21 km (to the WSW)
1	SYD01	12/14 Ormonde Parade HURSTVILLE	21 km (to the NNE)
7	SYD07	7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN	42 km (to the NNW)
5	SYD05	Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA Emergency use only	46 km (to the N)
8	ROB08	Communications Site MT MURRAY	58 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 17 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

Shower or two. 14.6°C (feels like 8.5°) 28 km/h from the S (gusting 44) 58% humidity     (as at 19/12:45pm)

Royal National Park Link to official closures and fire bans page

Region: Sydney & Surrounds
Park fees Camping Facilities
Current Park Closure information for Royal National Park
Closure information last downloaded Wednesday 19th of June 2013 01:00 PM
CLOSED AREAS
Red Cedar Flat Picnic Area is closed - Red Cedar Flat picnic area
Red Cedar Flat Picnic Area in Royal National Park is closed until further notice for emergency repair works. Please contact the visitor centre with any enquiries on 9542 0600.

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