Bushwalking on the Uloola Track

Map of Walk

Location

Sponsor of Uloola Track bushwalking tracknotes

Map of Uloola Track
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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

Otford

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-91294S

Port Hacking

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-91294N

Appin

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-90291S

Campbelltown

1:50 000 Map Series

CW-90291

Port Hacking

1:100 000 Map Series

9129

Wollongong

1:100 000 Map Series

9029

Photo Gallery

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	Just east of Heathcote +




	The view from the top +




	The Rockshelves at Karloo Pools +




	Karloo Pools +




	The view of the valley between Karloo Pools and Ulloola Falls +




	The clearing just south of Ulloola Falls +




	The Ulloola Servicetrail +




	The Waterfall end of the servicetrail +




	The toilet at Uloola Falls Campsite +

Terrain

Cross sectional view of the Uloola Track bushwalking track

Cross Section of the Uloola Track bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Uloola Track bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the Uloola Track bushwalking track

Track Notes

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...

Catch the train to Heathcote Station
Catch the train to Heathcote Station
Check out the facilities at Heathcote 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\|

Drive to Heathcote Railway Station
Drive to Heathcote Railway 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) Heathcote Railway Station to Int of Wilson Parade and Karloo Track Track: Moderate - road	Length = 200 m	Time = 3 mins
	Climb = 1 m	Descent = -2 m
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'.

(0.2 km) Int of Karloo Track and Wilson Pde to Karloo Pools Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 2.58 km	Time = 1 hr 6 mins
	Climb = 87 m	Descent = -222 m
From the intersection of Wilson Pde and the bush track at the large sign saying 'Karloo Track', this walk heads east away from the road. Shortly after, this turns to the north and goes behind the Rural FIrefighting Station (Emergency Services Centre), then the track turns back to the east and continues along the bush track. Gradually this turns to the south and goes slightly downhill until reaching Heathcote Brook. Just after crossing the brook, the track comes to an intersection with another bush track. From the intersection, this walk heads east. The track gradually rises onto the ridgeline and there are some reasonably good views over the surrounding valley. The track continues east in this manner then begins to gradually drop down off the ridge along the slightly rougher bush track until reaching Karloo Pools. This would be a good spot to take a break and get your toes wet.

(2.78 km) Karloo Pools to Uloola Falls Camp Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 2.26 km	Time = 45 mins
	Climb = 125 m	Descent = -47 m
From the intersection, this walk crosses Kangaroo Creek at Karloo Pools, then follows the 'Waterfall via Uloola Falls' arrow up the hill between the rocks and along the rocky bush track. The track climbs up the long hill for a while, then it flattens out for a short while passing a sign pointing back to 'Heathcote', before continuing up another long rocky hill to the top of the ridge. From the top of the hill, the track continues through the trees which quickly open out into scrub. The walk follows the yellow painted markers across all the rock surfaces, until it gradually starts to descend down the end of the ridge, steadily winding down until coming to a large flat clearing. Here, the walk turns right and crosses the Uloola Brook, then continues along the bush track heading away from the brook for a short while, passing the sign with arrows to 'Waterfall' and 'Heathcote' before coming to the 'Uloola Falls Bush Campground'.

Ulloola Falls Campsite	Alt = 132 m
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.

(5.04 km) Uloola Falls Camp to Int of Uloola Servicetrail and Uloola Brook Bushtrack Track: Hard - bushtrack	Length = 737 m	Time = 17 mins
	Climb = 54 m	Descent = -7 m
From the south-west end of the campsite, this walk heads south along the rough track, climbing slightly. This continues for approximately 150m until reaching a small clearing (marked with a post with a 'no camping' symbol). On the southern end of the clearing, the walk connects with a management trail, marked as the 'Uloola Fire Trail'. The walk follows the trail for approximately 530m until coming to an easy-to-miss intersection with a bush track. The narrow track heads off to the right (south-west), as the larger trail turns left fairly sharply and starts to head uphill more steeply. This is the first major hill after the campsite.

(5.78 km) Int of Uloola Servicetrail and Uloola Brook Bushtrack to Cricket Oval Eastern Gate Track: Hard - servicetrail	Length = 4.91 km	Time = 1 hr 25 mins
	Climb = 101 m	Descent = -64 m
From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill away from the bush track and clearing. The trail winds up the hill, then winds across the ridge with many large clearings on either side of the trail. The walk then heads in a southerly direction to the intersection marked by the 'Couranga Track' sign. From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Waterfall' arrow along the sandy management trail. The walk heads up the short, gentle slope then continues along the flat for a while, as the surrounding vegetation slowly changes from scrub to a predominantly eucalyptus bushland before the track heads around a locked gate and comes to a cricket oval.

(10.68 km) Cricket Oval Eastern Gate to Waterfall Station Track: Hard - bushtrack	Length = 587 m	Time = 11 mins
	Climb = 20 m	Descent = -4 m
From the intersection at the gate, this walk follows the right-hand edge of the cricket oval, coming to the intersection of a signposted bush track. The walk follows this track through the dense scrub, passing through some ferns before coming out behind Waterfall Station car park. The walk crosses the grassy clearing, heads through the gap in the fence and continues straight through the car park. The walk heads onto the road bridge, crossing the railway line to the ramp (which goes down onto the platform).

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\|

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
Map Car Shuffle
	To the start of the walk Drive from:	From the end of the walk 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	2.6 km
Paddy Pallin Adventure Equipment	587 Kingsway, Miranda	(02) 9525 6829	10.6 km
Onrope	11 Nelson Ave, Padstow	(02) 9709 6299	17 km
Boots Great Outdoors	23 Koonya Cct, Caringbah	(02) 9542 8988	12.4 km
Jeffs Camping & Disposals	Lvl2/ 444 Hume Hwy, Yagoona	(02) 9708 5092	20.2 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Uloola Track.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Uloola Track Click to re-center search
1	SYD01	12/14 Ormonde Parade HURSTVILLE	16 km (to the NNE)
3	VMG3	Mine commsite WESTCLIFF COLLIERY	23 km (to the SW)
7	SYD07	7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN	35 km (to the NNW)
5	SYD05	Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA Emergency use only	40 km (to the NNE)
4	RIV04	Fire Service Rusden Road MT RIVERVIEW	53 km (to the NW)

Fire Danger
This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a NONE rating and No Ban in place. (Downloaded 5 hours 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

Clear.

15.4°C (feels like 15.4°)

7 km/h from the SE (gusting 11)

92% humidity (as at 02/09:30am)

A graph displaying the average daily temperature range for the year

Royal National Park Link to official closures and fire bans page

Region: Sydney & Surrounds
Park fees Camping Facilities

Walker Feedback

Comments

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troiks

Registered | 2009-02-23 22:36:58

great little walk. we did it last weekend after the rains so there was a lot of flowing water, karloo pools were quite full.
we camped over night at uloola which is a nice spot & not to far from the station

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starcee

IP:122.106.52.xxx | 2010-01-10 21:41:39

Nice walk, we did this walk last weekend and it was a great little get away. We walked to Uloola falls camped overnight then walked back the same way to Heathcote. Karloo pools had loads of water so a swim was fantastic as it was a 35degree day.

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Fabien - First part very good

IP:60.242.85.xxx | 2010-03-05 23:48:02

One thing I can say is that the first part of the walk is very good!
Until Uloola falls it is great. The karloo pool is gorgeous and this is a very good place to swim.
I have to say that from Uloola falls to waterfall.... it is very different !
First we had some trouble to find the "easy-to-miss" track after the fire trail. And this track must not have been taken for ages as the growing vegetation is covering all the track. We have also been attacked by leeches on this track. And when you finally stop walking into those trees, the management trail is not very interesting (to my mind).

So if I had to do it again, I would definitely do it but I would stop at Uloola camp site and walk back the same way.

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johnathon - walking heathcote to waterfall

IP:120.16.192.xxx | 2010-05-31 22:41:17

it is a good walk from heathcote station to swimming hole but walking back to heathcote station..can be murder on the legs..especialy back up hill..walking to waterfall station will take twice as long..but still a good walk but alot of hills up n down before you get to waterfall station..also only reason there is a toilet at the end of waterfall track..is because some old man b*****d and moaned to me ..about school kids/groups shitting on the track instead of going mre into bush area and getting lost..i said why complain to me write the ranger a letter..so he must of done..so now there is a toilet there//like in the pics you put on your website..and lastly there are not many b.b.q pits coming back and only some in camping areas..so bring your own gas ones..during bushfire season
and there aren't seats along waterfall bushfire trail...so bring own portable chair with you..unless you like rocks or trees to sit on..during winter bring warm clothing temperature drops..now and again..could freeze you..if your stuck in gully areas and summer..not much shade..due to idiot who lit bushfires along time ago..on your walk back to waterfall station ..you will find plaque/five white metal crosses dedicate to firefighters ..who lost their lives there..fighting the fires quite along time ago..so an interesting walk..but a long one..also any maps with how long it takes to walk ARE WAY WRONG...they dont put in how many gullys n hills and km's are wrong n i have walked it..your legs will be buggered without plenty or rest stops
hope this helps n thank you

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cameron carter - about waterfall track

IP:120.16.192.xxx | 2010-05-31 06:56:55

yes you are right johnathon ..not much shade..sometimes around some trees

but it is growing back now..thank god
..take plenty of drinking water
during summer as it can get quite hot..walking long distances before you actually reach water..you might want to take water and soap..i realised this..when i touched a tree and couldnt get the bushfire soot off my hands
until i went to waterfall station toilets..to wash my hands...if you dont have soap or like carrying in a case..i have found (SOAP2GO) GREAT..sheets of paper that turn into soap ..when you put water on them and rub hands together..less mess..from cluggy soap and i didnt have to dry the soap afterwards to put back into the bag..since its in sheet format..and not expensive either $2.95 at chemist..and they even have shampo/conditioner and even a shaving one..i was so happy

but
..also you could buy a big bottle of stuff and just put smaller amount in sample bottles ..if you want to save money..thank god for the product..i just needed water..lol..n i have gotten soot on my hands plenty of times ..trying to get around trees at waterfall...lol

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anthony - to cameron carter/johnathon an

IP:120.16.192.xxx | 2010-05-31 07:20:34

yes i tried soap2go as well
..not bad at all..for 30sheets of soap ..in paper format..i found it weird it at first ha ha lol

shampoo and condioner one u spoke of..
doesnt lather too well...but they are adaquete for a good clean of my hair
with water..im amazed at this weird little product...

also johnathon comment
(i agree)
i'm 79 yrs old and there is no seating ..even wooden seats would be nice..every once so often along bushfire track of waterfall
and sitting on rocks aint ..so great
..thanks for heads up johnathon on getting rest stops..my legs sincerely thank you

also signs are torn down by idiots
..so i cant tell where i am,,sometimes except for big track

..and johnathon might of forgot to mention this..but u wont see many people there
..so taking a mobile phone is a must
..some places might have black spots where you cant use a mobile/cellphone

..but down there not too many problems
..i can see the city from there ..even though its far away ..and we are still in good range
..and alot of planes fly overnite from kurnell...so they must have good communication or they wouldnt fly over it..without good radar..so your phone will work well at times

..its nice to watch them fly at night with their lights on...

thank god they are high up..so u dont get too much noise and can still hear the nature/bird rock wallabys and maybe kangaroos bound at night

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admin - Johnathon, Cameron & Anthony

Super Administrator | 2010-05-31 22:37:50

Please take the last three comments with a grain of salt. Johnathon, Cameron & Anthony where all sitting at the same computer and wrote them one after the other. Also you will have noticed a very similar writing style. Can I discourage the use of soap, shampoo and Conditioner on walks. These can have a large negative impact on the local environment. If you do use a soap, make sure it is at least 100m from any water source. Better still buy an alcohol based hand wash gel, they do not require water.

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gottlieb - i know them

IP:203.45.118.xxx | 2010-06-20 08:09:56

cause they were walking together.
and using same laptop on the day i saw them.

Since they have gotten to know each other well over lst two years
(where as before they'd walk it individually)

i have seen them countless times
there

so i'd take there advice
way before i'd take your advice.

How about you walk it as much as they do
then i'll take your advice..Admin
(walk a mile in their shoes)

p.s yes seating is needed there
and thanks to geoff fer the toilet paper
(much appreciated bro)

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Steve - Great intro to bushwalking

IP:110.33.19.xxx | 2011-04-24 22:37:04

Did this walk a few days ago with kids (aged 9, 11). Part of the initiation to overnight bushwalks.

Very much enjoyed the walk from Heathcote to Uloola campsite. Had a swim at Karloo pools on the way and spent the night at Uloola - the campsite was very rocky and required significant effort to 'clean' the ground before the tent could be pitched.

We continued the next day - opting to go down the 'hard to miss bushtrack' - this was less enjoyable for the younguns due to significant overgrowth resulting in many scratches, leeches and general unhappiness.

However, spirits were soon restored when breaking through to the management trail and we continued uneventfully on to Waterfall.

A great walk across some varied terrain and not so hard as you might think... just stay away from the 'hard to miss bush track'! :-)

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Becky - Great, but couldn't find trac

IP:58.172.170.xxx | 2011-07-03 00:52:13

I walked from Heathcote down to Karloo pools and it really is beautiful. Had intended to keep going on to Waterfall, but as some others have mentioned, could not find the track at all! So rather than getting totally lost we just walked back up to Heathcote. Place itself is great, but track to go on to Waterfall from the pools is definitely not 'hard to miss'!

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Spring - lovely

IP:27.32.111.xxx | 2011-10-08 07:35:52

We just did this walk this morning. Heavy clouds but rain never came but it meant we had the walk almost to ourselves. This gave us time to enjoy the beautiful wildflowers (which will only multiply in the weeks to come). We did the walk in reverse (waterfall to heathcote station) and had absolutely no problem finding the track. Did the trip in 3.5hrs (including relaxed lunch at Uloola Falls). Can see why this walk is so popular in summer with the welcoming pools. What a great walk!
P.S. I absolutely agree with Admin, please please do not use soap in nature as it destroys the very environment we are out there to enjoy! there are plenty of other options (hand sanitiser etc) if you really need it.

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CAC - south to north 2 November 2011

IP:203.206.233.xxx | 2011-11-04 21:53:31

Liked this in the opposite direction, as there's very little shade in the southern part and the (gorgeous!) pools were very welcome by the time I got there. Lots of different flowers along the way. I was glad I was wearing long pants, as there's a lot of scratchy plants intruding on the path. Took about 4.5 hours including lunch and a dip.

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