Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Wallumarra to Palona Cave hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Wallumarra to Palona Cave
Time
Distance
Climb
Style
4 Hrs 30 mins
11.4 km
446 m
Return
5.9 km ESE of Waterfall
Royal National Park
Track: Hard
Although, the Wallumarra Servicetrail and the sidetrip to the Beehives are not the most interesting tracks in Royal National Park, the Wallumarra Bushtrack and the trail to Palona Cave make up for this. Winding next to Bola Creek the Wallumarra Bushtrack is very pretty, as is the track to Palona. With a short break at Bola Picnic Area and next to the waterfall at Palona Cave this makes for a great walk.
Bushwalking can be fun and interesting when you are well prepared. Please ensure you and your group are well prepared and equipped for all possible dangers. The authors, staff and owners of wildwalks take care in preparing these notes but do not accept responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained when using these notes. Please take care and feel free to provide feedback through our website. Please note that side trips and alternate routes mentioned in these notes are not included in the tracks overall rating, distance or time estimate. The notes also only describe the side trip and alternate routes in one direction.
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 Wallumarra to Palona Cave bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Wallumarra to Palona Cave bushwalking track
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Drive to Int. Walumarra Trk and Sir Bertram Stevens Drive
(0 km) Int. Walumarra Trk and Sir Bertram Stevens Drive to Garie Hill Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 7 m
Descent = 0 m
From the intersection the track heads north west along the dark gravel. The track quickly turns left and after approximately 50m the track turns from the dark gravel to yellow sand. The track soon passes an old trig point on the left to continue north west for approximately 30m to the intersection.
(0.25 km) Garie Hill to Bee Hives Optional Side Trip: Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -11 m
From the intersection the track heads north for approximately 100m down the overgrown track. The track passes through the vegetation to a grassed opening with bee hives.
(0.25 km) Garie Hill to End of Walumurra Service Trail Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 2.2 km
Time = 35 mins
Climb = 16 m
Descent = -68 m
From the intersection the track heads north west over a speed bump on the track. The track swings right through moderately dense vegetation for approximately 40m to an open short bush area. The track continues down the hill for approximately 300m to turn left. The track continues in a southerly direction for approximately 200m to turn right down the hill. The track heads down the hill to where it flatterns out. After approximately 1km of flat, the track enters a clearing on the left, the end of the service trail.
(2.5 km) End of Wallumarara Servicetrail to Int of Lady Carrington Drive and Wallamarra Bushtrack Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1.3 km
Time = 40 mins
Climb = 29 m
Descent = -171 m
From the end of the Wallumarra Servicetrail the track heads west for approximately 200m along the bushtrack until the track opens out and it is possible to see the valley below. From here the track begins to steeply descend the hill and as such rock stairs have been used to make the walking easier. As the track nears the bottom it flattens out slightly and continues down the hill until reaching Bola Creek. At this point the track track turns sharply to the north and continues along the creek bank. After a short period the track crosses a small tributary of Bola Creek. Continuing along the track there are several sections that have been boardwalked and this make the walking much easier. After the boardwalk is finished the track continues beside the creek until coming to a well-marked crossing. On the other side the track goes slightly up along the well managed bushtrack for approximately 100m until coming to an intersection with a servicetrail. This is signposted as the 'Wallumarra Track'.
(3.78 km) Int of Lady Carrington Drive and Wallamarra Bushtrack to The Bola Picnic Area Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.1 km
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -2 m
From the intersection the track heads north down the servicetrail for approximately 50m until coming to a large clearing off to the left hand side of the track. This is clearly signposted as the start of the Forest Path Track.
(3.86 km) Bola Picnic Area to Int. Palona Cave Trk and Lady Carrington Drive Trk Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 1 km
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 29 m
Descent = -46 m
From the intersection the track heads north alongside the Hacking River. This continues passing over several brooks until coming to an intersection with a small bushtrack going off to the right. This signposted as the way to the Palona Cave.
(4.9 km) Int. Palona Cave Trk and Lady Carrington Drive Trk to Palona Cave and Waterfall Track: Hard - Bush Track
Distance = 0.8 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 69 m
Descent = -9 m
From the intersection the track heads east up the hill. The track continues up the hill for approximately 200m. The track then begins to contour south east along the hillside while undulating upwards. The track passes a large overhang of rock on the right from where the track descends to a creek. The track continues with a rocky outcrop above to the right and a creek below to the left. The track leads to a creek where it heads over a log and a re-entrant. The track heads away from the creek up the hill for a while to Palona Caves. At the far eastern end of the caves a waterfall can be observed up close.
Drive from Int. Walumarra Trk and Sir Bertram Stevens Drive
Hiking near Sydney 
1 km
