Lake Toolooma Trail

Download & Print Map and Notes

2 hrs 30 mins

6.4 km Circuit

220 m

Moderate track

This circuit around Lake Toolooma makes a lovely walk through Heathcote National Park. This walk mainly follows management trails and provides a few views of the lake. Although most of the walk is not in view of the lake, there are great views from the top of the western ridge.

Following the Lake Toolooma service trail

Views of Lake Toolooma from the service trail

Following the powerlines along the service trail

(0km) Waterfall Station → End of Warabin Rd

730 m

14 mins

10m

-22m Very easy

From Waterfall Railway Station, this walk takes the ramp out of the station onto Kooraban St. The walk follows Kooraban St over the Princess Highway, then turns right into Warabin St. This is followed to the end, where it comes to the intersection with the service trail signposted as the 'Bullawarring Track'.

(1km) End of Warabin Rd → Int of Bullawarring Track and Warabin Servicetrail

90 m

2 mins

-4m Easy track

Veer left: From the end of Warabin St, this walk passes the large National Park gate and the sign saying 'Bullawarring Track - Heathcote National Park', heading along the service trail for a short while before coming to the signposted intersection of the Bullawarring Track at the top of the long set of wooden stairs.

(1km) Int of Bullawarring Track and Warabin Servicetrail → Int of Bullawarring Track and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail

280 m

9 mins

-52m Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Bullawarring Trac Kingfisher Pool and Lake Eckersley' sign[1] down to the bottom of a long set of wooden steps. From here, the walk continues down the hill along the rocky bush track to the top of some short cliffs, where the walk follows the rock shelf for a short distance before continuing steeply down the rocky slope and down the hill to the intersection of the Lake Toolooma service trail.

(1km) Int of Bullawarring Track and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail → Int of Lake Toolooma service trail and Toolooma Dam bushtrack

660 m

13 mins

11m

-22m Unknow grade

Turn left : From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail south, keeping the bottom of the valley down to the right. The trail winds along for a while before coming to the intersection with a faint track (downhill on the right, towards the dam wall which is visible from the trail).

(2km) Int of Lake Toolooma service trail and Toolooma Dam bushtrack → Lake Toolooma dam wall

30 m

1 mins

-5m Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the track down the short, steep hill towards the lake and bends around to the right, winding through the bush to the end of the dam wall. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn sharp right.

Lake Toolooma

Lake Toolooma is a picturesque and well-hidden dam in the Heathcote National Park, just a stone's throw from Waterfall and the Camp Coutts Scout Facility. This lake is best enjoyed from the end of the dam wall, near the lily pads.

(2km) Int of Lake Toolooma service trail and Toolooma Dam bushtrack → Int of Camp Coutts driveway and Lake Toolooma service trail

490 m

9 mins

14m

-15m Moderate track

Continue straight: From here, this walk follows the management trail, keeping Lake Toolooma on the right as it heads through the bush. At the end of the lake, the trail bends to the left and continues along to the intersection with the asphalt management trail.

(2km) Int of Camp Coutts Driveway and Lake Toolooma service trail → Coutts Creek Scout Facility

510 m

9 mins

-9m Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the asphalt management trail west, down the gentle slope and through the bush to the Camp Coutts car park. From the car park, the walk heads through the large scout camp gate ('Stan Bales Gateway'[2]) and along the driveway entrance, as the trail winds around the right-hand side of the scout camp buildings. The walk passes a toilet block and comes to an intersection with a management trail (which heads down and across the creek).

(3km) Coutts Creek Scout Facility → Int of Lake Toolooma service trail and Camp Couts service trail

320 m

6 mins

11m

-5m Easy track

Veer right: From the Camp Couts Scout camp, the walk follows the management trail down across the creek and back up the other side, passing a large, flat, grassy clearing on the left. The walk continues through the bush, passing some of the scout camp's picnic areas and comes to the intersection with another management trail.

(3km) Int of Lake Toolooma service trail and Camp Couts service trail → Int of Waterfall Gully and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail (west)

1.9 km

40 mins

57m

-80m Moderate track

Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail up the hill. The trail soon steepens as it winds up the long hill to the rock platform at the top. Here, the trail bends to the right and continues along the ridge to the intersection with the Mt Westmacot track, just before the National Park gate.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail through the National Park gate and along the ridge, keeping the valley down to the right. The trail winds along beside the high tension power lines for a while before starting down the long and gradual hill. At the bottom of the valley,the walk comes to the signposted intersection with the 'Bullawarring Track'[3] on the left (a short distance before the creek crossing).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads north, crossing the creek and heading along the service trail for a very short period, before coming to an intersection with a bush track going off to the right.

(5km) Int of Waterfall Gully and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail (west) → Int of Bullawarring Track and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail

340 m

8 mins

31m

-3m Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Bullawarring Track - Waterfall' sign[4] south-east away from the power lines, following the narrow but clear track for several hundred metres (ignoring faint tracks to the left). The track then lends slightly to the left and heads up the hill to an intersection with a service trail.

(5km) Int of Bullawarring Track and Lake Toolooma Servicetrail → Int of Bullawarring Track and Warabin Servicetrail

280 m

9 mins

52m

0m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the narrow track and painted arrow[5] in the middle of the rock step, heading east up the rocky steps. The walk climbs up some rough rock steps with some carved foot-holes in the rock outcrop, to the top of some short cliffs. From here, the walk follows the rock platform at the top of the short cliffs, and the painted arrows, to the bush track which continues up the long rocky hill. The walk continues up a long set of wooden steps to the signposted intersection with a service trail.

(6km) Int of Bullawarring Track and Warabin Servicetrail → End of Warabin Rd

90 m

2 mins

0m Easy track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the service trail, heading up the gentle hill towards the houses for a short while before coming to the end of Warabin Street.

(6km) End of Warabin Rd → Waterfall Station

730 m

14 mins

22m

-10m Very easy

Veer right: From the end of Warabin St, this walk follows the road up the hill and past the intersection of Yanagang Street, continuing up to the next intersection. Here, the walk turns left into Koorabin St, then passes over the Princes Highway and comes to the Waterfall Station entry ramp.

Maps for the Lake Toolooma Trail walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Appin	1:25 000 Map Series	90291S APPIN	NSW-90291S
Campbelltown	1:50 000 Map Series	90291 CAMPBELLTOWN	CW-90291
Wollongong	1:100 000 Map Series	9029 WOLLONGONG	9029

Cross sectional view of the Lake Toolooma Trail bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Lake Toolooma Trail

Altitude analysis for Lake Toolooma Trail

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

		Length	6.4 km
		Time	2 hrs 30 mins
		.
Grade 3/6 Moderate track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
		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)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

2.4km of this walk has short steep hills and another 2.3km is flat with no steps. The remaining (990m) has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

Around 4.3km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 1.5km follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs

Around 3km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 2.7km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

Around 5km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining About 10m .

weather

This whole walk, 6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 3.4km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 2.3km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Lake Toolooma Trail walk.

Heathcote to Waterfall

10.1 km One way, 5 hrs

Spanning between Heathcote and Waterfall Railway Stations, this walk experiences many of the different environments that Heathcote National Park has to offer. From ridge tops to creek walking, this is a great way to enjoy a day, with a perfect spot for a break at the Heathcote Campsite. If the water

Total climbing: 481m

Hard track

Heathcote to Waterfall Overnight Walk

10.8 km One way, 2 Days

Following Heathcote Creek, this walk is a great overnight walk, often used to introduce new walkers to overnight hikes. A well-signposted and defined track leads you to a campsite with a reasonable level of facilities. There are great views of Heathcote Creek along the way, and many of Heathcote's v

Total climbing: 503m

Hard track

Waterfall to Heathcote

10.8 km One way, 5 hrs

This walk explores the heart of Heathcote National Park, and is easily accessed with a train station at either end. Although relatively close to the start of the walk, Kingfisher Pool, next to Heathcote Creek, is a great spot to break and enjoy the park. Mirang Pool, at the northern end, also offe

Total climbing: 467m

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 Rei

Total climbing: 635m

Hard track