Cape Baily Lighthouse from Cape Solander Dr

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions
Start (-34.0178254,151.2298425)
Mode Bus Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)
Directions From Captain Cook Drive
Turn on to Cape Solander Drive then drive for 2.8 km

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the end of Cape Solander Drive, this walk starts at the big signpost just to the left of the toilet building. The track heads south along the cliff line (ocean on the left) following the green poles until they stop, then the track continues along the top of the cliff line (staying safely back from the very fragile cliff edge). This section is mostly on sandstone and occasionally through low heath. As the track approaches Tabbigai Gap, it joins onto Cape Baily Track where the track turns left and continues south for 50m until the apex of Tabbigai Gap and the management trail. ....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Cape Solander Whale Observation Platform (about 145 m back from the start). Cape Solander Whale Observation Platform (about 145 m back from the start). There is a helipad (about 25 m back from the start). There is a car park. Find the sign at the start.
	After another 45 m continue straight. After another 290 m continue straight.
	After another 90 m veer left.
	After another 460 m turn left.
	After another 45 m (from the Tabbigai Track) veer left.
	After another 230 m veer right.
	After another 390 m continue straight. After another 235 m find the "Hanging Swamps" (40 m on your right). Hanging Swamps There are a number of hanging swamps that can be found along the Cape Baily walk. They are home to a number of different plants and animals like reeds and frogs. Hanging swamps are formed on high ground when rainfall seeps out of surrounding hills and accumulates in a slight depression, over time forming a swamp. Interestingly, they are sometimes difficult to see from far away as the thick build up of reeds and other plant life often cover the water.
	After another 850 m turn sharp right.
	Continue another 95 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 2.8 km to get back to the start. About 15 m past the end is "Cape Baily Lighthouse". Cape Baily Lighthouse Established in 1950, the lighthouse was required so north-bound shipping could hug the coast and avoid the strong southerly currents further out to sea. This lighthouse can be found a stone's-throw from the Cape Baily coastal walk, about 1.5 kilometres north from the Joseph Banks Drive car park. "Cape Baily Lighthouse". W:www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Cape Baily Lighthouse from Cape Solander Dr

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	5.5 km
Time	2 h to 4 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Shelter: There is one -138 m back from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Shelter	-138 m	Cape Solander Whale Observation Platform

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track
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Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Cronulla Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Friday 21 February
  
  23°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:20am to 4:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 [Very High]
  
  Saturday 22 February
  
  21°C → 25°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of fog in the west in the early morning. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning and early afternoon. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening.
  
  Sunday 23 February
  
  20°C → 26°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. The chance of morning fog in the west. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then tending northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.
  
  Monday 24 February
  
  22°C → 26°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny morning. The chance of morning fog in the outer west. The chance of a thunderstorm in the outer west in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Tuesday 25 February
  
  22°C → 24°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.
  
  Wednesday 26 February
  
  22°C → 26°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.
  
  Thursday 27 February
  
  22°C → 27°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Kamay Botany Bay National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Congwong Fire Trail and Cape Banks Fire Tail closed for track upgrades
  Some parts of this park are closed from Monday 24 February to Friday14 March 2025 while fire trails are being upgraded. The closed areas are:
  
  Congwong Fire Trail
  
  Cape Banks Fire Trail
  
  Access to Congwong and Little Congwong beaches is available via Anzac Parade only
  Access to Cape Banks is available via Henry Head Walking track only
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Closed areas: Kurnell Visitor Centre
  Kurnell Visitor Centre is currently closed until 2026. A new visitor centre is under construction. During these construction works the precinct, including parking, will be fenced off and work crews will be on site. Access to some walking tracks will be impacted. Please refer to onsite signage.
  Parking and toilets will be available at Commemoration Flat.
  We apologise for any inconvenience.
  Email or call the local area office on 02 9668 2010 to learn more about the improvements being made as part of the Kamay 2020 Master Plan Project.
  
  Closed areas: Area permanently closed - Skylight Cave
  Skylight cave is permanently closed to visitors due to serious safety risks. The cave is mid-way down an unstable cliff, and the risk of falling off the cliff edge while trying to reach it makes it very dangerous.
  There is no approved public access walking track to Skylight cave. Please do not risk your safety trying to reach this location.
  
  Closed areas: Cricket Pitch carpark and amenities
  Contractors will be demolishing and replacing the amenities block at Cricket Pitch and upgrading the carpark from mid October 2024 to February 2025. During these construction works the precinct will be fenced off and work crews will be on site.
  Toilets and parking will remain available at Commemoration Flat.
  We apologise for any inconvenience.
  Email or call the local area office on 02 9668 2010 to learn more about the improvements being made as part of the Kamay 2020 Master Plan Project.
  
  Closed areas: Works at Commemoration Flat
  Services and pathways at Commemoration Flat are being upgraded from October 2024 to 2026. The picnic area remains open with limited closures, as work areas are fenced off and work crews are on site.
  The toilets and carpark will remain open, with a reduced number of parking spaces available. Access to some walking tracks will be impacted. Please refer to onsite signage.
  We apologise for any inconvenience.
  Email or call the local area office on 02 9668 2010 to learn more about the improvements being made as part of the Kamay 2020 Master Plan Project.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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