Heathcote to Waterfall via Uloola

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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	(-34.0880118,151.0085082)
Mode	Car (There is free parking available.) Train
Directions	From M5 Motorway, M5 Turn on to Fairford Road Offramp then drive for 400 m Continue onto Fairford Road Offramp, A6 and drive for another 15.3 km Keep left onto New Illawarra Road, A6 and drive for another 55 m Turn left onto Heathcote Road, A6 and drive for another 5.5 km Continue onto Wilson Parade and drive for another 115 m Turn right onto Wilson Parade and drive for another 1.1 km Turn right and drive for another 95 m
Finish	(-34.1351581,150.994844)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car (There is free parking available.) Train

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
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'.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the car park at the start. After another 70 m pass the toilet (35 m on your right).
	Turn right, to head along Wilson Parade. After another 15 m turn left. After another 25 m pass the "Heathcote To Waterfall Info Board" (10 m on your right).
	After another 60 m continue straight.
	After another 205 m continue straight. After another 190 m continue straight, to head along Karloo Track.
	After another 420 m continue straight, to head along Karloo Track.
	After another 1.5 km (at the intersection of Karloo Track & Kangaroo Creek Track) continue straight, to head along Karloo Track. After another 25 m (at the intersection of Karloo Track & Bottle Forest Track) veer right, to head along Karloo Track. After another 25 m find the "Karloo Pool" (20 m on your left). Karloo Pool Karloo Pool is a popular swimming hole and informal picnic area. The pool is on junction of Kangaroo Creek and Heathcote brook, south east of Heathcote in the Royal National Park. The pool is surrounded by some very interesting rock formations, and a number of small cascades. There is some natural shade from the surrounding trees. There are no facilities. After another 6 m pass the sign.
	After another 315 m turn left, to head along Karloo Track. After another 1.3 km come to the "Uloola Turrets" (30 m on your right).
	After another 10 m continue straight, to head along Karloo Track. After another 590 m cross the ford. After another 10 m pass the "Uloola Falls" (8 m on your left). Then find the "Ulloola Falls Campsite" (10 m on your left). 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. After another 35 m pass the sign.
	At the intersection of Karloo Track & Uloola Track continue straight, to head along Uloola Trail. After another 8 m come to the "Uloola Falls Bush Campground" (on your left). W:www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au There is a fee to use this campsite. After another 25 m pass the toilet (on your right). After another 135 m pass the toilet (9 m on your left).
	After another 550 m veer left, to head along Uloola Fire Trail.
	After another 1.1 km turn right.
	After another 25 m turn left.
	After another 250 m continue straight, to head along Uloola Fire Trail. After another 1.3 km continue straight. After another 1.7 km (at the intersection of Uloola Fire Trail & Couranga Track) continue straight, to head along Uloola Fire Trail. After another 7 m pass the sign (5 m on your left). After another 550 m head through/around the gate.
	After another 10 m (at the intersection of Uloola Falls Trail & Uloola Fire Trail) veer right, to head along Uloola Falls Trail (a walking track). After another 360 m (at the intersection of Kangaroo Creek Track & Uloola Falls Trail) continue straight, to head along Uloola Falls Trail. After another 100 m head up the steps (about 10 m long) Then pass the sign (on your left).
	After another 7 m turn left.
	After another 20 m turn right. After another 15 m continue straight.
	After another 50 m come to the end. About 120 m past the end is a toilet. About 105 m past the end is a water tap.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Heathcote to Waterfall via Uloola

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	11 km
Time	4 h to 4 h 30 min

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Camp site: There are 2 on route, on average they are 3.7 km apart with the largest gap of 6.2 km.

Toilet: There are 4 on route, on average they are 2.2 km apart with the largest gap of 6 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	110 m	[toilet]
Campsite	4.8 km	Ulloola Falls Campsite
Camp site	4.8 km	Uloola Falls Bush Campground
Toilet	4.9 km	[toilet]
Toilet	5 km	[toilet]
Toilet	11 km	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

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.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Cronulla Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
  
  Wednesday 2 July
  
  17°C
  Showers. Very windy.
  95% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, becoming less likely in the late morning. The chance of a thunderstorm along the coastal fringe. Damaging winds possible. Winds southwesterly 30 to 45 km/h turning westerly 20 to 30 km/h in the late evening.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: No Rating
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection not recommended, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]
  
  Thursday 3 July
  
  12°C → 17°C
  Showers easing. Windy.
  90% chance of rain
  2 → 10mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h decreasing to 15 to 20 km/h in the evening.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Friday 4 July
  
  11°C → 17°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning.
  
  Saturday 5 July
  
  11°C → 18°C
  Becoming cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Becoming cloudy. The chance of morning fog in the outer west. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of morning frost in the outer west. Light winds.
  
  Sunday 6 July
  
  13°C → 20°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely later in the day. Light winds.
  
  Monday 7 July
  
  11°C → 17°C
  Mostly sunny.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning.
  
  Tuesday 8 July
  
  9°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Royal National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Marley walking track partial closure
  The section of Marley walking track between the carpark and fire trail is closed for repairs until Monday 30 June 2025. The carpark will also be closed for repairs during this time.
  Big Marley and Little Marley fire trails remain open.
  For more information, contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648.
  
  Closed areas: Mountain Bike Single Trails closed due to wet weather
  All single-track mountain bike trails in Royal National Park are closed from Tuesday 1st July to Friday 4th July due to wet and muddy trail conditions and forecast strong winds. This closure is to prevent damage to recently upgraded trails. This closure will be reassessed on the 4th and may be extended if trail conditions remain wet.
  Riding on fire management (4WD) tracks is still permitted, but please take care as management tracks may be wet and slippery.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.
  
  Closed areas: Remote campgrounds closed due to heavy rainfall event
  The following areas are closed from 30 June 2025 due to heavy rainfall event:
  
  Kingfisher Pool campground
  
  Uloola Falls campground
  
  Stay aware of the weather and rising creek levels. Remember, it’s never safe to drive, ride or walk through flood waters, so you’ll need to reschedule your visit and avoid travel through areas in this park. Check Live Traffic NSW for up-to-date information about road closures. For assistance during severe weather visit the NSW SES website. In life-threatening situations call emergency services on Triple Zero (000).
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648.
  
  Other planned events: Helicopter operations - Waterfall Oval
  Waterfall Oval and Helipad will be used for periodic helicopter operations on weekends and some weekdays between 26th June and 24t July 2025 to support a Sydney Trains rail upgrade program . The oval will be used to store equipment and materials and the helipad will be used for slung loads to be flown into the rail corridor south of Waterfall Township.
  Park visitors seeking to use the Uloola falls Fire Trail or Walking track from Waterfall Train station may be asked by crews working on the project to wait for short periods whilst slung loads are flown across the tracks. Delays will be minimal.
  For more information please contact the Royal National Park visitor centre on 02 9542 0632.
  
  Closed areas: The Coast track - partial closure
  Walking the full length of The Coast track from Otford to Bundeena or Bundeena to Otford is not currently possible due to several track closures along its length. These closures are necessary due to erosion, rockfall risk and ongoing track upgrade works.
  Please note the following closures:
  
  The Garie to Little Garie section of The Coast track is closed due to hazardous rockfalls and erosion
  
  North Era campground is closed until further notice
  
  Garie Road, Garie Beach and the Garie precinct is closed until further notice due to damage and subsidence of the road surface. Walkers approaching from the north (e.g. from Wattamolla or Bundeena) should exit the track via Curra Moors track. Walkers approaching from the south can Exit to Garawarra Farm via the Burgh Ridge Track.
  
  Bushwalker access is available for the following sections of The Coast track:
  
  South bound access - Bundeena to Curra Moors track via Wattamolla and return only. No access to Garie Beach.
  
  North bound access - Otford to Thelma Ridge Via Burning Palms and Era and return only. No access to Garie Beach.
  
  For further information please contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648
  
  Closed areas: Werrong Beach track
  Werrong Beach track in Royal National Park is closed until further notice due to landslides. Signs will be in place around the closed area.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Closed areas: North Era campground closed
  North Era campground is closed until further notice due to operational activities. For more information please contact the local area office on 02 9542 0648.
  
  Closed areas: Garie Road closed due to damage
  Garie Road is closed until further notice due to damage to the road surface.
  This road may remain closed for some time to allow for extensive repairs. A reopening date is not currently known.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. Please check Live Traffic NSW for updates before driving to Garie Beach.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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