Heathcote railway station is a great place to start the Karloo Pools Track, having ample car parking, or providing easy access from Sydney’s rail network.
We chose to use the train from Central Station, which was a quick and convenient trip taking just under an hour.
From the train station, walk through the car park, past the Sutherland Shire Rural Fire Brigade building to the start of the track.
Information Board at the Start of the Track
The Karloo Pools Walking Track
NSW Parks and Wildlife maintain the track and manage the Royal National Park. They give the track a rating of three, meaning that it is well sign posted, with some steep areas and unformed paths and is moderately challenging.
Compared to other grade 3 and 4 tracks we have walked, this would be at the high end of grade 3. Several steep areas also had steep slopes adjacent to the track, so care was needed not to slip down.
The walk starts with an easy walk through eucalyptus forest, passing the outskirts of Heathcote before descending through the valley. In places you need to climb over rocks, but the scenery is amazing and worth the effort.
Climbing up to opposite valley, you are rewarded with views over the National Park. From here the track descends to the Karloo Pools.
Upper Flat Section of the Track in Eucalypt ForestSteep Section of the TrackBig Rocks on the PathRocky Path Going UphillKarloo Pools Walking Track
Karloo Pools
Surrounded by forest and rock outcrops the pool’s setting is picturesque and rewards your hour’s walk to get there. Whether you want to relax in the shade, swim in the pool or sit on the rocks, it’s a great place to enjoy lunch.
This is a popular swimming hole, it is often crowded particularly in summer, so be prepared to share it with others. Although we only saw a few people on the walking track, several dozen were there when we arrived around 10:30am.
We relaxed there after the walk, had lunch and spent time taking photos before walking back to the train station.
Karloo PoolsKangaroo Creek next to Karloo Pools
What Did We Think?
We thoroughly enjoyed the walk and pools, as it was a little challenging, with a great reward. Remember to wear good walking shoes, because you will need them in some of the more difficult places. There is no lifeguard on duty so take care when swimming and supervise children. It is also important to check the the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service’s page, because the park may be closed, or warnings in place.
Located a three-hour drive south of Sydney, Jervis Bay is one of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations. The abundance of white sandy beaches, bush and accommodation makes it a great place to enjoy a relaxing break. With two national parks, there’s plenty of places for nature lovers to explore.
Beecroft Peninsula
Forming the northern headland of Jervis Bay, the Beecroft Peninsula has some excellent beaches, walking tracks, rock pools, spectacular views, a lighthouse and a shipwreck. This should be more than enough to keep you occupied for a few days.
Part of the peninsula is owned by the Department of Defense, so you will need to go through a checkpoint. This is a simple process, and the guard will take a note of your car registration, number of people and a mobile phone contact. In return, you will get some brochures on the area and safety advice. If the Department of Defence has operatins in progress, this area will be closed. To avoid disappointment, and refused entry, check beforehand by calling 0244483248.
The beaches here are unpatrolled, so be careful when entering the water. Supervise children to ensure their safety.
Currarong
Currarong is a great base to use to explore the area as it has several excellent caravan parks where you can stay. If you are just passing through to explore the peninsula it’s a good place to stop for a meal or purchase snacks. Everything is so easy to find and reasonably priced.
Abrahams Bosom Reserve
We parked at Abrahams Bosom Reserve as it was close to the walking tricks we wanted to take as well as the nearby beaches. Our first walk was to the rock pools nearby and then we looked at the creek flows past the reserve to the ocean. From here we walked to MS Merimbula shipwreck and then on to Gosang’s Tunnel. when walking to the shipwreck, it is good to wear sensible shoes e.g. crocks, or old sneakers, the rocks are sharp!, also check for tides. there are also bits of metal sticking up around in and about what is left of the wrecks!
Abrahams Bosom Creek
Currarong Rock Pools
Located between Currarong and Abraham’s Bosom Reserve these interesting rock pools are great to see and easy to get to. When exposed at low tide the pools have waves breaking around them are fun to watch. A close-up look will allow you to see shellfish that inhabit the pools. Sometimes fish become trapped, along with the odd crab, so have a look to see what you can find.
Currarong Rock PoolsCurrarong Rock Pools
SS Merimbula Wreck
Although not much of the SS Merimbula Wreck is visible what’s there makes an interesting visit. At low tide you can walk out onto Whale Point where you can get very close to the remaining wreckage.
The SS Merimbula, a large twin screw steamship ran its bows onto Whale Point on the night of 27 March, 1928, later breaking up on the steeply shelving reef. The rear portion of the vessel fell into deep water, so that only the remains of the bow can be seen at low tide.
To get there, park at Abraham’s Bosom Reserve and then take the marked trails until you reach the beach from here it’s a simple walk over the rocks to the scattered remains of the wreck.
Wreck of the SS MerimbulaWreck of the SS Merimbula
Gosangs Tunnel
The excellent signage erected by Parks and Wildlife make Gosangs Tunnel easy to find. Ranges keep the walkways in the area clear of vegetation and overhanging branches making the walk very easy. The walk was very easy, along sandy tracks, where there was a great opportunity to see the local coastal vegetation.
Because we left very early, there was no-one else at the tunnel. The tunnel is small which means you need to be on your hands and knees and be very careful not to hit your head on the roof. If there was a crowd of people here it would be very uncomfortable getting in and out because you would get in each other’s way.
On reaching the other side of the tunnel you exit onto a small rock platform which gives you great views of the surrounding ocean and coastline. On a stormy day like the one we visited on your able to see the waves crashing against the rocks. Be very careful as the unprotected cliff edge has big drop to the ocean below.
Young children should not take this walk due to the height of the unprotected cliffs.
Gosangs Tunnel TrackGosangs Tunnel TrackTypical Signpost on the TrackGosangs Tunnel EntranceInside Gosangs TunnelView From the Gosangs Tunnel ExitThe View From the Rock Platform at the Tunnel Exit
Point Perpendicular Lighthouse
Accessed via a military security checkpoint because of the live weapons range in the area, Point Perpendicular Lighthouse is a 15-minute drive from Currarong. During the drive to the lighthouse, numerous signs warn not to enter the military zones, but as long as you stay on the road, you’re in no danger.
The security guard will take a note of your car registration, the number of people and a mobile phone contact for emergencies.
The lighthouse is a beautiful heritage listed building, set high above the cliffs. Beautifully preserved and painted it makes an excellent scene for photographs because of its location.
A fence protects falls from the 75m high cliffs, making the views along the coastline safe to enjoy.
Cape Perpendicular Lighthouse
Honeymoon Bay
Located on the west coast of Beecroft Peninsula, Honeymoon Bay is a beautiful area for camping or a day trip because of excluded and tranquil surroundings. The bay has trees growing down to the sand, providing shade from the sun. The bay is a great place to swim, but is not patrolled, so take care swimming. it was very popular when we visited, but you can still grab your own little spot to sit and enjoy yourself with such a great spot.
Although permitted, camping is restricted due to the limited space available, so it is important that you book ahead.
Honeymoon BayHoneymoon Bay Beecroft
Huskisson
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Huskisson Beach Motel, because of its central location and access to the beach. The rooms were clean, and we enjoyed our stay here. Limited parking means that if the motel is full, you may need to park your car on the street outside. which appears safe and easy.
Where to Eat
Owen St was only a few minutes walk from our motel, with a huge variety of places to eat from cafes to pubs and the local RSL. We ate at both the Huskisson Hotel and Club Huskisson (an RSL) and enjoyed both. The food was good, the beer was cold and the great views made it more enjoyable.
HMAS Voyager Memorial
The local war memorial is also a tribute to HMAS Voyager which was sunk off the coast by HMAS Melbourne during a collision. The memorial is of etched granite and depicts Voyager, lists her the crew and the victims of the collision while explaining what happened. The entire foreshore from the memorial to the Hutchison docks commemorates this tragedy.
HMAS Voyager Memorial Huskisson
Jervis Bay Maritime Museum
The Jervis Bay Maritime Museum features a collection of maritime artefacts and navigational and surveying instruments. The Museum exhibits a range of nautical equipment, models, photographs, paintings, drawings and objects relating to the history and heritage of the Jervis Bay area.
The Museum is home to the historic Lady Denman Ferry, which we thought as the highlight of the museum visit
Sydney Ferry Lady Denman
Designed by Walter Reeks and built by Joseph Dent, Huskisson for Sydney Ferries Limited, the Lady Denman was launched in 1912. The hull was built in Huskisson from local timber, launched then floated to Sydney where machinery was installed and upper works completed. It operated on Sydney Harbour until 1979, when is was donated to Huskisson.
Jervis Bay National Park
Cape St. George Lighthouse
In stark contrast to the Point Perpendicular Lighthouse the Cape St George Lighthouse is in ruins, although this does not detract from its interest. Most of the tower has collapsed into a pile of sandstone blocks, as have most of the outbuildings. The immediate area and the buildings are fenced off, but this has been done in such a way that you can still see inside part of the building.
Several of the buildings associated with the lighthouse are still standing and their sandstone block construction makes them very interesting to see. There is a huge carpark, which was great.
Cape St. George LighthouseCape St. George LighthouseSandstone Building next to Cape St. George Lighthouse
Hole in the Wall
Hole in the Wall refers to a rock formation seen from this beach. Part of the rock spur has been eroded, leaving a hole. The beach was empty when we visited, but had a lot of washed up seaweed, so we didn’t stay very long. The surrounding trees provide great shade and are a great place to set up for a day here. The tide was coming in when we visited so did not get right up to it.
The Hole in the WallBeach at the Hole in the WallBeach at the Hole in the Wall
Murrays Beach
A very popular area for holiday makers, Murray’s Beach offers fantastic stretches of sand and great water to swim in. Due to its popularity a large car park is not far away. There is also a boat ramp for anyone who wants to get out onto the water. There is also huge toilet/change room facilitities.
The trees from the surrounding national park go right up to the sand which gives you some great places to set up in the shade.
Murray’s Beach
Scottish Rocks
Visit this area at low tide if you are interested in unusual rock formations. Accessed through Bristol Point Camping Ground, Scottish Rocks are one of several interesting geological formations in the area. The erosion of the rocks in here has formed interesting patterns highlighted by the different colours of the rocks. A small beach nearby allows access to the water without climbing over the rocks if you want to go for a swim.
Scottish Rocks Jervis Bay
What Did We Think of Jervis Bay?
We had a great time here and wish we had more time to spend exploring all of the walking tracks and beaches. Whether you like camping, or hotel accommodation, swimming, bushwalking or just relaxing at a beach, there’s something here for everyone. When travelling on some of the roads in these areas there are so many turn offs to something different, you are only limited by your time! We loved it!
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Operated by Sydney Harbour Trust, North Head is an ex-army heritage listed site. Staffed by volunteers, the Visitor Centre is an ideal point to start your exploration of the area as they can provide you with an overview of what’s available. Our visit on a Sunday corresponded to the day that a guided tour was running for the site and underground tunnels. For a small fee a guide shows groups around while explaining the importance of each area. Importantly this is the only way to gain access to the tunnels which form a major part of the site.
Getting to North Head
Public Transport
Ferries to Manly run from Circular Quay, taking around 30 minutes for the trip. Alternately, the Manly Fast Ferry takes 20 minutes, but is more expensive. There is a Fast Ferry service to Q Station Wharf, if you want to start here instead of Manly.
From the Manly Ferry Wharf, bus 135 takes 20 minutes to drive to North Head. This bus runs every hour and connects well with the ferry arriving and departing Manly. Located outside the main entrance, bus stops are easy to find.
Walking
Taking 40 minutes, the shortest walk winds through Manly’s streets, past Q Station and onto North Head. A more scenic track runs along the shore, taking you past fantastic clifftop lookouts and historical gun emplacements, before passing Shelly Beach and ending at Manly Beach. At 4.2 km long, the scenic track takes around an hour one way, but has wonderful scenery to enjoy along the way.
Starting at Q Station, a 1.3 km track passes through bush land, passes the Third Quarantine Cemetery before ending at the North Head Sanctuary Visitors’ Centre. This well paved track is an easy 20-minute walk, with great views over Sydney Harbour.
Headstones in the third Quarantine CemeteryHeadstones in the third Quarantine Cemetery
Driving
Located outside the Visitor Centre is a pay for use car park, which makes driving yourself a convenient option
North Fort Tour
Starting with a short film on Sydney’s history of fortifications which was informative and gave us an insight into their original appearance.
View of South Head From North HeadView of Sydney From North Head
Memorial Walk
The walking tour started with the Memorial Walk which is a paved pathway winding through Australian bush land. Many of the paving stones have been inscribed with the names of servicemen which gives a personal touch to the area.
Progressing along the path takes you to all the memorials for wars Australia has been involved in. Each of the memorials is made of Sydney sandstone and engraved with an overview of the conflict. The Gallipoli Memorial contains the only non-native species in the area, a cutting from the lone pine.
Memorial WalkWorld War 1 MemorialLone Pine Gallipoli Memorial
Fortifications
Continuing to the above ground fortifications we saw the remains of gun emplacements which now consist of concrete structures without any guns. The only remaining gun is a 9.2 inch (23.37 cm) barrel which is on display next to the forts.
9.2 Inch Gun
Underground Tunnels
The highlight of the tour was the underground tunnels. These consist of the rooms and the tunnels needed to service the guns and protect the military personnel manning the forts. Our guide took us through each room, explaining their function and how each was operating when the fort was working.
In the magazine, dummy shells give an idea of the size of the projectiles used and a rack has them set up to show how it would have looked. Even the old diesel generators are in place, giving an idea of the power needed to run the fort.
Well lit with well maintained walkways, the tunnels were easy to walk through with some good photographic opportunities. Stairs in several areas are steep, but not very long, so should not be a problem for most people. Unfortunately, people with mobility issues will not be able to take the underground tour.
Dummy Shells in the MagazineUnderground Diesel Generator in the North Head TunnelsThe TunnelsNorth Head Tunnels
Food and Drinks
At the end of the tour, you can also walk down to the restaurant for food and beverages.
What Did We Think
North Head is a great place to visit, as it covers, Sydney’s history, with fantastic views and bush walks. Being easy to get to either by public transport or car makes it a great day out.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
