Cronulla to Botany Bay Discovery Centre
Dharawal Country

4 h to 4 h 30 min

13.4 km
oneway

↑ 146 m
↓ -144 m

Hard track
This coastal walk starts from Cronulla station and follows the beaches around to the Boat Harbour Aquatic reserve, then continues along the Cape Bailey walk, winding through thick heath and between hanging swamps. The walk finishes at the Botany Bay Discovery Centre. There is an alternate exit to the end of Polo street for those wishing to exit outside the park. There is a good, optional side trip up to the Cape Bailey lighthouse. Let us begin by acknowledging the Dharawal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 
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Cronulla Station. | Photo by admin, 2008.
coming out of cronulla park. | Photo by admin, 2008.
following the beaches. | Photo by admin, 2008.
small village behind beach. | Photo by admin, 2008.
following disused pipeline. | Photo by admin, 2008.
boat harbour aquatic reserve. | Photo by admin, 2008.
the sir joseph banks drive carpark. | Photo by admin, 2008.
some small sand dunes. | Photo by admin, 2008.
looking back up the coast. | Photo by admin, 2008.
path up to the cape bailey lighthouse. | Photo by admin, 2008.
cape bailey lighthouse. | Photo by admin, 2008.
great example of a hanging swamp lining the cape bailey walk. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Actinotus helianthi (Flannel Flower). | Photo by admin, 2007.
Tabbigai Gap. | Photo by admin, 2007.
The view at the Int of Cape Bailey and Radar Track. | Photo by admin, 2007.
gum trees. | Photo by admin, 2007.
winding through the eucalypt littered forest. | Photo by admin, 2007.
botany discovery centre. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Downloads GPX PDF

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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.
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Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start (-34.0557419,151.1516519)
Mode Bus Car (There is free parking available.) Train
DirectionsFrom Princes Highway, A1
  • Turn on to Port Hacking Road then drive for 3.9 km
  • Keep right onto Kingsway and drive for another 3.6 km
  • Turn right onto Wilbar Avenue and drive for another 230 m
  • At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Purley Place and drive for another 360 m
Finish (-34.0053242,151.2217323)
Mode (end) Car Shuttle   Bus   Car   (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
From the train station, the walk crosses Cronulla street at the traffic lights and continues along the laneway running between the park and the row of shops. The walk then crosses Surf lane at the pedestrian crossing and continues along the wide laneway to the intersection with Gerrale street, at the pedestrian crossing.
From the intersection, the walk crosses the road at the pedestrian crossing and follows the footpath into the park for a short distance before turning left onto another footpath. The walk follows this footpath (passing two intersecting footpaths) to the intersection with another footpath at the edge of the beach.....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start heading along Beach Park Avenue.
There is a toilet (about 25 m back from the start).
There is water tap (about 25 m back from the start).
Find the Monro Park at the start.
At the intersection of Beach Park Avenue & Cronulla Street turn left, to head along Cronulla Street (a highway|tertiary).
After another 45 m (at the intersection of Croydon Street & Cronulla Street) turn right, to head along Cronulla Street (a vehicle track).
After another 20 m veer left, to head along Cronulla Street.
After another 15 m pass the cafe (15 m on your left).
After another 65 m continue straight, to head along Cronulla Street.
After another 65 m continue straight, to head along Cronulla Street.
After another 60 m (at the intersection of Cronulla Mall & Cronulla Street) continue straight, to head along Cronulla Mall (a highway|pedestrian).
After another 115 m pass the "Cronulla Pie Shop" (15 m on your left).
After another 125 m pass the shelter (10 m on your left).
After another 40 m pass the toilet (7 m on your left).
Turn right.
After another 55 m continue straight.
After another 80 m continue straight.
After another 35 m pass the "Dunningham Park" (30 m on your left).
After another 70 m turn sharp left.
After another 90 m pass the picnic table (10 m on your left).
After another 10 m pass a seat (on your left)., has a backrest.
Continue straight, to head along The Esplanade.
After another 15 m continue straight, to head along The Esplanade.
After another 40 m continue straight, to head along The Esplanade.
After another 8 m pass the water tap (5 m on your left).
After another 20 m turn right.
After another 175 m continue straight.
After another 8 m head through the bollard.
After another 325 m pass the water tap (on your left).
After another 50 m pass a seat (on your right)., has a backrest.
After another 50 m pass a seat (on your right)., has a backrest.
Then pass the water tap (on your left).
After another 30 m pass a seat (on your left)., has a backrest.
After another 125 m pass a seat (on your right)., has a backrest.
After another 40 m pass a seat (on your right)., has no backrest.
Continue straight.
After another 185 m continue straight.
After another 8 m pass the water tap (7 m on your right).
After another 80 m pass the water tap (8 m on your right).
After another 65 m turn right.
After another 15 m pass the water tap (on your left).
After another 110 m turn left.
After another 55 m continue straight.
After another 190 m continue straight.
After another 310 m continue straight.
After another 185 m continue straight.
After another 315 m continue straight.
After another 980 m continue straight.
After another 420 m continue straight.
After another 1.6 km continue straight.
After another 540 m continue straight.
After another 370 m continue straight.
After another 530 m turn right.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Cape Bailey Lighthouse. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip error >360 when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 1.4 km veer left.
After another 1.1 km continue straight.
After another 390 m veer left.
After another 230 m veer right.
After another 45 m turn left.
After another 930 m turn left.
After another 280 m (at the intersection of Polo Trail & Yena Gap Trail) turn right, to head along Polo Trail.
After another 370 m (at the intersection of Yena Track & Polo Trail) turn right, to head along Yena Track (a vehicle track).
After another 460 m turn left, to head along Yena Track.
After another 80 m continue straight, to head along Yena Track.
After another 155 m (at the intersection of Yena Track & Banks-Solander Track) continue straight, to head along Yena Track.
After another 215 m (at the intersection of Banks-Solander Track & Yena Track) veer left, to head along Yena Track.
After another 40 m head through the bollard.
After another 20 m (at the intersection of Cape Solander Drive & Yena Track) continue straight (a footpath).
After another 20 m find the "Seat" (on your right).
Seat
Seat

A timber bench seat, 54cm high, 20cm deep and 1.4m wide with no arm or backrest.
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A timber bench seat, 54cm high, 20cm deep and 1.4m wide with no arm or backrest.

After another 100 m come to "Visitor Centre".
Visitor Centre
Visitor Centre

This visitors' centre can be found on Cape Solander Drive, inside Kamay Botany Bay National Park. It provides great information about the area's history and environment, plus there is a souvenir shop, where some simple food and drink is also available. A Trailrider is also available for free hire for people with limited mobility. There is a male & female toilet block on the eastern side of the Visitor Centre. And a large parking area in front.
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This visitors' centre can be found on Cape Solander Drive, inside Kamay Botany Bay National Park. It provides great information about the area's history and environment, plus there is a souvenir shop, where some simple food and drink is also available. A Trailrider is also available for free hire for people with limited mobility. There is a male & female toilet block on the eastern side of the Visitor Centre. And a large parking area in front.

About 20 m past the end is "Parking Accessible".
Parking Accessible
Parking Accessible

There are about 60 car parking bays infrount of the visitors center. Two are marked mobiilty parking bays. The mobility parking area is ashphalt, 3.8m wide and 4.6m deep.
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There are about 60 car parking bays infrount of the visitors center. Two are marked mobiilty parking bays. The mobility parking area is ashphalt, 3.8m wide and 4.6m deep.

The end.

An optional side trip to Cape Bailey Lighthouse.
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
After another 95 m come to "Cape Baily Lighthouse".
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.
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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".
The end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 95 m to the main route.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Cronulla to Botany Bay Discovery Centre


Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length 13.4 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 Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route
Shelter: There is one 510 m from the start.

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 4.5 km apart with the largest gap of 12.9 km.

Seat: There are 7 on route, on average they are 1.7 km apart with the largest gap of 11.6 km.


Order of key facilities on route
ItemFrom StartName & link to notes
Toilet
-27 m[toilet]
Shelter
510 m[shelter]
Toilet
560 m[toilet]
Seat
860 m[seat]
Seat
1.5 km[seat]
Seat
1.5 km[seat]
Seat
1.6 km[seat]
Seat
1.7 km[seat]
Seat
1.7 km[seat]
Seat
13.3 kmSeat
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