Walk 37 B At A Glance
Heathcote to Loftus via Lower Kangaroo Creek
Route Summary:- This diverse walk follows the Karloo Track down to kangaroo creek and Karloo Pool, then goes downstream along Kangaroo Creek, initially for about 1 km. on faint walking track along the left bank to the junction on left with the Bottle Forest Track, then for about the next 3 km. off track or on faint track still along Kangaroo Creek with about 5 Kangaroo Creek crossings to intersect the Engadine Track just upstream of the tidal limit of Kangaroo Creek, then along the Engadine Track via Robertson Roundabout to Audley where the Hacking River is crossed twice, then up to Audley Station along the Honeymoon Track with a short distance along the rail line and then for several kilometers along Temptation Creek and Saville Creek to Loftus Station near the Princes Highway
RQI:- 91
Highlights:- Off track along Kangaroo Creek with several pools and its tidal limit; Audley Recreation Area; beautiful valley of Temptation Creek
Negatives :- Nil
Length:- 14.7 km.
Grade:- Medium to Hard
Weather:_Not suitable after heavy rain when Kangaroo Creek is in flood
Continuous walking time with a few 3-4 min. stops and 20 mins. at Audley for morning tea:- 4 hrs 38 mins.
Train Time from Central to Start :-. 55 mins.; every 30 mins.
Train Time from finish to Central:-. 47 mins.; every 30 mins.
Total Climb :- 250 m
Total Descent :- 345 m.
Water:- Heathcote, Audley, Loftus
Toilets:- Heathcote and Loftus Stations (probably locked); Audley
Café/Kiosk :- Heathcote and Loftus shops; Audley
Published 1:25,000 Map :- Port Hacking
Walk No 37 B Track Notes
Heathcote to Loftus via lower Kangaroo Creek
10/08/2014; update 30/10/2016
Km./ Hrs. min. Kilometers in bold are shown on map
0.00/0.00 Heathcote Railway Station; leave platform on eastern (National Park) side; cross car park to Wilson Parade; turn right and follow Wilson Parade for about 100 meters to a sign board indicating Karloo Track on left; (On sign:- Uloola Falls 5 km; Karloo Pool 2.5 km, Audley 9 km) take this track that initially follows the rear fence line of the Rural Bushfire Depot and houses; there are several sub-parallel track that merge into one.
0.34/0.05 After about 200 meters another (new) sign board indicates Karloo Track ; veer right to leave main track; follow Karloo Track
0.97/0.13 Heathcote Creek Crossing
2.57/0.39 Kangaroo Creek/ Karloo Pool; at metal sign on right just before Kangaroo Creek; do not cross Kangaroo Creek but turn left and follow faint track on rocks past Karloo Pool on right; continue to follow track along left bank of Kangaroo Creek, Creek on right; this track is continuous and rarely more than 10 m away from Creek
3.65/1.00 Track junction with Bottle Forest Track; continue on current bedded outcrop along left bank; large extended pool on right; hint of walking track; track goes above low creek overhang; track at rapids with wide outcrop
3.98/1.09 Good Creek crossing on wide outcrop; cross to right bank and continue along right bank over boulders with large pool about 50 m. ahead on left
4.10/1.14 At end of large pool; continue along right bank; track then either on current bedded outcrop or on walking track about 15 m. from Creek all on right bank
4.90/1.27 Cross to left bank on wide outcrop near the apex of Yalla Ridge to a clear walking track; after some rapids, faint track is less clear as it goes along Creek flood channel; right bank looks inhospitable
5.06/1.34 Easy crossing here of K. Ck but staying on left bank; hint of track; large pool on right; squeeze around overhang.
5.25/1.40 Cross to right bank on wide outcrop; hint of walking track visible on rt. Bank; track obscure over rocks but reappears, generally 10-15 m. from Creek; stay on right
5.49/1.49 Track continues on right bank above overhang now marked with bunting
5.95/1.99 Right bank track reaches wide sandstone outcrop Creek bed at bend; cross to left bank and follow track; note cliff with rope over pool on right bank
6.28/2.06 Track goes down to Creek for easy but slippery crossing to right bank; hint of walking track visible on right bank; marked with bunting; climb to top of low cliff and follow clear track to Engadine Track
6.50 /2.14 Intersection of Kangaroo Creek and walking track with Engadine Track; turn right, leaving Kangaroo Creek and take metal stairs up on right towards Audley
6.63/2.19 Top of several sets of metal steps, track heads south along top of cliff
6.71/2.21 Another three sets of metal steps
7.27/2.30 Track T junction with metal signboard:-‘Audley 500 m.’ straight on
7.53/2.36 In bed of small creek
7.62/2.42 Track T junction with metal signboard:-‘ Audley 200 m.’ straight on
7.76/2.43 Track exits at eastern edge of Audley recreation area; good map info.; toilet block.
7.85/2.44 Middle of timber bridge crossing Hacking River; turn left, head towards café
8.00/2.45 At café in Audley Recreation Area; 15minute morning tea
8.00/3.00 Resume walking; go downstream through the car park towards Audley Weir and cross this.
8.25/3.02 Middle of Audley Weir; turn right immediately after crossing and walk towards two toilet blocks on left and a signboard with track on left, just before the first toiletblock.
8.30/3.03 At signboard:-‘ Honeymoon Steps 1km.’ take steps up.
9.33/3.20 Top of Honeymoon Steps; walk straight ahead past the park administration building on your right and past a large car park, also on right to a service road/ entry road to car park.
9.54/3.23 At service road/entry to car park; cross this at right angles and follow a walking track for about 20 m. to Audley Railway platform; walk about half-way along the platform and then veer right down onto a service road that runs parallel to the tracks.
9.62/3.24 At service road, turn left and walk along this for about 400 m. past a 1.5X2.5 m maintenance hut on left and a track junction about 20 m. after this hut.
9.94/3.27 At track junction with NPWS post; turn right and follow walking/cycle track downhill; take care with bicycles, especially on a weekends
10.41/3.33 Track junction just before a creek crossing (Temptation Creek); turn right, leaving the main track and follow track down along the right bank of Temptation Creek, creek on left.
10.48/3.25 Old dam wall about 2 m. high; probably used as a water source for steam trains.
10.92/3.40 Track crosses small gully entering from right; after crossing, ignore faint track joining from right; continue along right bank of Temptation Creek.
11.25/3.45 Cross Temptation Creek at right angles on large boulders; easy crossing; track continues along the left bank, T. Creek now on right.
11.51/3.49 Track crosses gully entering from left; T. Creek still on right; extensive stands of Gymea Lilly.
11.87/3.53 Walking track T junction with service road where service road crosses T. Creek about 10 m. on right; turn left here and walk about 25 m. along the service road to a galvanized metal pole on right; turn right at the pole and walk along walking track with T. Creek still on right.
12.07/3.57 Walking track at rapids and waterfall in Temptation Creek; track crosses small gully entering from left, then goes a few meters along a rock ledge
and then veers away from Temptation Creek; track becomes gradually steeper, then braided over rocky ridge between Temptation and Saville Creek
12.22/4.01 Track T junction at top of ridge with more established walking track; turn right here and follow track past another galvanized metal pole after about 25 m. and then a track junction with a track uphill on left just before a large boulder; continue straight along main track.
12.96/4.12 At low flat muddy area next to Saville Creek on right with houses on other side and multiple tracks leading off on right; keep left, ignoring all track to the right.
13.22/4.17 Track crosses small gully entering from left; about 20 m. after crossing there is a track junction with track on left marked by a stone cairn; turn left and follow this initially rubbly track uphill..
13.39/4.20 Track veers left of low cliff line and continues more gently up; continue along this main track-it is mostly 1.5-2 m. wide and goes gradually more gently up, then gently down, passing three minor tracks on left and one on right
13.88 /4.27 Major walking track X junction; continue straight on to a creek crossing about 50 m. after junction
13.92/4.28 Walking track T junction with service road; turn right and follow service road to a locked gate and major traffic arterial road (Princes Highway)
14.22/4.30 At locked gate; now cross Princes Highway with care using the wide median strip.
14.26/4.31 On other side of Princes Highway, turn left and follow highway on wide bike/breakdown lane to the end of concrete kerb and earth cutting on your right
14.40/4.33 At end of concrete kerb; take walking track on right over a ditch onto a sealed recreational side road; turn left and follow this uphill.
14.50/4.34 At a broad bend in recreational road to the right, turn left, walk over grassy slope to divided Rawson Ave.; cross Rawson Ave. at right angles, then turn left and follow Rawson Ave. to Pitt St.; at Pitt St. turn right and follow it to Loftus Railway Station
14.65/4.38 Loftus Railway Station
Route Quality Index
On public vehicular roads:- 0.79 km/ 5%
On locked service/fire trails :- 1.19 km/ 8%
On walking track or off track:- 12.67 km/ 87%
RQI= 4+87= 91
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