Karloo Pools Walking Track in Royal National Park

The track from Heathcote to Karloo Pools is a fantastic bushwalk leading to a stunning natural waterhole nestled within the Royal National Park.

Surrounded by rock ledges and with shaded spots nearby for your belongings, Karloo Pools almost feels like a man-made swimming pool set in the heart of the bush.

This moderately challenging 2.5 km section of the Karloo Track takes you to this unique spot, with the option to continue your hike to Uloola Falls.

With the start of the Karloo Pools walking track conveniently close to Heathcote station, travelling by train is a great option for this walk.

Heathcote station is serviced by the T4 Eastern Suburbs and SCO South Coast train lines, offering good connections to the city and Bondi Junction.

Driving is also straightforward, with free parking available at or near the station. Wilson Parade, located behind the station, is your best bet (see map location).

There is no need to pay any park entry fees because this area is located just outside the National Park boundaries.

The track starts at the signpost on Wilson Parade as shown in the picture below.

Although the track to Karloo Pools is relatively short, there are some steep sections (especially noticeable on the return journey!) and the surface can be a bit rough and uneven at times.

While it’s not a particularly challenging walk, it’s best to wear sturdy shoes and carry a filled water bottle for the hike.

Map

Here is a map of the walk, starting from the Heathcote station precinct:

Start of the Walk

At the signpost on Wilson Parade, turn left to head into the bushland, leaving the road behind. This also marks your entry into the Royal National Park.

Continue along the track until you reach another signpost (as shown in the picture above), indicating the official start of the Karloo Track.

From this point, the hike to Karloo Pools is pretty straightforward and easy to navigate.

The path can be quite uneven in places, so it’s important to tread carefully and keep an eye on where you’re stepping.

The scenery along the way is diverse and engaging, featuring a mix of heathland, rainforest, and an array of rocks and boulders.

When you start hearing the gentle sounds of flowing water, it’s a sign that you’re nearing Karloo Pools.

This is where the track crosses Kangaroo Creek, with Karloo Pools serving as a stunning natural highlight.

Karloo Pools

When you arrive at Karloo Pools, it’s easy to see why this spot is one of Sydney’s favourite natural swimming holes.

The main waterhole, Karloo Pool, is roughly 15 metres wide and 30 metres long, with a stunningly picturesque setting surrounded by trees and flat rocky ledges.

When the water is clear, it’s almost impossible to resist the urge to jump in for a swim. And really, why resist?

After the walk in, cooling off in the pool is a well-earned experience, and accessing the water is relatively safe.

Just keep in mind that Karloo Pools can get quite busy, especially on weekends and during school holidays.

For the best experience and to dodge the crowds, try visiting on a weekday or early on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

When swimming in Karloo Pools, keep the following in mind:

• It’s deep:
  The middle of the pool is quite deep, so if you’re not a good swimmer, it’s best not to go in or stay close to the edges.
• It’s slippery:
  It’s slippery on the rocks surrounding the pool, so don’t run into the water, and be cautious at all times.
• Don’t jump:
  As tempting as it may be to jump in, there are large rocks in the water that you can’t always see from above, so don’t jump or dive into the pool.
• Don’t leave rubbish:
  As always, don’t leave rubbish behind in the bush.
• Check the water quality:
  The water quality may not always be good, especially when it hasn’t rained for a while. The quality of the water is typically much better when there is more flow in the creek.

Continue Hiking

From Karloo Pools, the Karloo Track continues on to Uloola Falls, adding an extra 2 km of bushwalking through similarly scenic terrain.

While Uloola Falls might not be as striking as Karloo Pools, the walk there is definitely worth the effort.

Like most waterfalls, Uloola Falls is at its most impressive after a good spell of rain. On the flip side, during extended dry periods, it can be little more than a trickle. Even so, the hike itself makes for a rewarding bushwalk.

Once you reach Uloola Falls, you have the option to keep hiking all the way to Waterfall train station, adding another 6 km to your journey.

The Uloola Track, combined with the Karloo Track, creates the Heathcote to Waterfall Walking Track, stretching about 11 km in total.

One of the great things about this trail is that it connects with public transport at both ends, with Heathcote and Waterfall stations conveniently on the same train line.

In the map below, the milestones along this walk are as follows:

A: Heathcote
B: Karloo Pools
C: Uloola Falls
D: Waterfall