Cape Banks Walk

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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	At the intersection of Cape Banks Road & Coast Cemetery Management Trail (-33.9907931,151.2484836)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. Turn on to Oxford Street then drive for 105 m Keep right onto Victoria Street and drive for another 15 m Turn slight right onto South Dowling Street and drive for another 380 m Keep right onto South Dowling Street and drive for another 5.7 km Keep left onto Wentworth Avenue Offramp and drive for another 190 m Keep left onto Wentworth Avenue Offramp and drive for another 2.2 km Turn right onto Bunnerong Road and drive for another 3.8 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Bunnerong Road and drive for another 1 km Turn left onto Cape Banks Road and drive for another 780 m Turn left onto Cape Banks Road and drive for another 960 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
Turn left: From the intersection (which is found about 1km past the 'helicopter sign' off Henry Head Rd), this walk follows the road gently uphill for about 140m, to come to views of the coastal cemetery (on the left). Then this walk continues to follow the road gently downhill for about 200m, until coming to a locked gate and 'Botany Bay National Park' sign.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Coast Hospital Cemetery int.. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. At the intersection of Cape Banks Road & Coast Cemetery Management Trail Start heading along Cape Banks Road (a service road). After another 160 m continue straight, to head along Cape Banks Road. Then pass the "Coast Hospital Cemetery" (10 m on your left). After another 65 m continue straight, to head along Cape Banks Road. After another 125 m pass the car park (15 m on your right). Then head through/around the gate. After another 35 m (at the intersection of Cape Banks Management Trail & Cape Banks Firetrail) continue straight, to head along Cape Banks Management Trail.
	After another 35 m continue straight, to head along Cape Banks Management Trail. After another 25 m find the "World War Two Bunker" (20 m on your left). World War Two Bunker This World War Two bunker is near the Westpac Helicopter Shed. This bunker consists of sheltered concrete ammunition storage rooms below, and a circular gun base above, with surrounding coastal views. There are rusted and damaged parts, so take care when exploring.
	After another 90 m (at the intersection of Cape Banks Management Trail & Cape Banks Firetrail) turn right, to head along Cape Banks Management Trail. After another 7 m pass the sign (on your left). After another 380 m find the "Seat" (on your right). Seat A timber slat bench seat, 60cm high, 30cm deep and 1.8m wide with no armrests or backrest. After another 15 m pass the "Cape Banks Aquatic Reserve" (on your left).
	Veer left. After another 10 m cross the bridge (about 25 m long) Continue straight. After another 30 m find the "Cape Banks" (5 m on your left). Cape Banks Cape Banks on the northern side of the entrance to Botany Bay, offers possibly the best view in Botany Bay National Park. From the unfenced cliff top, you can watch the power of the ocean as waves crash into the sandstone rock face below, or watch boats of all shapes and sizes, sail peacefully across the sheltered waters of the bay. If you are lucky, you can enjoy the spectacle of migrating Humpback and Southern Right whales reasonably close to shore, spouting and sometimes breaching as they make their way northward and southward in pods of three or four. The shipwreck of the SS Minmi can be seen at low tide, lying on rocks on the western side of Cape Banks. There are concrete foundations of buildings remaining on Cape Banks, from when World War Two servicemen were stationed there. After another 50 m veer left.
	After another 65 m continue straight.
	Continue another 175 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 1.3 km to get back to the start.

An optional side trip to Coast Hospital Cemetery int..

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Coast Cemetery Management Trail & Cape Banks Road Start heading along Coast Cemetery Management Trail (a vehicle track). After 65 m head through/around the gate. After another 25 m find the "Pinch Point" (on your left). Pinch Point Metal bollard pinch points at edge of carpark, beside gate. The gap between the bollards is 48cm they are 85cm high. Then come to the "Wheelchair Rough". Wheelchair Rough A 20m section of the trail has exposed sandstone cobbles.
	After another 75 m come to the end. About 35 m past the end is "Coast Hospital Cemetery". Coast Hospital Cemetery The Coast Hospital Cemetery on the northern side of Botany Bay was first established in the early 1880â€™s and is now home to as many as 2000 graves. It serviced the Coast (Prince Henry) Hospital, originally a smallpox hospital. People who died of smallpox were required to be buried at the hospital grounds. The hospital was built far enough from the city to provide quarantine and for this reason, the hospital in time became an infectious diseases hospital, also treating patients with influenza, bubonic plague, typhoid fever and leprosy. Unfortunately, the cemetery has at times fallen into disrepair and some of the headstones are difficult to read. Many of the graves are unmarked. On the eastern edge of the cemetery is an information sign explaining that in the area are also buried the ancestral remains of the La Perouse Aboriginal people returned from museums. A place steeped in history and worthy of respect. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 155 m to the main route.

Turn map

Directions & comments

At the intersection of Coast Cemetery Management Trail & Cape Banks Road Start heading along Coast Cemetery Management Trail (a vehicle track).

After 65 m head through/around the gate.

After another 25 m find the "Pinch Point" (on your left).

Pinch Point

Metal bollard pinch points at edge of carpark, beside gate. The gap between the bollards is 48cm they are 85cm high.

Then come to the "Wheelchair Rough".

Wheelchair Rough

A 20m section of the trail has exposed sandstone cobbles.

After another 75 m come to the end.

About 35 m past the end is "Coast Hospital Cemetery".

Coast Hospital Cemetery

The Coast Hospital Cemetery on the northern side of Botany Bay was first established in the early 1880â€™s and is now home to as many as 2000 graves. It serviced the Coast (Prince Henry) Hospital, originally a smallpox hospital. People who died of smallpox were required to be buried at the hospital grounds. The hospital was built far enough from the city to provide quarantine and for this reason, the hospital in time became an infectious diseases hospital, also treating patients with influenza, bubonic plague, typhoid fever and leprosy. Unfortunately, the cemetery has at times fallen into disrepair and some of the headstones are difficult to read. Many of the graves are unmarked. On the eastern edge of the cemetery is an information sign explaining that in the area are also buried the ancestral remains of the La Perouse Aboriginal people returned from museums. A place steeped in history and worthy of respect.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 155 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Cape Banks Walk

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	2.5 km
Time	40 min to 1 h 30 min

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Seat: There is one 910 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	910 m	Seat

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Coast Hospital Cemetery
The Coast Hospital Cemetery on the northern side of Botany Bay was first established in the early 1880â€™s and is now home to as many as 2000 graves. It serviced the Coast (Prince Henry) Hospital, originally a smallpox hospital. People who died of smallpox were required to be buried at the hospital grounds. The hospital was built far enough from the city to provide quarantine and for this reason, the hospital in time became an infectious diseases hospital, also treating patients with influenza, bubonic plague, typhoid fever and leprosy. Unfortunately, the cemetery has at times fallen into disrepair and some of the headstones are difficult to read. Many of the graves are unmarked. On the eastern edge of the cemetery is an information sign explaining that in the area are also buried the ancestral remains of the La Perouse Aboriginal people returned from museums. A place steeped in history and worthy of respect.

Cape Banks
Cape Banks on the northern side of the entrance to Botany Bay, offers possibly the best view in Botany Bay National Park. From the unfenced cliff top, you can watch the power of the ocean as waves crash into the sandstone rock face below, or watch boats of all shapes and sizes, sail peacefully across the sheltered waters of the bay. If you are lucky, you can enjoy the spectacle of migrating Humpback and Southern Right whales reasonably close to shore, spouting and sometimes breaching as they make their way northward and southward in pods of three or four. The shipwreck of the SS Minmi can be seen at low tide, lying on rocks on the western side of Cape Banks. There are concrete foundations of buildings remaining on Cape Banks, from when World War Two servicemen were stationed there.

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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Mascot Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
  
  Saturday 25 January
  
  26°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the late evening.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:00am to 5:00pm, UV Index predicted to reach 11 [Extreme]
  
  Sunday 26 January
  
  20°C → 27°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of fog in the outer west in the early morning. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day.
  
  Monday 27 January
  
  22°C → 30°C
  Sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h turning northerly during the morning then tending northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.
  
  Tuesday 28 January
  
  23°C → 35°C
  Possible shower developing.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Mostly sunny morning. Medium chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the west in the afternoon and evening. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h shifting southerly 20 to 30 km/h during the afternoon.
  
  Wednesday 29 January
  
  20°C → 25°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely later in the day. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h turning southeasterly during the morning.
  
  Thursday 30 January
  
  20°C → 25°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 6mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.
  
  Friday 31 January
  
  21°C → 27°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 7mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Kamay Botany Bay National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Area permanently closed - Skylight Cave
  Skylight cave is permanently closed to visitors due to serious safety risks. The cave is mid-way down an unstable cliff, and the risk of falling off the cliff edge while trying to reach it makes it very dangerous.
  There is no approved public access walking track to Skylight cave. Please do not risk your safety trying to reach this location.
  
  Closed areas: Cricket Pitch carpark and amenities
  Contractors will be demolishing and replacing the amenities block at Cricket Pitch and upgrading the carpark from mid October 2024 to February 2025. During these construction works the precinct will be fenced off and work crews will be on site.
  Toilets and parking will remain available at Commemoration Flat.
  We apologise for any inconvenience.
  Email or call the local area office on 02 9668 2010 to learn more about the improvements being made as part of the Kamay 2020 Master Plan Project.
  
  Closed areas: Kurnell Visitor Centre
  Kurnell Visitor Centre is currently closed until 2026. A new visitor centre is under construction. During these construction works the precinct, including parking, will be fenced off and work crews will be on site. Access to some walking tracks will be impacted. Please refer to onsite signage.
  Parking and toilets will be available at Commemoration Flat.
  We apologise for any inconvenience.
  Email or call the local area office on 02 9668 2010 to learn more about the improvements being made as part of the Kamay 2020 Master Plan Project.
  
  Closed areas: Works at Commemoration Flat
  Services and pathways at Commemoration Flat are being upgraded from October 2024 to 2026. The picnic area remains open with limited closures, as work areas are fenced off and work crews are on site.
  The toilets and carpark will remain open, with a reduced number of parking spaces available. Access to some walking tracks will be impacted. Please refer to onsite signage.
  We apologise for any inconvenience.
  Email or call the local area office on 02 9668 2010 to learn more about the improvements being made as part of the Kamay 2020 Master Plan Project.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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