Cape Baily Lighthouse from Kurnell Visitor Centre

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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	(-34.0050235,151.2216341)
Mode	Bus Car (Parking fees apply in the area.)
Directions	From Captain Cook Drive Turn on to Cape Solander Drive then drive for 420 m Keep left and drive for another 145 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the main exit of the Botany Bay Discovery Centre car park, the track heads south-east, out of the car park along the old service trail (Not on the Banks Solander Track). Partway along, the track passes over a small bridge. This is shortly before an intersection with Cape Solander Drive. Just across the road, another service trail begins.
From Cape Solander Dr, this walk heads south-east away from the discovery centre and along the management trail for approximately 200m until coming to an intersection with a sandy track on the left.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the park at the start. The Meeting Place (about 150 m back from the start). The Meeting Place This circular seating area provides an opportunity to reflect on the history of this land. A chance to consider the Aboriginal people, their connection to this land and that 'At this place in April 1770 Aboriginal people gathered as a converted British coal ship, the Endeavour, appeared on the horizon and continued into the bay. As the landing party approached, two Aboriginal men advanced to the beach to challenge the group of strangers as they prepared to come ashore.' Toilet (about 40 m back from the start). Toilet Male and female toilet block. Entrance is 110cm wide, hand basins 90cm high, cubical doors 56cm wide, toilet seat 44cm high. Male toilet has a urinal 40 and 60cm high. No handrails. Toilet entrance is around the eastern side of visitor centre building. Seat (about 7 m back from the start). Seat A series of four timber slat bench seat, 44cm high, 32cm deep and 1.8m wide with no arm or backrest. The seats are outside the visitors center. Visitor Centre. W:botanybayeec.nsw.edu.au Then pass the car park (on your right). After another 40 m find the "Parking Accessible" (on your left). 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. Then find the "Visitor Centre" (9 m on your right). 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.
	Turn left.
	After another 30 m continue straight, to head along Muru Fire Track.
	After another 65 m (at the intersection of Muru Fire Track & Cape Solander Drive) continue straight, to head along Muru Fire Track.
	After another 165 m turn right.
	After another 100 m continue straight. After another 40 m come to the "Kurnell Lookout" (9 m on your left).
	After another 225 m turn left, to head along Yena Track.
	After another 80 m turn right, to head along Yena Track.
	After another 460 m (at the intersection of Polo Trail & Yena Track) turn left, to head along Polo Trail (a walking track).
	After another 370 m (at the intersection of Yena Gap Trail & Polo Trail) turn left.
	After another 280 m turn right.
	After another 930 m turn right.
	After another 45 m veer left.
	After another 230 m veer right. After another 390 m continue straight. After another 235 m find the "Hanging Swamps" (40 m on your right). Hanging Swamps There are a number of hanging swamps that can be found along the Cape Baily walk. They are home to a number of different plants and animals like reeds and frogs. Hanging swamps are formed on high ground when rainfall seeps out of surrounding hills and accumulates in a slight depression, over time forming a swamp. Interestingly, they are sometimes difficult to see from far away as the thick build up of reeds and other plant life often cover the water.
	After another 850 m turn sharp right.
	Continue another 95 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 4.6 km to get back to the start. About 15 m past the end is "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. "Cape Baily Lighthouse". W:www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Cape Baily Lighthouse from Kurnell Visitor Centre

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	9.2 km
Time	2 h 45 min to 3 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
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	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Entity|toilet: There is one -16 m back from the start.

Seat: There is one 15 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Entity\|toilet	-16 m	Toilet
Seat	15 m	Seat

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

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.

Hanging Swamps
There are a number of hanging swamps that can be found along the Cape Baily walk. They are home to a number of different plants and animals like reeds and frogs. Hanging swamps are formed on high ground when rainfall seeps out of surrounding hills and accumulates in a slight depression, over time forming a swamp. Interestingly, they are sometimes difficult to see from far away as the thick build up of reeds and other plant life often cover the water.

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.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Cronulla Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Friday 17 January
  
  22°C
  Showers. Very windy.
  90% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Damaging winds possible along the coastal fringe. Winds southerly 25 to 40 km/h reaching 40 to 55 km/h near the coast.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: No Rating
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:50am to 5:20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 13 [Extreme]
  
  Saturday 18 January
  
  21°C → 22°C
  Showers. Windy.
  80% chance of rain
  1 → 10mm
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds southerly 25 to 40 km/h.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Sunday 19 January
  
  20°C → 21°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light during the evening.
  
  Monday 20 January
  
  19°C → 22°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Tuesday 21 January
  
  19°C → 24°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.
  
  Wednesday 22 January
  
  21°C → 27°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.
  
  Thursday 23 January
  
  21°C → 23°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h turning east to southeasterly during the day.
  
  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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