Botany Bay Discovery Centre to Cape Baily

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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 (There is free parking available.)
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 front of the 'Visitor Centre', this walk follows the footpath that then leads through the middle of the car park, to find the pebblecrete footpath and 'Banks-Solander Track' sign on the far side. This walk follows this sign along the narrow (1.4m) path , timber boardwalk then dirt track as it winds through the dense forest for nearly 100m to find a seat just before the road. The walk then leads up the rise to then crossing (taking care) Cape Solander Drive to the intersection marked with a large 'Yena Trail' map sign.....

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. There is a toilet (about 20 m back from the start). There is a toilet (about 20 m back from the start). 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 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.
	Continue straight. After another 120 m find the "Seat" (on your left). Seat A timber bench seat, 54cm high, 20cm deep and 1.4m wide with no arm or backrest.
	At the intersection of Cape Solander Drive & Yena Track continue straight, to head along Yena Track (a vehicle track). After another 35 m head through the bollard.
	After another 25 m (at the intersection of Yena Track & Banks-Solander Track) veer right. After another 275 m find the "Pinch Point" (60 m on your left). Pinch Point A gap between the vegetation and a large tree is 80cm wide. Then find the "Seat" (60 m on your left). Seat A timber bench seat, 41cm high, 20cm deep and 1.3m wide with no arm or backrest. After another 35 m come to the "Kurnell Lookout" (135 m on your left).
	At the intersection of Yena Track & Banks-Solander Track continue straight, to head along Yena Track.
	After another 155 m continue straight, 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 390 m pass the car park (265 m on your left). After another 115 m pass the car park (275 m on your left).
	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 4.5 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

Botany Bay Discovery Centre to Cape Baily

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	9.1 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

Toilet: There are 4 on route, on average they are 1.8 km apart with the largest gap of 9.1 km.

Seat: There are 3 on route, on average they are 2.3 km apart with the largest gap of 8.6 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Entity\|toilet	-16 m	Toilet
Toilet	0 m	[toilet]
Toilet	4 m	[toilet]
Seat	15 m	Seat
Toilet	20 m	Visitor Centre
Seat	160 m	Seat
Seat	490 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 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Monday 7 October
  
  Mostly clear.
  
  Mostly clear. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the evening.
  
  Tuesday 8 October
  
  14°C → 17°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and early afternoon. Winds southerly 25 to 35 km/h.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:30am to 3:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 7 [High]
  
  Wednesday 9 October
  
  15°C → 18°C
  Cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds southerly 15 to 20 km/h tending southeasterly in the morning then becoming light in the late afternoon.
  
  Thursday 10 October
  
  14°C → 22°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Friday 11 October
  
  16°C → 20°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny day. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the evening. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon.
  
  Saturday 12 October
  
  16°C → 18°C
  Cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely during the morning. Winds southerly 15 to 20 km/h turning southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning.
  
  Sunday 13 October
  
  14°C → 20°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.
  
  Monday 14 October
  
  15°C → 23°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 10mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Kamay Botany Bay National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Cape Banks Firetrail closed for maintenance
  Cape Banks Fire Trail will be closed for maintenance on Tuesday 15 October 2024.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the NPWS Sydney South Area office on 02 9337 5511.
  
  Closed areas: Congwong Fire Trail closed for maintenance
  Congwong Fire Trail will be closed for maintenance on Wednesday, 16 October 2024.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the NPWS Sydney South Area office on 02 9337 5511.
  
  Closed areas: Kurnell foreshore partial closure
  Transport for NSW is constructing ferry wharves at Kurnell and La Perouse. Closures will be in place until late 2024. There will be no public access to the foreshore area between Prince Charles Parade and the wharf along Monument walking track. Alternative pedestrian pathways will be in place to allow public access into Kamay Botany Bay National Park.
  For more information visit the Kamay Ferry Wharves project webpage.
  
  Closed areas: Kurnell Visitor Centre closed for upgrades
  Kurnell Visitor Centre is currently closed until further notice. The site is being prepared for a new visitor centre as part of the Kamay 2020 Project.
  Learn more about the improvements being made as part of the Kamay 2020 Master Plan Project or email the local area office.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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