Bullawarring walking track

Heathcote National Park

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Overview

For great Sydney bushwalking, visit Heathcote National Park, near Waterfall in the Sutherland shire; combine your hike with birdwatching and freshwater swimming.

Distance
5.5km one-way
Time suggested
3 - 4hrs
Grade
Grade 4
Trip Intention Form

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What to
bring
Drinking water, hat, sunscreen, suitable clothing
Please note
Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go bird watching.

Sydney’s Heathcote National Park is known for its excellent bushwalking, and Bullawarring walking track is undoubtedly one of the jewels of the Sutherland Shire. Ideal for experienced bushwalkers, this rough track, with short steep sections, takes in beautiful bushland, glistening freshwater swimming holes, and craggy ridges.

Stop for a break beside the tranquil pools at Kingfisher Pool picnic area – in summer, a dip in the refreshing pools is a special treat. Birdwatching is at its best in spring, when nectar-loving honeyeaters and wattlebirds are attracted to the blossoming wildflowers in the surrounding heath.

Choose to return via Mooray walking track for a loop walk or continue along Pipeline trail at Battery Causeway, until you reach the natural pools. Alternatively, you can keep walking north along Pipeline trail to Goburra track to join Oliver Street, and head back via Heathcote train station.

Take a virtual tour of Bullawarring walking track captured with Google Street View Trekker.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Nearby

  • Water flows over concrete Battery Causeway against a backdrop of bushland in Heathcote National Park. Photo: Nick Cubbin/DPIE

    Battery Causeway picnic area

    Battery Causeway picnic area is in Sydney’s Heathcote National Park. It’s a peaceful rest stop along Pipeline trail or Bullawaring track, near Lake Eckersley picnic area.

  • Family bushwalking on Mooray track near ferns and gymea lillies. Photo credit: Natasha Webb

    Mooray walking track

    Enjoy a day of Sydney bushwalking and birdwatching. One of the best walks in Heathcote National Park, Mooray walking track is easily accessed from Waterfall train station.

  • Kingfisher Pool picnic area, Heahtcote National Park. Photo: Nick Cubbin

    Kingfisher Pool picnic area

    A visit to this Sutherland picnic spot, located at Kingfisher Pool campground in Heathcote National Park, near Waterfall, offers birdwatching, bushwalking and swimming.

  • Kingfisher Pool campground, Heathcote National Park. Photo: John Yurasek © OEH

    Kingfisher Pool campground

    Discover some of Sydney's most secluded campsites at Kingfisher Pool campground in Heathcote National Park. As well as camping, it's great for swimming and hiking.

Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/bullawarring-walking-track/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Bullawarring walking track.

Track grading

Features of this track

Distance

5.5km one-way

Time

3 - 4hrs

Quality of markings

Limited signage

Experience required

Experienced bushwalkers

Gradient

Short steep hills

Steps

Occasional steps

Quality of path

Rough track, many obstacles

Getting there and parking

Get driving directions

Get directions

    Bullawarring walking track is in the middle of Heathcote National Park. To get there from Waterfall:

    • Turn right onto Kooraban Street
    • Turn right onto Warabin Street
    • Park at the end of Warabin Street and follow the trail for 50m to the signposted Bullawarring walking track

    Parking

    Parking is available on Warabin Street, a short walk from the beginning of Bullawarring walking track.

    Best times to visit

    Heathcote National Park offers an exceptional visit all year round. You're sure to find a walk, tour, activity or attraction to appeal, regardless of the season.

    Spring

    Visit Heathcote National Park in spring to see blooming Gymea lilies give a scarlet glow to the gullies.

    Weather, temperature and rainfall

    Summer temperature

    Average

    16°C and 27°C

    Highest recorded

    42°C (1977)

    Winter temperature

    Average

    6°C and 17°C

    Lowest recorded

    -0.6° C (1968)

    Rainfall

    Wettest month

    March

    The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

    254.5mm

    Facilities

    You'll need to bring your own cooking water.

    Maps and downloads

    Safety messages

    This park is in a remote location, so please ensure you’re well-prepared, bring appropriate clothing and equipment and advise a family member or friend of your travel plans.

    Bushwalking safety

    If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

    • The walking opportunities in this park are suitable for experienced bushwalkers who are comfortable undertaking self-reliant hiking
    • If you’re bushwalking in this park, it’s a good idea to bring a topographic map and compass, or a GPS.

    River and lake safety

    The aquatic environment around rivers, lakes and lagoons can be unpredictable. If you're visiting these areas, take note of these river and lake safety tips.

    Prohibited

    Pets

    Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

    Smoking

    NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

    Learn more

    Bullawarring walking track is in Heathcote National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    A long and varied history

    Kingfisher pool, Heathcote National Park. Photo: Nick Cubbin

    The area was for years home to local Aboriginal people, and you can still see several Aboriginal rock engraving sites. In 1937, a bushwalking group leased a section of what is now national parkland to protect this important area of bush. This section and its surrounds became known as the Heathcote Primitive Area (1943). This was expanded again and renamed Heathcote State Park (1967). In 1974, the area became Heathcote National Park.

    The beauty of the bush

    Wildflowers in Heathcote National Park. Photo: John Spencer

    Heathcote National Park is a rugged landscape, flourishing with a variety of plants and animals. Eucalypts such as bloodwood, grey gum, Sydney peppermint, and scribbly gum dominate open forest areas alongside pockets of bright flowers like banksias, hakeas, and waxflowers, which are best enjoyed along a relaxing bushwalk. With so much plant life to admire, it’s no wonder wildlife like sugar gliders, ringtail possums and swamp wallabies also call Heathcote home. A soundtrack of chatty friar birds, honeyeaters and lyrebirds can also be heard across the park gorges during winter.

    • Bullawarring walking track For great Sydney bushwalking, visit Heathcote National Park, near Waterfall in the Sutherland shire; combine your hike with birdwatching and freshwater swimming.

    The great outdoors

    Mirang Pool campground, Heathcote National Park. Photo: Nick Cubbin

    Slow down and forget your cares with a freshwater swim. Try Kingfisher Pool, Mirang Pool or Lake Eckersley. Or check out the pretty rockpools and waterfalls where Heathcote Creek meets the Woronora River. Cycle along Pipeline Road to the Sarahs Knob picnic area, where you can also complete a great hill run. The 2250ha park is less than an hour from central Sydney by car or train. The park adjoins Royal National Park, just west of the Princes Highway and South Coast train line. However, once you're inside you'll forget about transportation - the park is beautiful, quiet and secluded, plus, it's a vehicle-free zone. If you love to bushwalk, then Heathcote is your kind of park. A multitude of walking tracks criss-cross the park, including the Heathcote to Waterfall track linking Heathcote and Waterfall train stations.

    • Kingfisher Pool picnic area A visit to this Sutherland picnic spot, located at Kingfisher Pool campground in Heathcote National Park, near Waterfall, offers birdwatching, bushwalking and swimming.
    • Mooray walking track Enjoy a day of Sydney bushwalking and birdwatching. One of the best walks in Heathcote National Park, Mooray walking track is easily accessed from Waterfall train station.

    Plants and animals protected in this park

    Animals

    •  Blue Tongue lizard. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

      Eastern blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scinciodes)

      The eastern blue-tongue lizard, one of the largest skinks in Australia, is found throughout most of NSW. When threatened, the eastern blue-tongue lizard displays its blue tongue in a wide-mouthed intimidating show. Not an agile animal, they feed on slow-moving beetles and snails.

    • Yellow-tailed black cockatoo. Photo: Peter Sherratt

      Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

      The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.

    • Koala. Photo: Lucy Morrell

      Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

      One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.

    Plants

    • Grass trees, Sugarloaf State Conservation Area. Photo: Michael Van Ewijk

      Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)

      An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.

    • Old man banksia, Moreton National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

      Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)

      Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.

    • A red triangle slug on the trunk of a scribbly gum tree in Blue Mountains National Park. Photo: Elinor Sheargold/OEH

      Scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)

      Easily identifiable Australian native plants, scribbly gum trees are found throughout NSW coastal plains and hills in the Sydney region. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark.

    Environments in this park

    Education resources (1)