The Cape Bailey 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	(-34.0105106,151.2227396)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Captain Cook Drive Turn on to Captain Cook Drive then drive for 460 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Captain Cook Drive and drive for another 3.5 km At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Captain Cook Drive and drive for another 2.9 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Captain Cook Drive and drive for another 820 m Turn right onto Polo Street and drive for another 520 m
Finish	(-34.0397959,151.2116467)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car (There is free parking available.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the end of the Polo St, this walk heads around the metal National Parks gate and south-east along the service trail, with some power lines on the right-hand side. As the track heads further south-east, the track steadily climbs up to the top of a gentle hill and continues along until it comes to the intersection of the Cape Bailey walk and the radar service trail.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 30 m head through/around the gate.
	After another 370 m turn left, to head along Polo Trail.
	After another 15 m (at the intersection of Polo Trail & Yena Track) continue straight, to head along Polo Trail.
	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.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Cape Bailey Lighthouse. To start this optional side trip turn sharp right here. On returning from this side trip continue straight when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 850 m veer right.
	After another 1.4 km turn right.
	After another 35 m come to the end. A car park.

An optional side trip to Cape Bailey Lighthouse.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start.
	After another 95 m come to the end. 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. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 95 m to the main route.

Turn map

Directions & comments

Start.

After another 95 m come to the end.

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.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 95 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

The Cape Bailey Walk

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	5.1 km
Time	1 h 45 min to 3 h 30 min

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
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	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

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 Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
  
  Tuesday 24 June
  
  Mostly clear.
  
  Mostly clear. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h.
  
  Wednesday 25 June
  
  13°C → 17°C
  Windy. Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny morning. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Damaging winds possible. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h increasing to 35 km/h before turning westerly 20 to 30 km/h in the afternoon.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection not recommended, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]
  
  Thursday 26 June
  
  9°C → 15°C
  Becoming cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning southerly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day then tending southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Friday 27 June
  
  10°C → 16°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers along the coastal fringe, slight chance elsewhere. The chance of morning frost in the outer west. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Saturday 28 June
  
  12°C → 17°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog in the west. Medium chance of showers. Light winds.
  
  Sunday 29 June
  
  11°C → 18°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds.
  
  Monday 30 June
  
  12°C → 17°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 10mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending southerly during the day.
  
  Tuesday 1 July
  
  12°C → 16°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  2 → 40mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Kamay Botany Bay National Park alerts
  Other planned events: Limited carparking due to special event
  The carpark at Cape Banks Road will have limited parking from 1pm Monday 23 June 2025 to Friday 27 June 2025. This closure is due to a special event taking place in La Perouse.
  
  Accessible parking will be available.
  
  Some delays are expected on parts of the Cape Banks fire trail and the coastal trail
  
  All other locations in the La Perouse area in Kamay Botany Bay National Park will be unaffected.
  Please follow the directions of NPWS staff. For more information, contact the local park office on 02 9337 5511.
  
  Other planned events: High visitation and limited parking
  Kamay Botany Bay National Park at Kurnell is experiencing very high visitation on weekends as it is a popular location to watch the northern whale migration. If planning to visit on the weekend, please expect large crowds, traffic delays and be aware that carparks can reach capacity by mid-morning. Please drive safely and watch for pedestrians. Park in marked bays only.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office.
  
  Closed areas: Kurnell Visitor Centre closed
  Kurnell Visitor Centre is currently closed and will remain closed until 2026. A new visitor centre is under construction. During 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.
  To learn more about the improvements being made as part of the Kamay 2020 Master Plan Project, email or call the local area office on 02 9668 2010.
  
  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 on-site signage.
  To learn more about the improvements being made as part of the Kamay 2020 Master Plan Project, send an email or call the local area office on 02 9668 2010.
  
  Closed areas: Skylight Cave permanently closed
  Skylight cave is permanently closed to visitors due to serious safety risks. The cave is midway 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. Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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