The Forest Way Track

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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 Lady Carrington Drive & Sir Bertram Stevens Drive (-34.1488024,151.0301973)
Mode Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the car park on Sir Bertram Stevens Drive (500m north of the intersection with McKell Ave), this walk heads between the boulders (on the western edge of the car park) then leads downhill to get around to the back of the locked gate (56cm high) and sandstone wall. From here the walk follows the wide dirt Lady Carrington Drive trail downhill past the 'Forest Path' information sign and continues mostly downhill for just over 600m through the forest to come to a three-way intersection signposted with the 'Walumarra Track'.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Lady Carrington Drive & Sir Bertram Stevens Drive Start heading along Lady Carrington Drive (a vehicle track). After 9 m to find the car park. After another 15 m (at the intersection of Lady Carrington Drive & Forest Path) continue straight, to head along Lady Carrington Drive. After another 30 m head through/around the gate. After another 610 m (at the intersection of Lady Carrington Drive & Walumarra Track) continue straight, to head along Lady Carrington Drive.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Palona Cave and Waterfall. To start this optional side trip continue straight here. On returning from this side trip veer right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 105 m (at the intersection of Lady Carrington Drive & Forest Path) turn left, to head along Forest Path (a walking track). After another 90 m find the "Bola Picnic Area" (10 m on your left). Bola Picnic Area Bola Picnic Area, in the Royal National Park, is at the intersection of Lady Carrington Drive and Forest Island Track, beside Bola Creek. You will find a small clearing with a picnic table in a gorgeous rainforest setting, surrounded by tall trees and ferns scattered through the area. There is no car access to the picnic area, making this a lovely quiet area. Then find the "Picnic Table" (10 m on your right). Picnic Table A timber slat picnic table and bench seat. The table is 76cm high, 91cm deep and 2.12m wide. The seats are 44cm high, 30cm deep and 2.12m wide (no backrest).
	After another 2.9 km (from the Forest Path) turn left, to head along Forest Path.
	After another 650 m (from the Forest Path) veer left, to head along Forest Path. After another 35 m pass the car park (on your right).
	After another 30 m (at the intersection of Lady Carrington Drive & Forest Path) turn sharp right, to head along Lady Carrington Drive (a vehicle track).
	After another 25 m come to the end.

An optional side trip to Palona Cave and Waterfall.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Forest Path & Lady Carrington Drive Start heading along Lady Carrington Drive (a vehicle track).
	After another 1.1 km (at the intersection of Lady Carrington Drive & Palona Cave (Limestone Caves) Track) turn right, to head along Palona Cave (Limestone Caves) Track (a walking track). After another 50 m find the "Palona Brook Picnic Area" (75 m on your left). Palona Brook Picnic Area Palona Brook Picnic Area is found on the north side of Palona Brook along side the old Lady Carrington Drive. The picnic area is home to a couple of wooden picnic tables and is next to the steep gully and culvert that Palona Brook flows through. A pleasant spot to rest when visiting the nearby sandstone cove or exploring the old road.
	Continue another 670 m to find Palona Cave at the end. About 35 m past the end is "Palona Falls". About 45 m past the end is "Palona Cave". Palona Cave Palona Cave is off Lady Carrington Drive, north of Bola Picnic Area, in the Royal National Park. Palona Cave is a large limestone overhang with a few cave decorations such as columns and stalactites. Being open to the environment, the cave has some green moss and is not reminiscent of other pristine white limestone caves. The cave is a unique feature for the area and is well worth allowing time to explore. About 70 m past the end is "Palona Brook Falls". Palona Brook Falls The waterfalls on Palona Brook are just beyond Palona Cave. The brook is ephemeral (not permanently running), but when it is running, the waterfalls are a cool place to explore on warm days. The waterfall is made of up two main cascades, with a short landing in between. The water falls into a reasonably small rocky pool. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 1.8 km to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

The Forest Way Track

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	4.4 km
Time	1 h 45 min to 3 h 30 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
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)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Palona Cave
Palona Cave is off Lady Carrington Drive, north of Bola Picnic Area, in the Royal National Park. Palona Cave is a large limestone overhang with a few cave decorations such as columns and stalactites. Being open to the environment, the cave has some green moss and is not reminiscent of other pristine white limestone caves. The cave is a unique feature for the area and is well worth allowing time to explore.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Cronulla Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
  
  Friday 11 July
  
  Clear.
  
  Sunny. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection not recommended, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]
  
  Saturday 12 July
  
  11°C → 17°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the middle of the day.
  
  Sunday 13 July
  
  8°C → 18°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Patches of frost and the chance of fog in the west in the morning. Light winds.
  
  Monday 14 July
  
  12°C → 18°C
  Sunny.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the evening. Light winds.
  
  Tuesday 15 July
  
  9°C → 15°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.
  
  Wednesday 16 July
  
  9°C → 17°C
  Sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. The chance of morning frost in the west. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h.
  
  Thursday 17 July
  
  8°C → 17°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of morning frost in the west. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds.
  
  Friday 18 July
  
  9°C → 17°C
  Sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Royal National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Areas closed for deer control program
  Some areas in Royal National Park are closed to the public between sunset and sunrise from Monday to Thursday (except for school holidays) from 7th July 2025 to 19th December 2025 to enable a deer control operation to be carried out.
  The closed areas include:
  
  All picnic areas in the Audley Precinct
  
  Asset protection zones adjacent to Maianbar, Bundeena and East Heathcote.
  
  Wattamolla and Garie picnic areas
  
  North Era campground and coastal areas between Garie Beach and Figure 8 Pools
  
  Garrawarra Farm
  
  Lady Carrington Drive
  
  Bonnie Vale campground and Bonnie Vale picnic area.
  
  These closures will be signposted at the entry points to the closed areas. If you have a campground booking you can still access campgrounds during these times.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648.
  
  Other planned events: Helicopter operations - Waterfall Oval
  Waterfall Oval and Helipad will be used for periodic helicopter operations on weekends and some weekdays between 26 June and Thursday 24 July 2025 to support a Sydney Trains rail upgrade program. The oval will be used to store equipment and materials and the helipad will be used for slung loads to be flown into the rail corridor south of Waterfall Township.
  Park visitors seeking to use the Uloola Falls fire trail or walking track from Waterfall train station may be asked by crews working on the project to wait for short periods whille slung loads are flown across the tracks. Delays will be minimal.
  For more information please contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0632.
  
  Closed areas: Marley walking track partial closure
  The section of Marley walking track between the carpark and fire trail is closed for repairs until Monday 4 August 2025. The carpark will also be closed for repairs during this time.
  Big Marley and Little Marley fire trails remain open.
  For more information, contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648.
  
  Closed areas: The Coast track - partial closure
  Walking the full length of The Coast track from Otford to Bundeena or Bundeena to Otford is not currently possible due to several track closures along its length. These closures are necessary due to erosion, rockfall risk and ongoing track upgrade works.
  Please note the following closures:
  
  The Garie to Little Garie section of The Coast track is closed due to hazardous rockfalls and erosion
  
  North Era campground is closed until further notice
  
  Garie Road, Garie Beach and the Garie precinct is closed until further notice due to damage and subsidence of the road surface. Walkers approaching from the north (e.g. from Wattamolla or Bundeena) should exit the track via Curra Moors track. Walkers approaching from the south can Exit to Garawarra Farm via the Burgh Ridge Track.
  
  Bushwalker access is available for the following sections of The Coast track:
  
  South bound access - Bundeena to Curra Moors track via Wattamolla and return only. No access to Garie Beach.
  
  North bound access - Otford to Thelma Ridge Via Burning Palms and Era and return only. No access to Garie Beach.
  
  For further information please contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648
  
  Closed areas: Werrong Beach track
  Werrong Beach track in Royal National Park is closed until further notice due to landslides. Signs will be in place around the closed area.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Closed areas: North Era campground closed
  North Era campground is closed until further notice due to operational activities. For more information please contact the local area office on 02 9542 0648.
  
  Closed areas: Garie Road closed due to damage
  Garie Road is closed until further notice due to damage to the road surface.
  This road may remain closed for some time to allow for extensive repairs. A reopening date is not currently known.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. Please check Live Traffic NSW for updates before driving to Garie Beach.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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