I didn’t expect to find a secluded walk in the Royal National Park, one of Australia’s busiest. But Kangaroo Creek, at least for part of its length, offers just that. A couple of rope swings were evidence that people do visit sometimes, but the navigation on this very picturesque walk is a bit tricky, which will keep away all but the knowledgeable or committed.
Further along the creek you get to larger swimming pools visited by people coming from the other direction, so your seclusion is over by then. But it is still very attractive for the whole length, and the return route I took, though less picturesque, was full of interesting plant and bird life.
The walk starts conveniently at Audley, and if you are quick you can finish the walk and be back for a coffee at the Audley Dance Hall Cafe. Route notes at the end.
Kangaroo Creek Circuit: The Scenery
Once I left Karloo Pools I didn’t take many photos, but you can see lots from Peach Trees Trig in my post for that walk.
Route Notes
I walked anticlockwise from Audley, starting near the toilet block over the rickety wooden bridge. You start on signposted tracks, ignoring turnoffs up the hill, one of which will be your return route. There’s plenty of parking here. Much less near the cafe and NPWS visitor centre.
Kangaroo Creek
When you arrive at Kangaroo Creek, locate an impact track on the near (eastern) side of the creek, running south. From here this track will come in and out, and may lead you astray from time to time. The main problem is knowing when to cross the creek, which you have to do six times (the last just before Karloo Pool). The one saving grace is that the faint track marked on the open topo maps is super accurate – so take your phone and pre-load the maps.
You tend to cross the creek at wide shallow sections. I got lost a couple of times early on then realised I should follow the map closely. Even then I got off the route at one point, and bush bashed for 5-10 minutes up a hill to get around rocks lining the creek. I’m not sure what the preferred route would be at this section, but if you can afford to get wet you might be able to wade through the creek.
This section of the walk feels remote, which heightened my enjoyment of the scenery. By time you get to the first of the big swimming holes the track becomes more obvious. You’ll likely see people for the first time since joining Kangaroo Creek.
The Return Route
When you get to Karloo Pool take a left turn (east) and climb to higher ground. Along the way, and marked on the map, is a vantage point where I had lunch. There are nice open views, and I was surrounded by birdlife, which was very pleasant.
The track in this section was very wet and boggy when I walked. I made good use of my gaiters. Continue on and drop down to the camp site near Uloola Falls, which you view from the top.
From there continue on to climb a short distance to Peach Tree Trig. Continue along the long ridge and then back down to the start. You also have the option of a different return route which leaves the ridge to run north east to the Hacking River and a short road walk back to the start. We walked in this area just a few months prior. Have a look at my blog post for photos and track notes from this section.
Timing
I took my time taking photos, talking to a friendly couple I met, and getting a bit lost, and the whole walk took me roughly six hours. You can probably do it in five if you don’t mess around. The first half of Kangaroo Creek will take you longer than the second half. Once you’ve left Karloo Pool you’ll be zooming on obvious tracks.
