Having done an excellent circuit along the lower sections of Kangaroo Creek last year in the Royal National Park, I looked forward to visiting Upper Kangaroo Creek above Karloo Pool. The creek is very scenic, especially Kangaroo Pool, but also other pools and quiet stretches of creek lined by ferns and bush. You get a similar experience of relative remoteness despite being in one of Sydney’s busiest national parks. I didn’t meet a single person until Karloo Pool.
The walk requires route finding and short sections of scrambling and bush bashing along the creek, although most of the route is straightforward. Not a beginners walk, however. More detail in my route notes at the end.
Upper Kangaroo Creek Circuit: The Scenery
Route Notes
This walk is easier clockwise / downstream due to the watergums lining the creek. They point downstream and hence it is easier to walk with them than against them.
Waterfall to Karloo Pool
Starting at Waterfall Station take the signposted track from the scar park which leads to Uloola Fire Trail, however take a side track to your left (north) after a few minutes walking. It’s a pretty obvious track, but there are less obvious tracks shortly before and after it, so walk on a bit if you are not sure which one to take.
Before long you will be walking besides the creek on the true right bank. The first major landmark is a waterfall that you walk above. I think this is Kangaroo Falls. I scrambled down to have a look. Continue to Kangaroo Pool, which is a highlight of the walk. You can walk down to have a look and a swim if you are so inclined.
The tracks remains obvious until the approach to the junction with Cridland Brook. In one section there are boulders and watergum that require some navigation to get around. I scrambled up the bank on the right. The track remains less obvious for a while, and you cross the creek to the true left for a while, where I stopped to have lunch amongst large boulders. You soon cross back to the true right and continue on to Karloo Pool.
Returning to Waterfall
From Karloo Pool you could walk on to Heathcote Station and take the train back, but I walked to Uloola Fire Trial via the campground. The fire trail takes you close to the train station—just cross a large clearing to find that outward track which takes you to the car park.
I’d allocate much of the day for this walk to have time to enjoy the scenery. The circuit is 15-16km, with roughly 300-500m of change in elevation according to AI, although I think the majority of that is on the way back.
