Karloo Track & Bottle Forest Trail Loop
A fairytale-like trail through Royal National Park down to Karloo Pools, all gum trees, forest and colourful bush flowers. Turn it into a loop back via the Bottle Forest Trail, or just walk back the way you came.
My experience & recommendations
Start: Train, T4 line to Heathcote Station, or drive and park at the Karloo Track starting point ↗ / along Wilson Parade.
- Get there early, ideally by 9am, then follow the Karloo Track straight down to Karloo Pools.
- Turn it into a loop by crossing the river at the pools and following the path with the river on your right, then take the (unmarked) left back up to the Bottle Forest Trail. Want it simpler? Just follow the Karloo Track back the way you came.
- One of the nicest trails I've done in ages, gum trees, stunning forest, and colourful plants and flowers the whole way down.
- Moderate to hard. The way down is a little steep with uneven ground (but stunning), the loop back up via Bottle Forest Trail is extremely steep.
- Make a full day of it, bring a picnic down to the pool and jump in and out. Cold, but crystal clear and magical.
Good to know
Keep going past Karloo Pools on the loop trail and you'll find more swimming holes just as nice, with no one around, perfect if you want a quieter spot to swim.