Cape Baily
walking track.
Sandstone cliffs, open ocean and a different view around every bend. Come walking with us, from the Boat Harbour end to Cape Baily Lighthouse.
Take your time.
There’s plenty to see.
We found the walking easy, with gentle inclines and views that stay with you. Sandstone gives way to coastal bush, then another reason to stop. Allow time for photographs.
We started at the Boat Harbour end.
Our approach, and the national park option.
We parked at the Boat Harbour Aquatic Reserve end, by Potter Point. Parking was free when we visited, and we didn’t drive through the national park’s vehicle entry.
It’s a small parking area, with roughly 40 spaces by our estimate, and it fills quickly. We’d get there early rather than arrive with the middle of the morning crowd. Check the signs when you park.
The official Cape Baily track starts at Cape Solander. NPWS lists that route as 8km return, about three hours, and Grade 2. Those figures describe the Cape Solander route, not our lighthouse walk from the other end.
If you drive into the Kurnell section, NPWS lists an $8 vehicle entry fee per day, with an exception for the Potter Point section. You can pay through Park’nPay. Choose your starting point before setting off.
A camera is very good company here.
The scenery keeps changing.
For us, this is an amazing place for photography. There are the big views, of course, but the sandstone has its own colours, layers and shapes. Then you walk a little further and the greenery changes the whole picture.
Every few hundred metres seems to offer something different. You can come home with wide ocean views, details in the rock and photographs of the path through the bush, all from the same outing.
Early morning would be our pick. Bring whichever camera you enjoy using, even if that’s your phone, and leave room in the day to stop. Find your composition from the track or a safe position well away from the edge. A photograph is never worth a risk.
A lovely place
to turn around.
The lighthouse gives the walk a destination and a moment to take it all in. We found it easy to reach. Enjoy the view, then take your time heading back.
Keep well back.
Keep kids close.
The easy walking does not make the edges safe.
This is the part we really want you to take seriously. There are unfenced cliff edges, and the bush can hide how close you are to a drop.
In places, we found the edge only a couple of metres from the path. Keep young children right beside you, actively supervise them and stay well back from the cliffs. Don’t let the open space or the gentle track lull you into treating it like a park.
Stay on the walking route. Don’t wander towards the edge for a photograph, climb down the cliffs or follow informal tracks looking for a different angle. There’s more than enough to enjoy from a sensible distance.
NPWS alerts also identify Skylight Cave as permanently closed for safety reasons, with no approved public access track. Leave it off your itinerary.
Pick your morning.
This exposed coast can be very windy and hot. We’d start early on a mild day, with water and sun protection. Check the forecast: NPWS advises avoiding the track in strong or gale winds.
Leave the drone
at home.
Do not fly here.
Bring your camera. Leave your drone behind. This walk is in national park country and close to Sydney Airport’s approach and departure airspace.
NPWS drone rules require approval for operations from within a park and prohibit recreational drone use in parks close to controlled airports such as Sydney Airport.
CASA’s rules also prohibit flying in runway approach and departure paths, including with drones weighing 250g or less. Don’t assume a small drone or an empty-looking stretch of sky makes it acceptable.
Our advice for this outing is straightforward: do not launch a drone. There are endless opportunities for photographs and video from the ground.
Bring what you’ll need.
There are no toilets, drinking-water points or other facilities along the walk. We’d deal with the practical things before leaving the car, then take enough water and a snack for the outing and the walk back.
Sturdy shoes, sunscreen, a hat and suitable clothing all belong on the list. There are flies and bugs too, so bring repellent and expect a few uninvited companions. A light layer can be useful when the wind comes up, even on a sunny morning.
We found the walking gentle, but it includes natural rock and exposed sections. NPWS does not recommend the track for wheelchairs or prams. Keep to the route, give yourself time to return and check the current park alerts before leaving home.
This is a lovely outing for a couple who enjoy walking, a photographer with time to linger or anyone looking for a morning outside. With little children, the unfenced cliffs need to be a real part of your decision. If you’d prefer a playground, shade and facilities close by, have a look at North Cronulla or Oak Park.
For us, the appeal is simple: easy walking, changing scenery and a view that stays with you. Get an early start, come prepared and take your time. It’s a beautiful part of Sydney to spend a morning together.
Come walking
with us.
Join us for the path from the Boat Harbour end, the sandstone views and Cape Baily Lighthouse. A little time outside, together.
Watch on YouTube ↗
Time for a coffee.
Our outing didn’t finish at the lighthouse. We stopped at Cook at Kurnell for a coffee together. Right by Silver Beach, overlooking Botany Bay, it’s a lovely way to slow down after the walk.
Then a swim.
Then it was down to the beach for a swim. Cliffs and lighthouse views, a café stop and time in the water together. A pretty lovely way to finish an outing in Kurnell.
Through our lens.
The walk, the lighthouse, coffee and a swim to finish.
