It had been a long time since I had been in this area. One place I hadn’t been to for a very long time was Kingdom Come on the Woronora River. I wasn’t even sure I could remember the way there.
I started from Waterfall and walked to the start of the Bullawarring Track and followed the track down to Heathcote Creek. The track continues past some nice pools. The best of these was the Kingfisher Pool. Above the pool are some attractive cascades. The top one flows down a hole into a tunnel to emerge lower down. Very interesting.
I didn’t see any kingfishers but there were lots of birds around. I didn’t take a telephoto lens – so no photographs. But the numerous smooth barked apples (angophora costata) provide great subjects. There were a few wildflowers out – particularly banksias.
I continued on the Bullawarring Track past other cascades and pools.
The track then climbs a bit higher and I followed it along the side of the ridge until the junction with the Goanna Track which I followed to the top of a ridge, then I turned off along an unmarked track that went to the Pipeline Access Road. I then went a short way downhill, till where the pipeline emerged from a tunnel. Here is the turn-off to Kingdom Come. I crossed a bridge at the pipeline and soon found the track. It was well marked by ducks (cairns) all the way to the Woronora River.
Woronora River just below Kingdom Come
My last visit to Kingdom Come had been with my parents when I was very young in the 1960’s. It seems to have changed a fair bit since then. I can remember open rock slabs and flats near a big pool. It seems to be a lot bushier now near the pool. To get to the campsite you need to cross the river. This was easy – jumping from boulders, but a side branch was a bit harder with the river up a bit.
Kingdom Come campsite
The campsite is quite attractive and does not look too overused unlike other campsites in Heathcote and Royal National Parks. On one of the trees are two signs. One dates back from 1932 at states that the place was named by G Smith. This is probably “Gordon Smith” from the Sydney Bushwalkers. The other sign refers to a “C Smith” of the Rucksack Club. My parents were in that club, which was very active in the 40’s and 50’s. “C Smith” would be Colin Smith, who was a walker in that club and a good friend of my parents. When I met him and his wife Edna in the 60’s, they lived at Heathcote.
I will have to return to Kingdom Come in summer and swim in the big pool. It is marked on maps as the “Boobera Pool”.
Woronora River just upstream from Kingdom Come
I then returned by the same track to the Pipeline Road and walked along it to the turn-off to Lake Eckersley. This is another big pool on the Woronora.
Lake Eckersley
Then back to the road and across the Battery Causeway, where it crosses Heathcote Creek. I continued along the road past the Mirang Pool and a further pool downstream, both reached by short side tracks.
Mirang Pool
The last bit of the walk was up the well marked “Friendly Track”, over a bridge over the pipeline and then up a ridge to the scout camp near Heathcote. The track splits numerous times near the scout camp and it is hard to stay on the proper track. But this is no problem. I continued uphill and walked through the scout camp to the backstreets of Heathcote. Then it was only a few minutes walk to Heathcote Station.
More photos on my website here.
Dave,
I was out that way this morning and was wondering where the track to Kingdom Come leaves the Pipeline Track? I crossed the creek on the bridge just before the pipeline enters a tunnel but couldn’t see any track heading off. I was on the eastern side of the pipeline and perhaps I should have been over on the other side to see it?
Steve
Yes – you need to be on the western side of the pipeline. The track is just over the bridge. Look for ducks (cairns). Its easier to cross the pipeline first then cross a bridge next to it on the western side. The track is easy to follow and it takes about 15 minutes to get to the Woronora River.
Thanks.
Steve.
Dave,
Did Heathcote to Boobera Pool/Kingdom Come this weekend with 1st East Hills Scouts. Where pipeline goes under the bridge towards Dingo Tunnel found it easiest to just walk under the bridge on western side of the pipeline, with Boobera track commencing towards the west at end of the walkway hand rail. Have built cairn where culvert under the bridge starts.
Lovely. I’m only just now discovering the amazing features of Heathcote National Park after having lived in the area for over 10 years.
Hi David… spotted this feature while looking at satellite pics near the Bullawarring track on the Myuna ck at -34.12101, 150.9708
I decided to visit it and found not far after passing the Mooray track junction you can spot a tiny cairn on the left of the track, if you walk to the left up along the rock slab and peek over it you see a large cairn, you can follow the foot pads to the falls…its just far enough away to be neither seen nor herd but its a really nice falls and swimming hole!! and fairly unused by the looks…
I am hiking in and camping at Mirang Pools. National Parks saying despite all the pools that water is not drinkable even after boiling or puification tabs. Anyone disagree, always nice not to have to carry so much water.
The Mirang Pool is in Heathcote Creek and likely to be polluted. I would avoid drinking its water. It may be OK with treatment – boiling or filtering etc.