Kingfisher Pool picnic area
Heathcote National Park
Overview
A visit to this Sutherland picnic spot, located at Kingfisher Pool campground in Heathcote National Park, near Waterfall, offers birdwatching, bushwalking and swimming.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- What to
bring - Drinking water, cooking water, hat, sunscreen, binoculars
Located near the intimate Kingfisher Pool campground, Kingfisher Pool picnic area is a beautiful place to stop for lunch while exploring Heathcote National Park, near Waterfall. Situated along Bullawarring walking track, this walk-in picnic spot is perfect for a break on a longer walk or a quick nature getaway.
Kingfisher Pool picnic area involves an energetic bushwalk, so you’ll have certainly earned a break. While the facilities here include picnic tables, it’s the natural amenities that are most remarkable. A pristine freshwater stream – fringed by Gymea lilies, tea trees and waxflowers – beckons when the weather is hot. Dangle your feet in the water, go swimming, or simply enjoy some birdwatching.
Once you’re done for the day, return the way you came or continue along the track and return via Mooray walking track. Alternatively, you can continue on to Pipeline trail and Goburra track to join Oliver Street to Heathcote train station.
Take a virtual tour of Kingfisher Pool picnic area captured with Google Street View Trekker.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/picnic-areas/kingfisher-pool-picnic-area/local-alerts
Park info
- in Heathcote National Park in the Sydney and surrounds and South Coast regions
Heathcote National Park is open sunrise to sunset but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about the Kingfisher Pool picnic area.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Kingfisher Pool picnic area is located in the middle of Heathcote National Park, north-west of Waterfall train station in the Sutherland shire. To get there from southern Waterfall:
- Turn right onto Kooraban Street, Waterfall.
- After the ramp, turn right onto Warabin Street.
- Park at the end of Warabin Street and walk into the park via the signposted Bullawarring track—it’s about a 1.5km/1hour walk (one-way) to get to the picnic area.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- No vehicle access
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
There is no vehicle access to the picnic area. Parking is available at Warabin Street, Waterfall.
Best times to visit
Heathcote National Park offers an exceptional visit all year round. You're sure to find a walk, tour, activity or attraction to appeal, regardless of the season.
Spring
Visit Heathcote National Park in spring to see blooming Gymea lilies give a scarlet glow to the gullies.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
16°C and 27°C
Highest recorded
42°C (1977)
Winter temperature
Average
6°C and 17°C
Lowest recorded
-0.6° C (1968)
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
254.5mm
Facilities
- You'll need to bring your own drinking and cooking water
- We encourage you to bring your own portable gas stove if you'll be cooking
- There are no toilet facilities available until further notice. The closest facilities are at Waterfall train station.
Picnic tables
Maps and downloads
Prohibited
Gathering firewood
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Kingfisher Pool picnic area is in Heathcote National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A long and varied history
The area was for years home to local Aboriginal people, and you can still see several Aboriginal rock engraving sites. In 1937, a bushwalking group leased a section of what is now national parkland to protect this important area of bush. This section and its surrounds became known as the Heathcote Primitive Area (1943). This was expanded again and renamed Heathcote State Park (1967). In 1974, the area became Heathcote National Park.
The beauty of the bush
Heathcote National Park is a rugged landscape, flourishing with a variety of plants and animals. Eucalypts such as bloodwood, grey gum, Sydney peppermint, and scribbly gum dominate open forest areas alongside pockets of bright flowers like banksias, hakeas, and waxflowers, which are best enjoyed along a relaxing bushwalk. With so much plant life to admire, it’s no wonder wildlife like sugar gliders, ringtail possums and swamp wallabies also call Heathcote home. A soundtrack of chatty friar birds, honeyeaters and lyrebirds can also be heard across the park gorges during winter.
- Bullawarring walking track For great Sydney bushwalking, visit Heathcote National Park, near Waterfall in the Sutherland shire; combine your hike with birdwatching and freshwater swimming.
The great outdoors
Slow down and forget your cares with a freshwater swim. Try Kingfisher Pool, Mirang Pool or Lake Eckersley. Or check out the pretty rockpools and waterfalls where Heathcote Creek meets the Woronora River. Cycle along Pipeline Road to the Sarahs Knob picnic area, where you can also complete a great hill run. The 2250ha park is less than an hour from central Sydney by car or train. The park adjoins Royal National Park, just west of the Princes Highway and South Coast train line. However, once you're inside you'll forget about transportation - the park is beautiful, quiet and secluded, plus, it's a vehicle-free zone. If you love to bushwalk, then Heathcote is your kind of park. A multitude of walking tracks criss-cross the park, including the Heathcote to Waterfall track linking Heathcote and Waterfall train stations.
- Kingfisher Pool picnic area A visit to this Sutherland picnic spot, located at Kingfisher Pool campground in Heathcote National Park, near Waterfall, offers birdwatching, bushwalking and swimming.
- Mooray walking track Enjoy a day of Sydney bushwalking and birdwatching. One of the best walks in Heathcote National Park, Mooray walking track is easily accessed from Waterfall train station.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Eastern blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scinciodes)
The eastern blue-tongue lizard, one of the largest skinks in Australia, is found throughout most of NSW. When threatened, the eastern blue-tongue lizard displays its blue tongue in a wide-mouthed intimidating show. Not an agile animal, they feed on slow-moving beetles and snails.
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Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.
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Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.
Plants
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Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)
An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.
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Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)
Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.
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Scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)
Easily identifiable Australian native plants, scribbly gum trees are found throughout NSW coastal plains and hills in the Sydney region. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark.