Suggested excursions
Maps and directions
Directions to Bola Creek:
Accessing Bola Creek from Farnell Avenue, Loftus:
- Turn into the National Park at Farnell Avenue
- Drive approximately 30 minutes/23km through the park, past the turn offs to Wattamolla and Garie
- Drive until you reach at the parking at the southern end of Lady Carrington Drive
- Disembark students at the carpark
Accessing Bola Creek from McKell Avenue, Waterfall (note this road is currently closed in both directions):
- Turn into the National Park at McKell Ave (Waterfall)
- Drive about 4.5km and turn left at the "T" intersection with Lady Wakehurst and Sir Bertram Stevens Drives, towards Bundeena
- Continue for approximately 0.5 km until you reach the parking at the southern end of Lady Carrington Drive
- Disembark students at the carpark
There is bus parking available.
* Buses for booked excursions do not pay an entry fee at the toll booth. Show your Booking Confirmation sheet; you will be invoiced park entry fee later.
Site details and facilities
Getting here
Note: McKell Avenue is currently closed in both directions.
Bola Creek is located approximately 5 km from the McKell Avenue, Waterfall entry of the Royal National Park and 23 km from the Farnell Avenue, Loftus entry.
Via bus, it takes approximately 15 minutes to drive to Bola Creek from the Waterfall turnoff at McKell Avenue and approximately 30 minutes from the Farnell Avenue entry.
There is no need to pay at the toll booth. Show the Visitor Services Officer your Booking Confirmation and advise that student park use fees will be charged by National Parks following the excursion.
Background information
Degree of difficulty
Medium
Contact system
- Mobile phone reception is patchy
- An EEC teacher carries a satellite communicator (allows texting and SOS alert via satellite)
- If more than one class, EEC teachers carry two-way radios
Location details
Activities generally start from the car park, following the fire trail and into the rainforest walking track and/or the picnic area. The total distance is approximately 1 km (uneven, sloping, rocky path in places). Some excursions will walk an additional 800m along the lower Wallumarra Track.
Students are in close proximity to water when accessing Bola Creek. Rocks are smooth and slippery. It is recommended that sturdy footwear, wind/rain proof jackets, and warm clothing be worn or carried. Long socks and insect repellant is encouraged due to the prevalence of leeches. During cooler weather this site can get quite cool as it is very shaded.
The greatest potential risks to students are road crossings, tree fall, trips, bites and collision with cyclists. This is an access fire trail to Audley and is used by bushwalkers, joggers and cyclists. The group is very likely to encounter members of the public. Vigilance is required from all participants and supervising teachers need to be aware of where students are at all times.
Once your booking is confirmed, we will email you a draft risk assessment and management plan to use in the preparation of your own plan. This plan details risks on excursion and controls to minimise them on the day.
Facilities
There are no toilets at Bola Creek. Public toilets are available near the EEC, at Audley (adjacent to the Visitors Centre) and at Veno Street Reserve, Heathcote (corner of Veno St and Princes Highway). Students should not access public toilets alone. Younger students should be supervised by a teacher; older students should take a buddy with them.
There is no protection from rain or extreme weather. Buses can be used as protection from bad weather, if they remain for the duration of the excursion.
There is no drinking water available at Bola Creek. Please advise students to bring 2 x water bottles, with a minimum of 1.2 L per student. EEC teachers bring water containers during terms 1 and 4 so students can top up their water bottles on return to the carpark.