Sydney's National Parks
Australia's first National Park was established on 26 April 1879 not long after the world’s first ever National Park which was Yellowstone National Park listed 1872. Sydney siders can get to the park being just 29 km south of Sydney in New South Wales and easily accessible via public transport.
You may be surprised to hear that National Parks weren’t originally about conservation but rather recreation. At the time of the Royal’s declaration the automobile didn’t exist and so rail transport alone was how they were intended to be visited and can still be explored today. This page will explain how to plan a visit by train or car.
About Royal National Park
Established in 1879, the Royal National Park is Australia’s oldest and the world’s second oldest national park.
Originally named National Park, it was officially renamed in 1955 after Queen Elizabeth II passed through on her way to Wollongong during her historic 1954 Australia tour.
Located less than an hour away from Sydney, the Royal National Park is one of the most popular and most visited national parks in New South Wales.
From scenic lookout points and pretty waterfalls, to isolated beaches and beautiful walking tracks, this 15,000 hectares large area has something for everyone.
The Royal National Park has evolved into one of the most popular national parks in Sydney. For good reason, because the area is home to various beautiful hikes, some quite short and others much more challenging.
How to Get There
The Royal National Park is located just south of the Sydney CBD and can be easily accessed by train as well as by car.
1. Train
The T4 train line runs along and through the Royal National Park, stopping at several stations from where you can start your walks.
Some of these train stations are, from north to south, Loftus, Engadine, Heathcote, Waterfall, and Helensburgh.
The Otford train station, however, in the southern part of the Royal National Park, is on the South Coast Line that goes via Helensburgh.
2. Car
Parking anywhere in the park costs $12 per vehicle per day, which can be paid at the ticket booths or at one of the many coins and card-operated pay machines. If you’re just driving through, you don’t need to pay.
Royal National Park has two main entry points along the Princess Highway, and one entry point at Otford in the southern end of the park.
Use the Loftus entry point to visit Winifred Falls, Bundeena, Jibbon Beach, Wedding Cake Rock and Wattamolla.
Use the Waterfall entry point to visit the Forest Path, Burning Palms, Figure 8 Pools, North Era Campground and Garie Beach.
Use the Otford entry point to visit the Otford Lookout, Werrong Beach and the walking track to Figure 8 Pools.
1. Providential Point | Distance: 1.2 km (return) Duration: 30 minutes Grade: Easy Starting point: Map
The walk from the Wattamolla picnic area to Providential Point is a short and family-friendly walking trail to a scenic lookout point.
This trail is around 600 metres one way and is mostly flat and very easy to follow. This is the same walking path that leads to Wattamolla Beach.
The lookout at Providential Point has a fenced viewing area where you can take in the scenic views of the ocean and the headland on the opposite side of the bay.
2. Winifred Falls Trail
Winifred Falls Trail | Distance: 2 km (return) Duration: 1 hour Grade: Easy Starting point: Map
The Winifred Falls trail is a short but scenic bushwalk that leads to a pretty waterfall on the South West Arm Creek. It’s also a great location to have a picnic and go for a swim if the weather permits.
The first part of the trail is an easy 10 minutes flat walk, before it turns into a bushwalk with some steep sections, surrounded by banksia plants and gum trees.
You can get the best views and photos of the waterfall if you walk a bit further downstream around the pool. There are several rock platforms surrounding the waterfall where you can relax and take in the natural beauty of this idyllic spot in Royal National Park.
The trail doesn’t have to end at Winifred Falls. The South West Arm Pool is approximately 300 metres further away downstream, a large and deep pool that is great for a quick swim.
You can also continue the Winifred Falls trail in the other direction, going through bushland with a couple of small waterfalls and creek crossings. This 4.4 km trail connects with Maianbar Road.
3. Werrong Beach Track
Werrong Beach Track | Distance: 4 km (return) Duration: 2 hours Grade: Moderate / hard Starting point: Map
Werrong Beach is a beautiful strip of sand in the southern section of the Royal National Park and is one of Sydney’s designated nude beaches.
But nude swimming and sunbathing is not the only reason to hike to this isolated spot in the national park. The beach itself and the scenery on the way there are beautiful.
The Werrong Beach Track is a challenging and steep 4 km return hike that starts at the Otford Lookout, and then soon makes a right turn into the bush and heading down to the beach.
4. The Forest Path
Distance: 4.5 km (circuit) Duration: 1.5 hours Grade: Easy Starting point: Map
The Forest Path is a pleasant 4.5 km bushwalk along the Hacking River in the Royal National Park that loops around Forest Island.
With start and finish on Sir Bertram Stevens Drive, this relatively easy walking track guides hikers through beautiful lush rainforest.
The Forest Path first opened in 1887 to allow for easy access to the trees in this forest. For decades, the Forest Path was used to accommodate logging in the area. Public controversy and pressure ultimately led to the ban on logging in the 1920s.
Apart from a short period during the second world war, the walking track has since been used for recreational purposes only.
5. Garie Beach to Era Beach
Distance: 5 km (return) Duration: 2 hours Grade: Easy / moderate Starting point: Map
One of the prettiest coastal tracks in the Royal National Park is the 5 km return hike from Garie Beach to Era Beach.
This walking track takes in four beautiful beaches and a couple of steep climbs leading to vantage points with incredible views of the coastline of the national park.
Garie Beach has its own car park, and from there the hike starts along a walking trail just behind the beach, heading towards Little Garie Beach.
From there, a challenging climb up Thelma Head leads to a vantage point from where you can absorb incredible views of the two Garie beaches on one side, and the two Era beaches on the other side.
6. Karloo Track to Karloo Pools
Distance: 5 km (return) Duration: 2 hours Grade: Moderate Starting point: Map
With the starting point next to Heathcote train station, the 5 km return walk to Karloo Pools is one of Royal National Park’s most popular walking tracks.
And for good reason, because Karloo Pools is one of the best and most beautiful natural swimming holes in the greater Sydney area.
If you’d like to continue hiking after visiting Karloo Pools, the Karloo Track continues to Uloola Falls, a small yet pretty waterfall located an extra 2.5 km further away into the bush.
Uloola Falls is perhaps not as scenic as Karloo Pools, but the track itself is very enjoyable. So if you do have the time and energy, it’s highly recommended to visit both of these spots.
7. Jibbon Beach Loop Track
Distance: 5 km (circuit) Duration: 2 hours Grade: Easy Starting point: Map
Starting at the Bundeena ferry wharf, the Jibbon Beach loop track is an easy coastal and bush trail past Jibbon Head, Port Hacking Point, and Shelley Beach.
This walking track not only offers some pretty amazing ocean views but there are also well-preserved Aboriginal engravings to discover on the way.
One of the highlights is a modern boardwalk with a viewing platform from where you can have a closer look at those engravings.
Dating back 2,000 years, The Jibbon engravings are an impressive display of respect the Tharawal people had for the land as well as for the animals they shared the land with.
8. Bundeena to Wedding Cake Rock
Distance: 7 km (return) Duration: 2 hours Grade: Easy / moderate Starting point: Map
Wedding Cake Rock is a unique landmark in Royal National Park, and although it is now fenced off, it is still a beautiful natural sight to visit.
A scenic coastal walk, starting from Beachcomber Avenue in Bundeena, leads to this landmark with various other pretty sights to enjoy on the way, such as The Balconies and The Waterrun.
The 7 km return walk is one of the most enjoyable coastal walks in Sydney, with beautiful ocean and cliff views to enjoy from start to finish.
9. Wattamolla to Little Marley Beach
Distance: 7.5 km (return) Duration: 2 hours Grade: Easy / moderate Starting point: Map
The 7.5 km return walking trail to Little Marley Beach from Wattamolla is both a bushwalking track as well as a coastal walk.
The starting point of this enjoyable walking trail is behind the Wattamolla waterfall at the northern end of the picnic area.
After less than 1 km of hiking through a patch of dense vegetation, the trail arrives at Wattamolla Dam which comes with a beautiful swimming hole, perfect for a quick swim on a warm summer’s day.
The second half of this walk is along the coast on top of the cliffs from where you can enjoy panoramic coastal views, before arriving at Little Marley Beach.
10. Wattamolla to Eagle Rock
Distance: 8 km (return) Duration: 3 hours Grade: Easy / moderate Starting point: Map
A scenic coastal walk starting at Wattamolla leads to Eagle Rock, one of the most iconic landmarks in the Royal National Park that strongly resembles an eagle’s beak.
What’s more, next to Eagle Rock is Curracurrong Falls, one of the very few waterfalls in the world that flows directly into the ocean.
When the winds are strong, the water from Curracurrong Falls can often be seen being pushed back up, which makes for a pretty spectacular sight.
For the best views of both the waterfall and Eagle Rock, find the trail that leads down towards a rock overhang, a great spot to settle in for a picnic.
11. Bundeena Drive to Marley Walk
Distance: 8 km (return) Duration: 3 hours Grade: Moderate Starting point: Map
Also known as the Marley Track, the 8 km return trail between Bundeena Drive and Marley Beach is an enjoyable bushwalk that leads to two beautiful beaches, passing through scenic bushland.
One of the highlights of this track is a small cascades waterfall that drops into a pool known as Deer Pool. When the deer population in the Royal National Park was much higher, this pool was a popular spot for them to drink.
Towards the end of the walk, you have the choice between two beaches. Marley Beach in the north is a 360 metres long southeast-facing beach with bright yellow sand, protected by a large area of dunes.
Little Marley Beach further south is quite similar but is much smaller. Please be mindful though that those two beaches are not patrolled and swimming can be hazardous.
12. Palm Jungle Loop Track
Distance: 8.5 km (circuit) Duration: 3 hours Grade: Moderate Starting point: Map
Starting from the Garawarra Farm car park in the southern part of the Royal National Park, the Palm Jungle loop track is a challenging 8.5 km circuit trail.
This enjoyable hike takes in beautiful cliff tops, secluded beaches, lush rainforest, and scenic coastal views.
Located roughly halfway through the walking track, Palm Jungle is a section of cooler rainforest with an abundance of cabbage tree palms and other tropical plants.
You can include the popular Figure 8 Pools in this walk by doing a detour from Burning Palms beach. Please do check the tides beforehand if you’re planning to visit the pools.
13. Curra Moors Loop Track
Distance: 10 km (part circuit) Duration: 3 hours Grade: Moderate Starting point: Map
The Curra Moors Loop Track is a partial circuit walking trail that offers a good mix of bush and coastal walking.
The walk starts from Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and passes through a landscape of heath and low tree vegetation, before it connects with the Coast Track close to Eagle Head Rock and Curracurrong Falls.
This walking track is approximately 10 km long and is reasonably challenging. It’s a part circuit, with the first 1.7 km going through bushland, before it meets an intersection where you can either go clockwise or anti-clockwise.
At the other end of the circuit trail, you can make a short side trip to visit Eagle Head Rock and Curracurrong Falls.
14. Lady Carrington Drive
Distance: 10 km Duration: 3 hours Grade: Easy Starting point: Map
The Lady Carrington Drive is a historic cycling and hiking trail from Audley through to the southern precinct of the Royal National Park.
It’s a fairly easy walking track that isn’t so much about any noteworthy highlights, but more so about the picturesque forest surroundings from start to finish.
You can start the Lady Carrington Drive either from the Audley side in the north or from the Sir Bertram Stevens Drive side in the south.
Also note that you don’t necessarily need to complete the whole track. The Lady Carrington Drive is a great opportunity to simply go for a walk in scenic surroundings, and you can go as far as you wish.
15. Waterfall to Heathcote Walking Track
Distance: 11 km (one way) Duration: 4 hours Grade: Moderate / hard Starting point: Map
The bushwalk between Waterfall and Heathcote includes the Karloo Track and the Uloola Track, with several highlights along the way, such as Karloo Pools and Uloola Falls.
What’s great about this walking track is that there is a train station at both ends of the walk, so you can use the train to travel back to your starting point.
This walking track is an alternative way to visit both Karloo Pools and Uloola Falls, if the Karloo Track (see number 6) is perhaps a bit too short.
You can start this walk either from Waterfall or from Heathcote, but if you want to save the highlights for the second section of the walk, it’s best to start in Waterfall.
16. Otford to Figure 8 Pools
Distance: 12 km (return) Duration: 5-6 hours Grade: Hard Starting point: Map
This hike has become more popular in recent years with all the hype around the Figure 8 Pools. While the pools are a great sight, the walking track from Otford Station to the pools via Burning Palms Beach is also very enjoyable.
To get to the Figure 8 Pools, you will need to do an extra section from Burning Palms Beach. It’s a great addition to an already great walking track, but it does get rather steep.
Before you leave, be sure to check the tides as otherwise, you may not even see the Figure 8 Pools by the time you get there, let alone swim in them. The tides will need to be low and without any dangerous swells.
If you’re short on time and you just want to see the Figure 8 Pools, you can also park your car at Garawarra Farm Carpark which is closer to the pools than Otford is.
17. The Coast Track
Distance: 26 km (one way) Duration: 1 or 2 days Grade: Hard Starting point: Map
One of the most iconic walking tracks in Sydney and New South Wales is the 26 km long Coast Track between Bundeena in the north and Otford in the south of the Royal National Park.
Bushland, secluded beaches, boardwalks, huge sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, and natural water holes, this challenging hike is a true adventure that you should try to complete at least once in your life.
While it’s certainly possible to do this track in one day, some people prefer to turn this into a two-day hiking adventure with overnight camping.
The most obvious spot where you can set up your hiking tent and stay overnight is North Era, which has a large campground with basic facilities.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Established in 1894, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is Australia’s second oldest national park, 15 years younger than the Royal National Park.
Located only 25 km north of the Sydney CBD, Ku-ring-gai Chase is a popular weekend destination for Sydney residents and tourists.
Measuring a generous 15,000 hectares, the park is characterised by rainforest, cliffs, mangroves, Aboriginal sites, picnic areas, secluded beaches, lookout points, mountain biking trails, and various walking tracks.
1. Resolute Loop Track | 6 km (circuit) Duration: 2 – 3 hours Grade: Moderate
One of the prettiest secluded beaches in Greater Sydney is Resolute Beach, not too far away from the West Head lookout. Resolute Beach is a 60m long strip of sand with calm water and no rocks, making it perfect for a relaxing swim.
The beach is also a popular boat landing area. Many visitors arrive here with their leisure boats from Palm Beach for a quiet afternoon in the sun.
The best way to visit Resolute Beach is by doing the 6 km loop track starting from the Resolute picnic ground. The first part of this track is a section with well-preserved Aboriginal engravings, followed by a descent into the bush towards Resolute Beach.
After a refreshing swim, continue the track northbound to the West Head Lookout, which offers scenic views of Pittwater and the Barrenjoey Headland.
2. America Bay Track | 2 km (return) Duration: 1 hour Grade: Easy
The America Bay Track in the West Head and Basin precincts of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park may be short, but it’s a fun outdoor adventure that takes in a lot of bushwalking goodness.
The absolute highlight of this easy 2 km track is the lookout at the end of the walk, which offers incredible views of America Bay. This lookout is also a great spot for a picnic in beautiful surroundings.
Before you get to this lookout, you will explore Aboriginal engravings, small waterfalls, creek crossings, and beautiful natural scenery.
3. West Head Lookout to Great Mackerel Beach | 5 km (one-way) Duration: 2 – 3 hours Grade: Moderate
The West Head Lookout in Ku-ring-gai Chase offers breathtaking views of Pittwater, Broken Bay, Barrenjoey Headland, Palm Beach and the Central Coast.
An exciting bushwalk that starts from this lookout leads to Great Mackerel Beach, a tiny suburb with a population of just over 100 residents that looks a bit like a remote holiday resort.
Go for a wander and admire the fascinating real estate behind the beach, but watch out for the golf carts and wheelbarrows that are used to carry luggage and other things around.
Before arriving at Great Mackerel Beach, the walking track takes in the small and secluded West Head and Resolute beaches, so there are plenty of options for a quiet swim.
4. West Head Army Track | 1 km (return) Duration: 1 hour Grade: Moderate (steep sections)
Officially opened in 2016, the short but somewhat challenging West Head Army Track is a unique trail at the West Head Lookout that leads to a historic army battery.
Part of this walk consists of a steep ladder construction required to help navigate hikers down to the old West Head army battery.
Once down there, you can wander around and see the gun emplacements and battery observation posts used in the Second World War to protect the country against hostile activities.
5. Cowan to Brooklyn | 13 km (one-way) Duration: 4 – 5 hours Grade: Hard
The challenging walk between Cowan and Brooklyn is part of the Great North Walk, an enormous 250 km track between Sydney, Hunter Valley and Newcastle.
This particular section of that iconic walk is not the easiest but well worth the effort, with fantastic scenery along the way to take in.
The 13 km walking track from Cowan train station to Brooklyn is not complete without a refreshing swim in Jerusalem Bay. The quiet and peaceful surroundings of the bay and the abundance of trees make swimming here such a unique experience.
The best way to get to Cowan is to use public transport, as the start of the walking track is opposite the train station. Follow the signs for Brooklyn and the Great North Walk to find the beginning of the track. Once you have reached Brooklyn, you can catch the train back to Cowan.
6. Sphinx Memorial to Bobbin Head Loop Track | 10 km (circuit) Duration: 3 – 4 hours Grade: Moderate
The 10 km Sphinx Memorial to Bobbin Head loop via Warrimoo Track is an exciting bushwalk through various landscapes in Ku-ring-gai Chase NP.
One half of the loop (Warrimoo Track) follows the beautiful shoreline of Cowan Creek, while the other half (Bobbin Head trail) is mostly a fire trail through a forest of gum trees.
While this loop track can be started in Bobbin Head, a more logical place to start this hike is the Sphinx Memorial in North Turramurra. The Sphinx Memorial is a unique sandstone monument that was built in the 1920s to commemorate those who died in service during World War I.
The best section of this loop track is the Warrimoo Track; beautiful forests, rock formations, mangroves, and panoramic water views make this a highly enjoyable bushwalk.
7. Gibberagong Walking Track | 6 km (one-way) Duration: 2 – 3 hours Grade: Moderate
The Gibberagong track is another popular bushwalk that has its starting point in Bobbin Head.
The first section of this walking track is the Bobbin Head mangrove boardwalk that swirls through saltwater mangroves as part of Cockle Creek.
The track then continues all the way to North Wahroonga through a section of thriving bushland with a large waterhole as one of the highlights.
The Gibberagong walking track is perfect for adventurous bushwalkers that enjoy bird-watching and wildlife-spotting.
8. Berowra to Mount Kuring-gai | 10 km (one-way) Duration: 3 – 4 hours Grade: Moderate / hard
The moderately challenging walking track between Berowra and Mount Kuring-gai makes for a perfect day out for both seasoned bushwalkers as well as casual outdoor enthusiasts.
Berowra and Mount Kuring-gai both have railway stations with regular train services, so you don’t have to walk all the way back once you’ve completed your adventure.
The track mostly follows the shoreline of Cowan Creek, with a few great lookout points along the way. A visit to Apple Tree Bay is optional as a side track but well worth the effort if you’ve never been there before.
Apple Tree Bay is a popular weekend destination with a boat ramp and plenty of parking. The area has large picnic areas with BBQs, a small kiosk, drinking water, toilet facilities and plenty of shade from the trees.
