Coast Walk - Royal National Park

Coast Walk - Royal National Park - Sydney, Australia

14-15 Feb 2003

Evan Hunter
Adam Hunter
Jennifer Thompson
Fiona Campbell
Kylie Huard

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Coast Walk, Bundeena to Otford

Coastal Cliffs near Marley Head

Length:	2 Days
Rating:	Easy-Medium
Distance:	Day 1: 20km, Day 2: 8km
Best Time:	All year, but best for swimming in warmer months (start early in winter)
Camp Sites:	North Era - BOOKING REQUIRED (see National Parks Website)
MAP :	Royal National Park Map
More Info:	Sydney Trains Website,
	Cronulla to Bundeena Ferries Website (Link unreliable),
	National Parks Website (See Royal National Park, Camping Section),

This is a rewarding overnight walk, only an hour's journey from sydney, and is easily accessable with public transport.

Day 1

We arranged to meet at Sydney's Central Railway Station, where we caught a train to Cronulla. After a little breakfast at a cafe, we caught the ferry to Bundeena.

You can either walk around the headland of Port Hacking Point, or go directly south. We chose to go around the point. This adds a couple of kilometres to the trip. The first part of the walk travels along scenic coastal cliff-tops in low heath bush. After a while, Marley and Little Marley Beaches are reached. Little Marley is better suited for swimming, but since it was winter, we didn't swim.

Shortly after Little Marley, the track heads a little way inland around a lagoon and arives at Wattamolla. Here there is a kiosk and picnic area.

After leaving Wattamolla, a few creek gullies are traversed as the track continues south along the coastline. Soon Garie Beach comes into view. Because we hiked in mid-winter, by the time we reached Garie Beach, it was getting dark. Fortunately there was a full moon. Garie Beach is patrolled by surf-lifesavers, and is a popular fishing beach. There are several houses here.

The track climbs up over the headland at the southern end of Garie beach, and immediately descends into North Era Beach

There is a large grassy camping area at North Era, and it is the only place in the Royal National Park where bush camping is permitted. The camping area has two pit toilets You will probably see deer here - we saw several at close range. We found that the campsite was fairly cold, since there was a breeze, and the winter night was clear.

Day 2

It was a long day's walk to North Era, the walk out to Otford is much shorter however. Heading south, the track ascends the headland between North Era and South Era. Some houses are passed going through a small community at South Era Beach, then the track heads inland a little, around a large headland.

Continuing back next to the coastal cliffs, the track goes past, and above Burning Palms beach, where there is another few houses. After another small section of castal cliffs, the Palm Jungle is reached, where there is are hundreds of palm trees forming a tangled jungle.

At this point the track starts heading inland, and ascending, toward the escarpment. Near the top of the hill is Werrong Lookout, which overlooks Werrong beach, with the coast stretching away to Wollongong in the distance.

The bushland on the escarpment is quite pretty, and is the only real eucalypt forest on the track. Soon the track comes to Otford lookout which has good sea views but is on a road, hence is popular. from here, Otford train station is a kilometre or so inland, down off the escarpment, where there are regular train services to Sydney.

Coast Walk Photo Gallery


Port Hacking Jun 14 2003	View from Port Hacking Point Jun 14 2003	Coastal Cliffs near Marley Head Jun 14 2003	Marley Head and Little Marley Jun 14 2003

Curracurang on the Coast Walk Jun 14 2003	Ocean view near Curracurrang Jun 14 2003	Coastal Heath in the Royal National Park Jun 14 2003	Eagle Rock on the Coast Walk Jun 14 2003

Hikers on the Coast Walk Jun 14 2003	Waterfall at Curracurrong, Royal National Park Jun 14 2003	Hikers near Curracurrong Jun 14 2003	Coast Walk Heath View Jun 14 2003

Sunset on the Coast Walk Jun 14 2003	Adam, Kylie & Fiona on the Coast Walk Jun 14 2003	Rising Full Moon at Garie Beach Jun 14 2003	Full Moon over the Ocean at Garie Beach Jun 14 2003

North Era Beach Camp Jun 15 2003	Rough Surf at North Era Beach Jun 15 2003	Rough Surf at North Era Beach Jun 15 2003	Deer at North Era Camp Jun 15 2003

Inquisitive Deer at North Era Campsite Jun 15 2003	Royal National Park Coastline Jun 15 2003	Hiking Group at Werrong Lookout Jun 15 2003	Coast Walk in Beautiful Forest Area Jun 15 2003

Coastal Cliffline near Otford Jun 15 2003