Werrong Beach – the best-kept secret in Royal National Park
Werrong Beach is one of Royal National Park’s hidden gems. It lies along the southern end of the famous Coast Track, and while the side trail leading to the beach … Read more
Royal National Park
Royal National Park, just south of the Sydney metropolitan area, is the world’s second-oldest national park, gazetted in 1879 (after Yellowstone). While it is best known for its dramatic coastline, the park’s 151 square kilometres protect a remarkable diversity of landscapes, from coastal heathland and littoral rainforest to mangroves, salt marshes, steep valleys, creeks, waterfalls, and tidal rock platforms.
More than 30 walking trails weave through these varied habitats, leading to secluded beaches, swimming holes, waterfalls, and some of the most rewarding coastal and bush walks near Sydney. If you’re looking for a broader, place-based introduction before choosing individual walks, see my Complete guide to Royal National Park: walks, beaches, waterfalls and swimming holes, which brings the park’s landscapes, wildlife, and experiences together in one long-form guide.
Below, you’ll find detailed guides to individual walks and destinations within the Royal National Park.
Secret swimming hole on Kangaroo Creek, Royal National Park
Looking for a tranquil swimming hole in Sydney? Check out this stunning spot on Kangaroo Creek, Royal National Park. Kangaroo Creek in Royal National Park hides many secret swimming holes … Read more
Karloo Pools and Uloola Falls – A beautiful walk in Royal National Park
Royal National Park is famous for its spectacular coastline and walking tracks that cover different sections of that coastline. But most of the Royal National Park’s 150 square kilometres lie … Read more
Royal National Park: Walks, Beaches, Waterfalls and Swimming Holes
One of the best things about living in Sydney is its proximity to big, striking nature. Royal National Park on the southern fringes of the city is the world’s second-oldest … Read more
Wattamolla to Little Marley Beach walk in Royal National Park
Wattamolla to Little Marley Beach walk in Royal National Park has it all: a forest swimming hole that looks like an infinity pool, a particularly colourful section of clifftop rocks, … Read more
Wattamolla to Curracurrong Falls Walk, Including a Tranquil Hidden Gem
One of Sydney’s most popular coastal walks, Wattamolla to Curracurrong Falls in Royal National Park, is a spectacular trail. It travels along the clifftops towards Sydney’s only waterfall that flows … Read more
Garie Beach to Curracurrong Falls Walk & a Secret Viewpoint
The walk from Garie Beach to Curracurrong Falls in Royal National Park is one of the most spectacular coastal walks in Sydney. Not only does it take you through a … Read more
Otford to Burning Palms Beach: Palm Jungle Loop Track
Palm Jungle Loop Track is one of the more adventurous coastal walks in Royal National Park. It covers about a quarter of the 26-kilometre Coast Track from Otford to Burning … Read more
Things to See and Do on Marley Beach, Including a Visit to Little Marley
Marley Beach and Little Marley Beach are two gorgeous and fairly secluded beaches tucked away between the headlands of the Royal National Park coastline. The Little Marley, particularly, is my … Read more
Winifred Falls Trail – A Short Trail to a Pretty Waterfall
Winifred Falls is one of the prettiest waterfalls in Royal National Park that you can swim in, and you can reach it by a short, 2-kilometre return Winifred Falls trail … Read more
Garawarra Farm Carpark to Burning Palms Beach Track
Burning Palms Beach is one of the prettiest beaches in Royal National Park. It can be accessed only on foot by several different trails: Palm Jungle Loop trail from Otford … Read more
Bulgo Beach – a unique fishing shack village in Sydney
Bulgo Beach is not technically in Royal National Park, but rather on the southern edge of it. It is unusual in that it is home to a shack village – … Read more
Forest Path in Royal National Park – a Tranquil Rainforest Track
Forest Path is one of the oldest walking trails in Royal National Park and one of the prettiest. It follows the Hacking River as it winds its way through the … Read more
Hidden Gems on Bundeena to Marley Beach Walk
Only an hour’s drive from Sydney, the Bundeena to Marley Beach track in Royal National Park is one of the most scenic coastal walks in Sydney. It is the northern … Read more
Lady Carrington Drive Walk: Rainforest and Lyrebirds
The southern end of Lady Carrington Drive in Royal National Park is probably the best section of the temperate rainforest that can be easily accessed in the park. It is … Read more