This walk is the shortest walk to North Era Beach and starts from the Garie car park. Both beaches are popular surfing beaches, and have either camping or basic hostel accommodation. This makes the walk between the beaches an excellent way to transport boards and supplies for your surf retreat, weekend getaway or just a nice stroll during the day.

Total climbing: 242m

The walk down Stockyard Spur to Garie Beach is an excellent way to take in coastal views before following the Coastal Track. This is great if you are with a driver who is happy to drop you and wait for you are Garie Beach, or if you can do a car shuffle. You can always just walk back up. There are plenty of opportunities to get your feet wet if you wish to cool down on the walk, and you can see some of the houses built during the depression at North Era and Little Garie.

Total climbing: 142m

This walk starts at the large Garawarra Farm car park taking the ridge straight down to the coast. Look for the change in vegetation as you descend along the spur to the Coastal Track, before beach hopping your way to Garie Beach. The track is a great way to see some of Sydney’s best coast, with plenty of opportunities to cool down, and maybe do a spot of fishing along the way. About half the track is through open grass land, giving panoramic ocean views, with opportunities to wander among some buildings from the depression era.

Total climbing: 156m

This walk covers a great cross section of the environments in the Royal National park, with plenty of places to rest and take in the views. The walk follows the Squeeze Way from Garie Rd, then heads down Stockyard Spur to Era Gully. The walk then heads up to the old Garawarra Farm, via Burgh Ridge, and back along the road to the Squeezeway and Garrie Rd. There are some optional side trips to North Era and to Burning Palms for people with extra time.

Total climbing: 271m

This return walk starts from the old Garawarra Farm car park and heads down the ridge through the Royal National Park, to the coast. The walk then follows the coast, through Burning Palms beach, and around the base of the headland to the famous Figure Eight Pools. This walk explores 4 distinct environments and gives a great cross section of what the park has to offer. The Figure Eight pools are on an ocean rock platform. Rock platforms can be very dangerous places, especially at high tide and during high seas. Only plan to visit the rock platform at low tide and low seas (see BOM website for forecast). Please also wear appropriate footwear for the walk and rock platforms.

Total climbing: 273m

This walk explores a variety of environments through the Royal National Park. From the old Garawarra farm, the walk heads along the Squeeze Way then down a ridge to Burning Palms. There is an optional side trip out to Figure Eight pools. Burning Palms offers a nice beach and a great place to rest. From the beach the walk heads back up to Garawarra via an open grassy ridge, then through a nice shady forest track.

Total climbing: 398m

This walk has a great mixture of ocean cliffs, with fantastic views, and beautiful forest. The walk follows the well maintained Burgh Track, passing great views of the ocean and the cliffs, before turning inland and exploring some eucalypt forest on the way to Helensburgh. The environment and views near Lady Wakehurst Dr are incredibly special as the track winds its way through a shrouded eucalypt forest.

Total climbing: 664m

Largely along service trails and well managed bush tracks, this walk goes from train station to train station through parts of southern Royal National Park. The bush track between Garrawarra and the Hacking River is incredibly beautiful as it winds its way down the hill through shrouded eucalypt forest and low lying scrub.

Total climbing: 589m

From Otford Train Station, this walk enters the Royal National Park at the coast. There are great views of Wollongong down the coast. The walk also passes through the magnificent Palm Jungle and Burning Palms beach. This is a great spot to go, wet the toes, and enjoy the environment. The walk then continues to Figure of Eight Pools.

Total climbing: 732m

Exploring the southern coast of Royal National Park, this walk experiences different trails and environments, with dense forest at Palm Forest to the open grasslands along the Coastline. With a short side trip out to the Figure of Eight Pools, this walk becomes a great day in the bush. The views from the Burgh Ridge are something special, with views far into the distance along the coast. (Check the tide and wave heights, to avoid disappointment at the rock platform for Figure Eight pools.)

Total climbing: 706m

Following the coast through the Royal National Park with its magnificent coastal views, this walk is truly amazing. Although walked traditionally from Bundeena, this direction makes for a shorter first day. There are coastal and cliff views along much of this walk. There are also a small house communities early in the walk. Stay overnight at North Era Campsite. Water is very limited it is best to carry all the water you need.

Total climbing: 1244m

Heading south, this walk covers the coastline of the Royal National Park and can truly only be described as amazing. With breathtaking coastal views from Bundeena to Otford this walk follows the cliffs along a well managed and signposted track. You will enjoy the truly fantastic views out to sea and along the cliffs. Make an early start for day two, it is bigger that it appears.

Total climbing: 1351m

This walk, from Garie Beach to Eagle Rock, is another great way to explore the Royal National Park coastline. Eagle Rock is an iconic rock formation in the park, and this lookout provides a great view of it. The walk then returns to the expansive Garie Beach, offering more great views as you head down the hill. Enjoy the beach before jumping back in the car.

Total climbing: 344m

**On 02/12/2010 this YHA was completely destroyed by fire and plans for the future are not yet decided** This track is the only access to Garie Beach YHA. If you leave your car in the Garie Beach car park it is easy to head up to the hostel, before spending the rest of your time down at the beach. The hostel is basic, but luxurious for a week of surfing or exploring the coast. The YHA is not staffed and is locked, so you need to pay and pick up a key from Sydney if you wish to stay.

Total climbing: 68m

This walk is another Royal National Park classic. The walk comes off a ridge to join with the Coastal Track’s tour of the beaches. The walk starts at the small Curra Moors car park and heads through the heath and bush to the rock shelf at the coast. The track ends at Garie Beach. The beach has a kiosk and is an excellent spot for a swim (when patrolled) and a picnic. This walk is good for those who can get dropped off at the top and meet their driver at the bottom, or you may choose to do a car shuffle, or retrace your steps back to Curra Moors car park.

Total climbing: 65m

A pleasant walk with some great views, mostly along service trails. The walk passes through heath and some areas of trees (flowering in spring). This walk follows the Coastal Track along the headland, giving great views along the coast and out to sea.

Total climbing: 242m

This walk becomes more interesting once you reach the end of the service trail section and start on the bush track. There are great views going down the hill, and once at Bola Creek the track meanders alongside the creek, through a dark forest, until meeting up with Lady Carrington Dr.

Total climbing: 74m

Winding next to Bola Creek, the Wallumarra bush track is very pretty, as is the track to Palona. Great rest areas at Bola Picnic Area, and next to the waterfall at Palona Cave, cap off a great walk. While the Wallumarra service trail and the side trip to the Beehives are not the most interesting tracks in Royal National Park, the Wallumarra bush track and the trail to Palona Cave make up for this.

Total climbing: 439m

Initially following a section of service trail, this walk heads along the ridge before descending to Bola Creek. The walk becomes more enjoyable after the service trail section, especially down on the creek as the walk winds its way through the forest. After a short break at the Bola Picnic Area, the walk circles around, following the Forest Path. This track was one of the first in Royal National Park (established in 1886) and still remains very pretty.

Total climbing: 470m

This isn’t a particularly special walk, but is a nice way to see different heath environments. The walk follows an old road which has now been turned into a service trail. There are many wildflowers and banksia along this walk, providing great flower displays in the warmer months of the year.

Total climbing: 50m

Following the historic Lady Carrington Drive, this walk takes your to Calala, a quiet clearing on the Hacking River. Travelling along the old road, this walk passes a few shaded brooks as it winds alongside the Hacking River. There is the chance for a side trip to Palona Cave and waterfall. Calala is a clearing with some large trees providing shade, a picnic table and access to a beach on the bank of the shallow Hacking River.

Total climbing: 296m

This walk follows the historic Lady Carrington Drive alongside the Hacking River. The old road is closed to traffic and provides a great way for walkers (and mountain bikers) to explore the richness of Royal National Park. You can explore the fantastic natural sandstone rock formations, historical artefacts, read the information signs, rest in the picnic areas and appreciate the magnificent native trees. You may well be lucky enough to spot lyrebirds. The southern end has the steepest sections with the walk becoming generally flatter as you head north.

Total climbing: 266m
Note: There is no car transport option to the start of this walk.

Following the historic Lady Carrington Drive much of the way, this walk heads north until turning off the wide trail. Here the heads along a narrow track to a beautiful limestone cave. In typical sandstone country, Palona Cave’s different geology makes it well worth the visit. There is a beautiful cascading waterfall just near the cave to add even more variety. Just a bit north of the turnoff this walk describes a side trip to an old picnic area, a nice cool and shaded spot to rest.

Total climbing: 171m

Opened in 1886, the Forest Path was once part of a controversial logging site, the first time that logging was stopped in Australia by protest. Now it is a short trail looping around the hill, following the Hacking River. Through a shaded environment of ferns and eucalypts, this walk passes through a very pretty environment that was definitely worth preserving.

Total climbing: 179m