The Garie Beach to Era Beach Walk is a moderately challenging walking trail in Royal National Park, offering beautiful coastal scenery throughout.
The trail takes you past four beaches and includes a couple of steep climbs leading to vantage points with incredible views of the national park’s coastline.
We enjoyed the Garie Beach to Era Beach trail so much that it has earned a spot on our list of most beautiful walking tracks in Royal National Park.
| Garie Beach to Era Beach | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 5 km (return) |
| Duration: | 2 hours (depending on stops) |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate (steep sections) |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
Getting There
Driving to Garie Beach is straightforward. Once inside the Royal National Park, turn onto Garie Road from Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and follow it to the car park and picnic area at the end (see map location).
Parking at Garie Beach requires payment of the $12 Royal National Park access fee, which can be paid at the booth on Garie Road or at the booth near the park’s entrance.
If the car park is full, which often happens on warm, sunny days, you can use the overflow section (check for signs) or park further up along the side of Garie Road.
Before travelling to Royal National Park to do a hike, we recommend checking the NSW National Parks website for any closures as they can happen at short notice.
Track Notes
The hike between Garie Beach and (South) Era Beach is approximately 2.5 km one way. It’s easy to follow, with a well-maintained walking path and clear signage.
While the trail includes a few steep sections, it’s moderately challenging and suitable for anyone with a reasonable fitness level.
Map
We are going to describe this walk along the following landmarks and highlights, from north to south:
- Garie Beach
- Little Garie Beach
- North Era Beach
- Era Beach
Here is a map of the walk from Garie Beach to Era Beach, including those four landmarks and highlights:
1. Garie Beach
Once you’ve parked your car and are ready to start, head to the beach and look for the walking path that runs just behind the sand.
Garie Beach is a 900-metre-long stretch of sand, patrolled by the Garie Surf Life Saving Club on weekends.
It’s a popular spot for swimming and surfing, offering excellent facilities such as toilets, a kiosk, a large car park, and a picnic area.
Swimming at Garie Beach can be challenging due to rough waters, so it’s always recommended to stay between the flags for safety.
2. Little Garie Beach
After about 500 metres, the trail behind Garie Beach leads to a much smaller strip of sand known as Little Garie Beach.
This charming, rocky beach is picturesque but not very suitable for swimming.
From Little Garie Beach, the trail climbs up the hill, passing the small cabins that make up the Little Garie Shack Community.
Most of these cabins were built by families in the early 20th century, before the land became part of the Royal National Park. These cabins have always been, and remain, completely off the grid.
The climb up the hillside is mostly via a long staircase leading to the top of Thelma Head, the headland between Little Garie Beach and North Era Beach.
As you ascend the staircase, the views from the headland are stunning, with Garie Beach and Garie North Head visible in the distance.
3. North Era Beach
After reaching the top of Thelma Head, the track continues down the other side of the headland, leading to North Era Beach via another long staircase.
The views over North Era Beach and Era Beach during the descent are superb, offering a perspective similar to those from the other side of the headland.
The trail then passes the North Era Campground, situated on a large grassy area behind the beach.
This campground is primarily used by hikers completing the Coast Track between Bundeena and Otford over two days.
If you plan to stay overnight, note that bookings for this campground are essential.
To continue the trail to (South) Era Beach, follow the signs for the Coast Track, which leads to a path heading over the hill.
4. Era Beach
This section involves an uphill climb via metal boardwalks, but it’s not as steep or as long as the ascent to the peak of Thelma Head.
Era Beach is larger than North Era Beach and features its own surf life saving branch, with lifesavers on duty during weekends.
Swimming at both Era beaches can be hazardous, so always stay between the flags if you decide to take a dip.
When returning to North Era Beach, you also have the option to go via the rocky area between the two beaches at low tide.
While this route requires some rock scrambling, it’s shorter and quicker than going back over the hill.
Continue Hiking
Once you’ve reached (South) Era Beach, you can continue hiking south as far as you like. As part of the Coast Track, the trail extends all the way to Otford at the southern end of Royal National Park.
If you’d prefer a shorter hike, consider heading to the next beach, Burning Palms Beach. This beautiful stretch of sand is great for a quick swim, depending on the conditions.
Burning Palms Beach also provides access to the Figure Eight Pools. However, before heading there, it’s crucial to check the tides to ensure it’s safe and that the pools will be visible.
Read more about the beaches of Royal National Park in our guide, including details on how best to access them.
