The Royal National Park was established in 1879 as Australia’s first and the world’s second national park. It was originally named National Park but was renamed to Royal National Park in 1955 after Queen Elizabeth II passed through on her way to Wollongong during her Australia tour in the year 1954.
On this page, you will find a selection of some of the best walking tracks, lookouts, waterfalls, and sights in Royal National Park.
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The 6.5 km return hike from Garawarra Farm to Thelma Head showcases some of the most stunning coastal scenery in the Royal National Park.
This moderately challenging track passes two beaches and features multiple vantage points along the way, offering sweeping views of the coastline.
The Curra Moors Loop Track is a 10 km circuit in Royal National Park, offering a perfect blend of scenic bushland and stunning coastal views.
This moderately challenging hike is ideal for a weekend adventure, giving you a great workout while enjoying the natural surroundings.
Located within Royal National Park, the Wattamolla Beach area offers a scenic lagoon, a secluded beach, a picturesque waterfall, and a spacious picnic ground.
This hidden gem has become one of Sydney’s most sought-after spots for weekend and day trips, perfect for a relaxing family outing.
The Providential Point Lookout is a stunning viewing point in the Wattamolla area of Royal National Park, offering beautiful coastal views.
A short walking trail from the Wattamolla car park will get you to this lookout, with various other walks and things to do nearby to make a day of it.
The Palona Cave Walk is a hidden gem in Royal National Park, featuring beautiful rainforest scenery, a large cave, and a small cascading waterfall.
This family-friendly walking trail is one of the lesser-known walks in this otherwise popular national park, but it has a lot to offer.
Find the best walks in Royal National Park, from short and scenic bush trails to challenging half-day coastal hikes.
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.
The 7 km return walking trail to Little Marley Beach from Wattamolla is one of the best walking trails in Royal National Park.
The first section of this easy walk meanders through a patch of scenic bushland, and the second part is on top of the cliffs following the coastline.
The Palm Jungle Loop Track in Royal National Park is a fascinating 8.5 km walking trail through various types of landscapes and sceneries.
This moderately challenging trail takes in a thriving rainforest, beautiful coastal views, and impressive cliff tops, with a visit to Burning Palms Beach as a welcome bonus on a warm day.
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.
The Forest Path is a pleasant 4.5 km long bush walking trail along the shores of the Hacking River in Royal National Park, looping around Forest Island.
With start and finish on Sir Bertram Stevens Drive, this relatively easy walking track passes through a patch of scenic rainforest, less than one hour from the city.
The Bundeena Drive to Marley Walk is a moderately challenging bush trail in Royal National Park, leading to two beautiful beaches.
The trail passes the Deer Pool, a small cascade waterfall and pool of water, before arriving at Little Marley Beach and Marley Beach on the Coast Track.
The Jibbon Beach Loop Track is an easy walking trail that begins at the Bundeena ferry wharf, winding its way to Jibbon Head, Port Hacking Point, and Shelley Beach.
Along the way, you can enjoy stunning ocean views, explore well-preserved Aboriginal engravings, and maybe go for a swim in this quiet section of the Royal National Park.
Wedding Cake Rock is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the Royal National Park. While it’s now fenced off, it remains a striking sight worth visiting.
The walk to this unique rock formation starts in Bundeena and is a relatively easy coastal track, offering stunning ocean and cliff views along the way.
The track from Heathcote to Karloo Pools is a fantastic bushwalk leading to a stunning natural waterhole nestled within the Royal National Park.
Surrounded by rock ledges and with shaded spots nearby for your belongings, Karloo Pools almost feels like a man-made swimming pool set in the heart of the bush.
The Winifred Falls Trail is a short, family-friendly bushwalking track in Royal National Park that leads to a small yet picturesque waterfall.
At the waterfall, visitors can relax on one of the many rock platforms or venture out a bit further along South West Arm Creek.
Located just south of Sydney, the Royal National Park is Australia’s oldest and the world’s second-oldest national park.
With lookout points, waterfalls, walking tracks, and natural swimming pools, this 15,000-hectare park truly offers something for everyone.
The Coast Track between Bundeena and Otford in Royal National Park is one of the most iconic coastal walks in Sydney and New South Wales.
With scenic lookouts, waterfalls, swimming spots, and remote beaches, the 26 km Coast Track offers a hiking experience that’s hard to beat.
The coastal walk from Wattamolla to Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls takes in two iconic landmarks and offers stunning coastal views along the way.
Eagle Rock is a striking rock formation in the Royal National Park that resembles an eagle’s beak. Nearby, you’ll find Curracurrong Falls, one of the rare waterfalls in the world that plunges directly into the ocean.