The park where nature puts on quite an extravagant show, with a dramatic coastline and towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, pristine beaches, artistically carved rock pools and shades of green that rivals a painter’s palette after a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Not to mention the nicely composed birdsongs, the ever-changing and yet never-changing music of the waves and the scent of eucalyptus in the air. You might even bump into a resident wallaby or saw a humpback whale jumping out of the water during the winter migration.
Royal National Park is home to some of the best hikes and beaches in New South Wales. Most of its ocean beaches are dangerous to swim due to the large waves and strong currents, but the untamed, untouched coastline is part of the magic. Don’t worry though, there are lots of places to swim safely in the park, and I’ll show you my favorites.
The most well-known hikes in the park is the Royal Coast Track, a 27 km long coastal trail that starts in Bundeena and ends in Otford, showcasing the best ocean and coastal views and beaches in the park.
Best of all? It’s a convenient day trip from Sydney. It takes about 1-1.5 hours to drive to Royal National Park from Sydney.
Here are the best things to do in Royal National Park:
