Wattamolla Beach, Royal National Park: 8 Amazing Things To Do

Wattamolla Beach in Royal National Park is one of the most popular day trip destinations from Sydney, getting very busy at weekends, especially in the summer. (I might say it’s insanely busy, but that’s only true by Australian standards.) Granted, it’s one of the best Royal National Park beaches, certainly the most protected one, but it’s more than just a stunning beach that you find here.

It has a sheltered lagoon, a pretty waterfall, a scenic swimming hole, amazing viewpoints and hiking opportunities. We visited Wattamolla Beach in various seasons (the picture of the empty beach was taken on a winter morning), and in this post I’m telling you about all the best things to do at Wattamolla.

Where is Wattamolla Beach?

First of all, Wattamolla is located in the heart of Royal National Park. The name was given to the area before Europeans arrived on Australian shores, and it means “place near running water”. It’s most popular for the picnic area and the beach, but there’s much more to do here.

After you enter Royal National Park, turn into Wattamolla Road from Sir Bertram Stevens Drive, and follow it all the way to the end. There you find the Wattamolla Beach parking areas. If the first parking area is full, continue driving up the curves as there are several more.

How to get to Wattamolla Beach from the parking lot? The parking lot is close enough to the beach, but there’s a 400 meters walk as you descend to the beach area. It’s not the best for strollers, and there’s no accessible path on the beach either. Beach carts are fine if you’re determined enough. 

What to do at Wattamolla Beach?

So Wattamolla Beach. With the lagoon and the trees, the crystal clear water and the golden sand, it looks like a tropical paradise. And you can see Wattamolla Falls from the beach! It’s a large beach, and even though it’s really popular on the weekends, it never actually feels crowded.

The beach itself is a good enough reason to visit Wattamolla, but let’s see all the rest.

Swim in Wattamolla Bay

Wattamolla Beach, Royal National Park

Wattamolla Beach is one of the few beaches in Royal National Park that’s protected enough so that swimming is usually safe. It’s at the end of a longer bay, making it an ideal swimming beach along the otherwise open coastline in the park.

However, there are waves and I wouldn’t call them gentle. It’s not a beach where a toddler can safely play in the shallows (there’s no real shallows, that’s one reason). Lifeguards are present on summer weekends.

If you prefer very calm and shallow water, make your base by the lagoon…

Wade in the Wattamolla Lagoon

Wattamolla Lagoon on a summer weekday

The protected, calm water of Wattamolla Lagoon is very shallow. Swimming is possible in certain areas, especially at high tide, but others are more suitable for wading and for small children to splash around. The water of the creek is not as warm as I’d expect, it’s quite refreshing even during the hot summer.

Wattamolla Lagoon is also the perfect place for a peaceful paddle, whether you have a kayak, canoe or SUP.

Visit the Wattamolla Beach waterfall lookout

Wattamolla Falls can be seen from the beach, which is a spectacular sight, and you can also swim under it. But there’s a lookout at the edge of the picnic area, as well, which offers side views of the waterfalls and overlooks the beautiful lagoon and the beach. Don’t miss this viewpoint, no matter how much you hurry to the beach.

The Wattamolla Beach waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Royal National Park. It’s also a popular cliff jumping spot. While the Wattamolla cliff jump is prohibited, you’ll see lots of people jumping, simply stepping over the fence. We haven’t done so, and the fence is there for a reason: the depth of the water changes with the tide and during the seasons, and there can be rocks at the bottom. (Also, if a ranger sees you jumping, you’ll be fined.)

Have a picnic with family and friends

Wattamolla is a very popular picnic spot. It has several covered and uncovered tables and BBQ facilities, but you need to be there early to grab one. Families spread all over the large picnic area on sunny weekends. Bring a blanket and a sunshade, and sit on the spacious open field if all the tables are taken.

You’ll be seriously tempted for a BBQ party simply by crossing the picnic area and smelling the amazing food. You find bins and tap water (but not drinking water) by the picnic area, but there’s no restaurant, café or other services (hah, including cell service).

Walk to Providential Point Lookout

Wattamolla Beach, the lagoon and the waterfall are magical. But we are wired not to stay in one place for too long and are always eager to explore further. This place offers tons of options, and on winter weekends we usually come to do walks and hikes from Wattamolla instead of chilling out on the beach. You can also combine the two, because there are several short walks from the picnic area.

One of them leads to Providential Point, one of the best lookouts in Royal National Park, with spectacular views of the bay, the open sea and the headland. It’s just an 800 meters walk from Wattamolla, mostly on flat terrain. It ends at a railed lookout where you can enjoy the views. From the lookout take the stairs up to the headland to make it a loop. 

Between May and October you have good chances to spot whales from the lookout – or really, anywhere from the top of the cliffs in Royal National Park.

Enjoy the swimming hole at Wattamolla Dam

Another short and easy bushwalk (800 meters) leads from the waterfall lookout to Wattamolla Dam. It’s a swimming hole that reminded me of an infinity pool with pretty forest views. Dip in the water before you continue further on the Coast Track.

Gentle warning: the water level might be very low after longer dry periods, then it ceases to be a swimming hole.

Hike from Wattamolla to Big Marley Beach

The Royal Coast Track, the fabulous 26 km long coastal hike between Bundeena and Otford, passes Wattamolla. It means you can do portions of this hike from Wattamolla, either northbound or southbound – it’s hard to decide which direction is prettier.

The northbound track takes you to Little Marley Beach and Big Marley Beach, passing Wattamolla Dam. (Eventually, it takes you to Bundeena. The hike from Wattamolla to Bundeena and back is definitely a full day hike though.) The hike from Wattamolla to Big Marley Beach is about 4.5 km one-way, and it runs at the edge of the coastal cliffs for the most part, offering wonderful views.

And just when you think it can’t possibly be more impressive, a curved boardwalk takes you down to Little Marley Beach. Little Marley Beach and Big Marley Beach are both incredibly romantic for beach strolls. They’re beautiful, wild beaches – but swimming is not safe at either of them, because of the strong currents. Bluebottle jellyfish are also often washed to the shore in the summer months.

The headland between the two beaches is the best place to enjoy views of both bays from above. A boardwalk runs through it, but you can venture out to the coastal cliffs and rock platforms along the way.

I’d say it’s the best coastal hike in Royal National Park, but this is not so obvious. Competition is fierce in this park.

Hike from Wattamolla to Curracurrong Falls & Eagle Rock

A next candidate for the most scenic hike is the southbound route from Wattamolla to Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls. This route is 4.7 km one-way and treats you with amazing ocean and headland views. Most of the trail is on a metal boardwalk, with little elevation change, but it’s not entirely flat.

Eagle Rock is a picturesque rock formation that resembles an eagle’s beak. You need to face it from the other side of the bay to get the best views of it. You can stand on Eagle Rock, and it’s large enough so that you don’t need to be anywhere near the edge for a good photo (the photographer should stand further along the trail). But be careful as there’s no fence and you’ll be on top of a tall, sheer cliff wall.

The best view of Curracurrong Falls can also be enjoyed from Eagle Rock. Curracurrong Falls is a twin waterfall that cascades directly into the ocean. There’s often relatively little water flowing through it, but the setting itself makes it magical. It looks the best after heavy rains, and you’ll enjoy the best views of it before you reach it (from Eagle Rock and the surrounding rocky platforms) and after it.

Then simply turn back and return to Wattamolla the same way you came.

Where to stay near Wattamolla Beach?

There’s no accommodation right by the beach at Wattamolla, but you find nice places to stay in several smaller towns south of Sydney only a short drive away. 

Luxury: Sydney Executive Garden Apartments, Engadine. It’s a modern self-catering accommodation with a well-equipped kitchen, private hot tub and lovely garden views. Engadine Train Station is 5-minute walk away, and it’s about a 20 minutes drive from Wattamolla.

Mid-range: Reids Flat Cottage, Audley. 15 minutes drive from Wattamolla, this renovated riverside heritage cottage can sleep up to 8 people. It’s in an ideal bushland setting and offers kayaking and cycling opportunities. Since you need to book the whole cottage, it’s the best for larger groups.

Budget: Helensburgh Hotel, Helensburgh. 30 minutes drive from Wattamolla, Helensburgh Hotel offers various types of simple, clean, comfortable rooms.

Camping in Royal National Park

Wattamolla is a day use area, and it offers no camping opportunities. Wattamolla Beach camping is not permitted either. There are only three campgrounds in Royal National Park where you can legally camp: Bonnie Vale campground, North Era campground and Uloola Falls campground.

Bonnie Vale campground is the only one of the three which is accessible by car (or by ferry from Cronulla). It’s located between Bundeena and Maianbar, about a 20 minutes drive from Wattamolla. It has 74 campsites, flush toilets and showers. The riverside location and ideal conditions for car camping and caravan camping make it very popular, so make sure to book your spot in advance here.

North Era campground and Uloola Falls campground are much smaller, and they’re accessible only on foot, mainly suitable for backpackers.

Tips for your visit to Wattamolla Beach in Royal National Park

Avoid weekends. In any season, but especially during summer and school holidays. The Wattamolla car park is among the biggest ones we’ve seen in the Sydney area, with several levels of parking, but it can fill up by 11 am on a popular day. (Which is not what I recognize as competitive parking, coming from Europe and North America, but it’s definitely considered as such in Australia.)

Bring enough drinking water. There’s a washroom and water taps, but no drinking water.

Bring all the food you need for the day. No food is sold at Wattamolla, there’s no café or kiosk.

Keep sun protection in mind. There’s not much shade on the beach, especially if there’s a lot of people. If the picnic shelters are occupied, you need your own sunshade for a pleasant picnic in the park.

There’s an entry fee to Royal National Park and the Wattamolla Beach parking. If you live near Sydney and visit national parks at least 4-5 times a year, it’s worth buying an annual pass. (Not all national parks have entrance fees, but several of them do in the Sydney area, and Royal National Park is one of them.)

There’s no cell service at Wattamolla. Make sure that whatever you need – music, reading or hiking maps -, you download it beforehand.

Is Wattamolla beach dog-friendly? Like in most national parks, dogs and other domestic animals are not permitted.