Royal National Park
Established in 1879 as the world's second-oldest national park, with highlights including coastal cliff walks, a waterfall-fed lagoon bay and the figure-eight natural rock pools.
Royal National Park lies about 30 km south of Sydney. Established in 1879, it is the second-oldest national park in the world. The park stretches for about 30 km along the coastline. Its most popular feature is the roughly 26 km Coast Track, which can be walked in sections and passes sandstone cliffs, bays and native plants. At Wattamolla, a small bay where a waterfall drops into a lagoon, is a good spot for swimming. The famous Figure Eight Pools are natural rock pools on a seaside rock platform, but they can only be visited at low tide when the sea is calm. Visitors have been swept away by large waves, so be sure to check the tide and surf conditions. Driving requires paying a vehicle entry fee. You can also take a small ferry from Cronulla to Bundeena and start hiking from there.
Opening hours
7:00 am–8:30 pm (seasonal changes)
Nearby sights
- Sea Cliff Bridge
- Kamay Botany Bay National Park
- Chinatown & Paddy's Markets
- Sydney Fish Market
- Chinese Garden of Friendship
- Darling Harbour
- SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
- Queen Victoria Building