The back story
Royal National Park: the world’s second-oldest
Cliffs, beaches and rock pools south of the city, established in 1879.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Wittylama · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsRoyal National Park was established in 1879, the world’s second-oldest national park in NPWS’s words: 16,000 hectares of beaches and rainforest within an hour of the city, with the Coast Track, Wattamolla and the Figure Eight Pools.
The coast
The Coast Track runs 27 km between Bundeena and Otford over two days; book the Garie Beach campground to stay overnight (NPWS).
The pools
The Figure Eight Pools are on a rock platform reached only at low tide and with a small swell; check conditions with NPWS before you go.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Chapman Brownlow · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsOur advice: walk the Coast Track in two days, and book the campground first.
Why it's on our list
- The coast
- The pools
What’s nearby
Distances from Royal National Park: the world’s second-oldest are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 12 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Key sights
- Sydney Airport22 kmCar or taxi 73 min
- Queen Victoria Building31 kmCar or taxi 100 min
- Bondi Beach31 kmCar or taxi 101 min
- Darling Harbour31 kmCar or taxi 101 min
- Hyde Park Barracks31 kmCar or taxi 101 min
- Royal Botanic Garden31 kmCar or taxi 102 min
- Harbour Bridge33 kmCar or taxi 107 min
- Sydney Opera House35 kmCar or taxi 112 min
Main stations and the Quay
- Central Station29 kmCar or taxi 96 min
- Wynyard Station31 kmCar or taxi 102 min
- Circular Quay32 kmCar or taxi 104 min
Location
The map comes from Google Maps, which sets its own cookies once it loads.
More in depth
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