Royal Coast Track

As track works progress, closures may be in place for the safety of visitors and work crews. Please check current alerts before you visit.

Current alerts

Closures

Upgrades to the Palm Jungle track will commence in January 2023. These works are expected to take 12 months to complete. The eastern section of the Palm Jungle loop track is closed between Burning Palms and Werrong lookout. Walking to/from Otford is possible, but walkers need to divert via Burgh Ridge trail and Garawarra Farm.

Due to a landslide, Transport for NSW has closed Garie Road at the intersection with Sir Bertram Stevens Drive. Vehicles and pedestrians cannot use any part of Garie Road to access Garie Beach and its surrounds. A reopening date for this road is not currently known but is expected to be in mid to late 2023.

The Coast Track is closed between Garie and Little Garie until further notice due to rock falls and erosion. Passing through this section is not possible, and walkers must retrace their steps or exit the track at an earlier point.

Visitor access

Visitors can walk the Royal Coast Track south from Bundeena, but there is no access past Garie. Visitors need to retrace their steps or exit the track before Garie.

Visitors can access the Royal Coast Track north from Otford via the Ridge Trail to Garawarra Farm, but there is no access past Little Garie. Visitors will need to retrace their steps or exit the track before Little Garie.

Figure 8 Pools can be reached from Otford via the Burgh Ridge trail or Garawarra Farm.

There are no restrictions to the Royal Coast track between Bundeena and Wattamolla.

This project commenced in 2016 17. Works have been staged and will be completed by 2024.

The Royal National Park is Australia’s oldest national park and the second oldest national park in the world. The proposal includes major upgrade of the track surface and the provision of high quality visitor facilities at key destinations along the route of the Royal Coast Track, including improvement of safety fencing and signage at Wedding Cake Rock and improvement to the visitor facilities at much loved Wattamolla. The project responds to both to the current pattern of visitor growth, as well as the attraction of new visitors through the offer of enhanced coastal experiences.

Our national parks are managed to protect their unique values and provide for sustainable visitor use and enjoyment. This includes providing visitor experiences and, where appropriate, new visitor facilities including tracks and trails.

We are conducting environmental assessments to examine the significance of any likely environmental impacts of the proposal and will consider measures required to mitigate any impacts to the environment. This highlights the need to ensure public visitation and enjoyment is compatible with the protection of conservation and cultural heritage values.

The Royal Coast Track provides visitors with an opportunity to enjoy a varied walking experience along the spectacular coastline of the Royal National Park. The track offers amazing views of the landscape and coastline and respects the park’s natural and cultural values. Places such as Wattamolla, Garie, Burning Palms, Era Beach and Eagle Rock can be accessed via the Coast Track, and provide stunning views. Visitors can experience the beauty of local landscapes and wildlife including whale watching.

National Parks and Wildlife Service will continue to engage with stakeholders and interested community members with updates available from this webpage.