The Coast Track between Bundeena and Otford in Royal National Park is one of the most iconic coastal walks in Sydney and New South Wales.
With scenic lookouts, waterfalls, swimming spots, and remote beaches, the 26 km Coast Track offers a hiking experience that’s hard to beat.
In this guide, we’ll cover the highlights of the walk, where to start, how many days you’ll need, and where to camp along the way.
| The Coast Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 26 km (one way) |
| Duration: | 7 hours – 2 days |
| Grade: | Hard (because of distance) |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
Getting There
The Coast Track can be started from either Bundeena in the north or Otford in the south. Since it’s a long-distance, one-way walk, the best option is to use public transport.
Fortunately, both Bundeena and Otford are easy to reach by public transport.
Bundeena
Bundeena has a ferry wharf with an hourly service between Bundeena and Cronulla, crossing the Port Hacking River.
This service is run by Cronulla & National Park Ferry Cruises, so Opal cards aren’t accepted. Check the timetable for fares and times. The Cronulla ferry wharf is just a short walk from the train station.
Otford
Otford has a train station with direct services to Sydney’s Central Station. On weekends, the journey between Central and Otford takes about one hour on the Illawarra and South Coast lines. Visit the Transport NSW trip planner for up-to-date details.
Starting Point
The official starting point of the Coast Track is at the end of Beachcomber Avenue in Bundeena.
Alternatively, you can begin at the western end of Jibbon Beach, walking east to Jibbon Head and continuing south along the coast. For more on this route, see our Jibbon Beach Loop article.
Map
The map below shows the entire route starting from Beachcomber Avenue. The “X” marks the North Era camping ground.
You can see the full track on this interactive map.
One Day or Two Days?
The big question is: should you do the Coast Track in one day or two? The answer depends on a few factors.
1. Fitness
Contrary to what many people think, the Coast Track can be completed in a single day. While it’s certainly a long walk, the path is mostly flat, with only a few steep sections.
So, if you’re reasonably fit and have comfortable hiking boots, you can expect to complete the full track in 7 to 9 hours.
2. Pace
For some, hiking is all about fitness: moving fast, breathing fresh air, and getting the legs working.
For others, hiking is a more relaxed and social experience, taken at a moderate pace with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery.
If you fall into the first group, one day is doable. If you’re more of a social hiker, two days might be a better choice.
3. Camping
If you enjoy camping, why not take your time? Bring a lightweight hiking tent and stay overnight at the North Era campground.
Just remember, permits for camping at North Era must be booked in advance through NSW National Parks.
Track Notes (North to South)
Starting in Bundeena and finishing in Otford, the Coast Track is divided into two main sections, with the North Era campground marking the 18 km point.
The two sections of the Coast Track are:
- Bundeena to North Era Campground (18 km)
- North Era Campground to Otford (8 km)
If you’re planning to camp, North Era is a great option, with toilet facilities and plenty of open space.
Overall, signage along the track is good. While there are several intersections with other trails, it’s generally easy to stay on course without getting lost.
1. Bundeena to North Era Campground (18 Km)
The official starting point of the Coast Track is at the end of Beachcomber Avenue in Bundeena. This is also the starting point of the walk to the popular Wedding Cake Rock.
As mentioned earlier, an alternative is to begin at the western end of Jibbon Beach in Bundeena.
From there, follow the Jibbon Beach Loop around Jibbon Head and Port Hacking Point, where the trail then continues south along the coast.
Marley Beach and Little Marley Beach
About 1 km south of Wedding Cake Rock is Marley Beach, a large southeast-facing beach backed by an extensive area of sand dunes.
It’s one of the largest beaches in the Greater Sydney region, but despite its beauty, Marley Beach is generally considered unsafe for swimming.
A scenic boardwalk links Marley Beach with Little Marley Beach, a smaller, arc-shaped, east-facing beach with rock platforms at both ends.
From there, the Coast Track continues south to Wattamolla Beach.
Wattamolla Beach
The Wattamolla area, with its beach and nearby waterfall, is a popular weekend destination for families, offering swimming, fishing, snorkelling, and hiking.
From the picnic area, it’s worth taking a short detour to the Providential Point Lookout, where you can enjoy scenic ocean views.
Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls
About 4 km south of Wattamolla are two of the most iconic landmarks in the Royal National Park: Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls.
Curracurrong Falls is one of the few waterfalls in the world that drops directly into the ocean. On windy days, the water is often blown back upwards, creating a dramatic sight.
Right next to the falls is Eagle Head Rock, a striking rock formation that resembles an eagle’s beak.
These two natural landmarks are not only unique and impressive, but also tend to be free of large crowds, which allows for excellent photo opportunities.
Garie Beach
From Eagle Rock, the Coast Track continues to Garie Beach, one of the most popular beaches in Royal National Park.
The beach is a 900-metre-long strip of sand, patrolled by the Garie Surf Life Saving Club on weekends.
It’s a popular spot for swimming and surfing, with good facilities including toilets, a kiosk, a large car park, and a picnic area.
Little Garie Beach is just a short walk from Garie Beach and, as the name suggests, is a much smaller strip of sand surrounded by rocks.
North Era Campground
From the two Garie beaches, the trail continues past Thelma Head and towards North Era Beach and Era Beach.
The only official campground along the Coast Track is located roughly 18 km from the start of the walk. It offers several bush camping sites in a scenic and remote setting.
Overlooking the beach, the North Era campground is spacious and includes toilet facilities, but it is otherwise a basic campsite.
Note that bookings are essential, with a one-night maximum stay to ensure other hikers also have the opportunity to camp at this remote location.
2. North Era Campground to Otford (8 Km)
One of the perks of staying overnight at the North Era campground is the chance to start your day with a refreshing swim, as the beach is right at your doorstep.
The second stretch of the Coast Track is an 8 km walk from the campground to the Otford Lookout.
This three-hour section includes part of the Palm Jungle Loop Track, a challenging but rewarding walk through lush rainforest and along scenic coastal cliffs.
Figure 8 Pools
The most popular sight in this part of the Royal National Park is the well-known, though perhaps slightly over-hyped, Figure 8 Pools, accessible via a short but challenging detour.
If you’re planning to visit the Figure 8 Pools, make sure to check the tides in advance, as the pools are only safely accessible at low tide.
Otford Lookout
The final point of interest along the Coast Track is the Otford Lookout, located at the southeastern edge of Royal National Park.
From the lookout, it’s just a short stroll to Otford train station, where you can head back home or return to Cronulla.
Where would i find a topographical map of the bundeena to ortford hike route?
Did you also use a map to navigate your way around or are there signs that showed where to go?
Hi Julie,
Try this map that we created on Google Maps.
In general, the Coast Track is very easy to navigate with lots of signage and well-maintained tracks and boardwalks.
I’d like to do the Coast Track over two days in August, but don’t want to camp. The earlier comment mentioned getting an Uber out. Where are the best options for breaking halfway and restarting the next day using a taxi or uber service?
There really aren’t any towns between Otford and Bundeena, so you’ll have trouble finding a place to stay unless you want to get a taxi (not a lot of Ubers in the national park) and stay at a B&B back in Bundeena or Otford/Helensburgh.
Hi,
You can take a shuttle bus from Wattamolla going to Bundeena and Sutherland.
I found walking from Otford to Bundeena to be significantly more difficult. It felt like the hills and stairs were never ending (we did take an accidental turn down to Hell Hole (which added a couple of kilometres and an extremely steep climb back up from the beach) and we gave up by Garrawarra farm carpark and called an Uber. I haven’t attempted starting from Otford since. Did you find this direction physically more difficult?
Thanks so much for the feedback, Ash.
I’ve only done this hike southbound so I’m not sure whether it’s harder starting at Otford. But I can imagine it is, because the track from Otford going north to the Figure Eight Pools is quite challenging, whereas the track going south from Bundeena is much easier. So when you start at Otford, you’re doing the harder section first. I’m sure the return trip down to the beach probably didn’t help either!