Royal National Park (New South Wales)
From World travel guide
The Royal National Park is located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia, separating the cities of Sydney and Wollongong.
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Sleep
- Garie Beach YHA, Garie Beach. ph 02 9261 1111. fax 02 9261 1969. email bookings@yhansw.org.au. This hostel is accessible by walking 10 kilometres along the coast track from Otford, or by walking 1 kilometre from the Garie Beach car park. The facilities are very basic: there is no refrigeration or power. There is solar powered lighting and gas stove-tops, as well as composting toilets. Dorm beds are $13 per night adults and $8 children. You can rent the entire facility for $120 per night.
Walks
The "Royal" as its known by the locals is one of the best places to do day walks from Sydney. You can walk along spectacular sandstone cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean with views to the North toSydney or to the South to Wollongong. Alternatively you can walk in the river valleys behind the headlands. There you will find tall rainforest trees such as the Lilly Pilly Acmena smithii or the fragrant Celery wood Polysias elegans. Try Lady Carrington Drive from Audley or Forest Island.
- Coast walk
The Coast walk can start at Bundeena going past Wattamolla (surf beach), Era (depression era huts set in a valley with a large number of deer), to Burning Palms (camping ground although it has been closed for regeneration check with National parks) and ending at Otford. This walk would take 2 days. However you can do it in stages or stay at Garie Beach YHA. If you plan your walk during the migration of the Humpback whales you might get lucky and see a mother and her calf. Best months for this are in Winter and Summer.
Camping
National Parks and Wildlife Service, Farnell Avenue, Audley Heights. ph 02 9542 0648. fax 02 9542 1420. Contact the NPWS for camping permits if you intend to camp in any of the campgrounds, and camping elsewhere in the park is forbidden.
- Bonnie Vale camping ground. This campground has 40 sites. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the park near Bundeena. You access it by road off Bundeena drive. The campground has excellent facilities including drinking water, toilets and hot showers, but there is no power. You can camp in caravans. The fee is $8 per night for adults and $4 per night for children.
- North Era camping ground. This campground is accessible by walking along the coast track from Bundeena or Otford. The campground has composting toilets, but no other facilities, and wood fires are banned. The fee is $3 per night for adults and $2 per night for children.
- Uloola Falls camping ground. This campground is accessible by walking along the Uloola Track from Waterfall, Heathcote or Engadine. The campground has composting toilets, but no other facilities, and wood fires are banned. The fee is $3 per night for adults and $2 per night for children.
External links
- Royal National Park from the National Parks and Wildlife Service's page
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