tour itinerary

DAY ONE: Bundeena to Wattamolla

For those driving meet us at Otford Pie Shop at 9am and we will transfer you to the start of the walk at Bundeena. For those catching public transport meet us at 9.45am at Bundeena Wharf (a short ferry ride from Cronulla). From Bundeena wharf we walk along the track through coastal heathland to Jibbons Head where you get your first look at the spectacular coastal views which make this walk so special. On a large flat expanse of sandstone the Aboriginal inhabitants of this area the Dharawal people engraved a number of subjects into the rock. Some are distinct, but you should be able to make out three large whales or sharks, a stingray, a jellyfish, a male figure with six fingers assumed to be a law- maker, a wallaby, a shield and a tortoise. (The sandstone is very sensitive to visitor's walking boots. Please ensure to walk with great care while accessing this site).

The relict cliff-top dunes we will explore between Jibbon and Marley Beach Formed during the sea level rise roughly 10,000 years ago and are the most extensive and best preserved examples in New South Wales.  The rock platform drops down from Marley Head to the wild but beautiful Marley Beach. There is few untouched and totally natural beaches left in Sydney, but Marley Beach is one of them. A large freshwater lagoon behind the dunes teems with bird life and is a favourite haunt of deer. The track continues along the shoreline to just above the rocks to the pleasant cove of Little Marley. Little Marley is an arc of yellow sand backed by grassy flats dominated by she-oaks.

From here the track runs close to the cliff edge where great blocks of sandstone have fallen from the cliff face and constant weathering has opened up long, deep cracks in the flat rock. The beauitful colours and patterns in the bare sandstone are caused by iron and other minerals seeping into the white quartz sand. The views from here are stunning.

We meander through a heath-covered plateau, in spring this area is ablaze with wildflowers including wattles, grevilleas, banksias and hakeas. The track crosses Wattamolla Creek above a large swimming pool formed by a dam blocking the creek. Along the creek there are a number of natural pools and cascades.

We arrive at beautiful Wattamolla, one of the most popular beaches in the park. Sand across the picturesque inlet at Wattamolla forms a small beach trapping the waters of Wattamolla Creek to form a large lagoon. Known after its aboriginal title, Watta-Mowlee meaning "place near running water", referring to the waterfall that runs into the lagoon, the name was first recorded by the explorer Mathew Flinders who stopped here on the evening of 29 March 1796 looking for shelter.

Our exclusive campsite at Wattamolla is situated on the cliffs above the lagoon and beach with magnificent coastal views. This campsite is exclusive to our group only on the night - with no other walkers permitted to camp here. We arrive at our campsite with your bags waiting for you in your tent and a glass of wine chilled and ready for your arrival. Enjoy a wonderful dinner of gourmet delights which include fresh snapper, Rogan Josh or Thai chicken, cheese and fruit platter, gourmet salads, berry crepes or butterscotch nut tart and much more.
Trip Notes: 12kms

DAY TWO: Watamolla to Otford

After breakfast we head to Curracurrang, there is a rock shelter where evidence has been found of Aboriginal occupation dating back 7500 years. We cross the Curra moors which are beautiful in springtime with wildflowers and honeyeaters. The Royal's heathlands contain over 500 species of flowering plants. From July to November, many of these wildflowers are in full bloom, and you can walk amidst a riot of colour of hakea and kunzea.

We continue to Curracurrong where two creeks drop as waterfalls directly into the ocean and spectacular Eagle Rock juts from the cliffs a massive block of sandstone with a tip shaped like the beak of an eagle. We continue through the Curra Moors until reaching the Garie North Head where the views are one of the finest in the park with vistas south to Port Kembla.  Large aboriginal midden can be seen from this site near the beach where harvested shells, bones, and tools have been discarded. 

We pass the historic shacks of South Era, classified by the National Trust as a historic community. The cabins were built and used during the early 1920s through to the depression years of the 1930s. Out of work men supported their families catching fish, rabbits and growing vegetables. Along the way enjoy a delicious lunch.

We head down to Burning Palms, the lovely beach is backed by Cabbage Tree Palms, lilly pillys and other rainforest plants. We cross open grassland before entering the rainforest.  Enroute to Palm Jungle we travel through an exposed hillside of lomandra. Both the fleshy white base and the flowers of lomandra were food sources for the local Dharawal people.

The Palm Jungle is a rare patch of coastal rainforest dominated by Cabbage Tree Palms. The canopy is closed and the track is cool and shaded. Moss and ferns cover the ground and rocks. Bangalay eucalypts emerge from the canopy and large figs are scattered along the steep slopes.

We continue to Otford where your journey ends. Transfers available to Otford Railway station for those who didn't drive and are catching public transport. Or if you have chosen transfers we will take you back to the Sydney CBD.

 Trip notes: 16kms