Tag Archives: royal national park

Holiday

Bundeena – A Retreat – Part 4

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Many people choose to stay in Bundeena due to its proximity to the Royal National Park. It is Australia’s oldest national park and the 2nd oldest national park in the world after Yellowstone National Park in USA. It has many, many walks, but I was interested in the easier, shorter walks that are accessible from Bundeena. So I tried the Jibbon Head Loop track.

After walking out of the southern reaches of the village, the walk started on a track across the sandy heath. Here, only hardy sand-loving plants such as banksias and tea-tree shrubs seem to grow. There were also signs of the many bushfires that have run through this part of the national park.

It wasn’t long before I sighted the water, with distant views of the Sydney city skyline.

Holiday

Bundeena – A Retreat – Part 1

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In May 2024, I spent a lovely week retreating in the village of Bundeena. Bundeena is a village that’s uniquely placed – it is surrounded by the Royal National Park, and yet it’s just across the Hacking River from the suburban expanse of Cronulla and the Sutherland Shire.

The week was spent having dips at its beaches, and walking the National Park and around the village. I was almost completely on my own, and yet since I was in the village, I wasn’t alone really. I had nice little chats with locals every day.

I think I’ll start the series with beach views. Bundeena is blessed with quite a few. They’re not ocean beaches, hence not spectacular or expansive. I like them because they have a cosy feeling about them and are rarely crowded. And staying in the village meant that they were always just a short walk away.

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To the Cliffs – Part 3

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The cliffs come as a big surprise after navigating our way through a tunnel of tea tree bushes.

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

They are similar to the cliffs you find up and down the Sydney Basin, except that these have been relatively untouched.

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

The colours and shapes have all been sculpted by the elements over time. Amazing what nature can do.

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

Like the ledge below containing a mini rainforest, complete with ferns and mini waterfall.

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

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To the Cliffs – Part 2

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We walked up a long stretch of coastal scrub, until we could see the landscape all the way down to the high hills above Burning Palms.

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

Tea tree bushes seemed to dominate here, but there was plenty of summer flowers about to break up the scene, whether they be in the trees…

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

Or closer to the ground.

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

After spending some time in Europe, I think we’re very lucky here in Eastern Australia to have something flowering all year round.

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

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To the Cliffs – Part 1

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Another national park that we’ve not visited in a long time was the Royal National Park. And it’s been even longer since I took a walk to the cliffs. It’s time to remedy that.

We started at Wattamolla on a warm summer’s day. The park was already bustling with people even though it was just 10.30am. We crossed Wattamolla Creek and headed north past sparse eucalypt forest. The boulders here were a highlight, marking the edge of the forest and the low coastal scrub.

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

Coastal Walk from Wattamolla

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Midsummer Walk – Karloo Pool

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What a difference six months makes. Where as Karloo Pool was full to overflow back in June, and one needed to get one’s boots wet to cross Kangaroo Creek, by midsummer the water level had significantly gone down, and the creek was reduced to a rambling trickle again.

We made our pilgrimage on a 30C day (most of my visits in the summer tend to be on days like these). The cool water of the pool was perfect, and this time there wasn’t half of the Shire down there. We stayed in for a long time, had lunch, and afterward was around to watch the pool return to its original stillness.

Karloo Pool Midsummer

A perfect summer’s day.

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South Coast Line – Wattamolla – Part 2

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Given that this is one of my favourite places, I think Wattamolla warrants another post.

The highlight of the lagoon for some people is the 5 metre high rock platform. I think it’s a rite of initiation for kids from the Shire to jump off it, and believe me, there’s always a small crowd wanting to do this despite the warning signs.

Wattamolla

But the lagoon has some tranquil bits as well, like this place near where we picnicked.

Wattamolla