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Category: Bushwalking

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Royal National Park

Wedding Cake Rock Royal National Park Sydney

Royal National Park is located south of Sydney. To drive there from Singleton took us 4 hours, because we drove through Sydney and hit rush hour traffic . Once we arrived however it was worth it because of the fantastic scenery. 

  • Royal National Park Map
    Royal National Park Map

Visitor Information Centre

Our first stop was the Visitor Information Centre which caters for the national park, where we got directions to the Wedding Cake Rock car park.. After a coffee we set off to Bundeena where we parked in the small car park and set of for our walk.

The Balconies

Our first track took us to the balconies which was only 800 metres from the car park. As well as fantastic views along the coast, you can see the cliff faces going down into the ocean. There are also some fantastic weathered rock formations and we spent some time looking around them and taking photos.

  • Coastal Cliffs Royal National Park Sydney
    Coastal Cliffs
  • Weathered Rocks Royal National Park Sydney
    Weathered Rocks
  • Weathered Rocks Royal National Park Sydney
    Weathered Rocks

Royal National Park  Walking Tracks

The next destination was nearly four km away and the walking track changed from dirt and rock to a mostly metal foot way which made walking easy. However, there were some very steep sections with steps cut into the rocks and stairs constructed so you get up or down. There is one very large valley, where a creek runs down into the sea. with some fantastic sandstone stepping-stones to get from one side to the other. These are as interesting as your destination and we stopped it take some photos.

  • Metal Walk Way Royal National Park Sydney
    Metal Walk Way
  • Banksia ericifolia Royal National Park Sydney
    Banksia ericifolia
  • Sandstone Stepping Stones Royal National Park Sydney
    Sandstone Stepping Stones
  • Sandstone Stepping Stones Royal National Park Sydney
    Sandstone Stepping Stones

Wedding Cake Rock

The most famous part of this section of Royal National Park is the Wedding Cake Rock. The rock itself is unstable and fenced off with warning signs, because several people have fallen. However, there an ample opportunities and places where you can take photographs of the rock without having to climb the fence and put your life at risk.

  • Wedding Cake Rock Royal National Park Sydney
    Wedding Cake Rock

Lunch

The walk back to our car took about 45 minutes as we didn’t stop for many photos. We drove back to the Visitor Information Centre and sat outside at the Ironbark Flat Picnic Area, where we had lunch. This is a great picnic area set up next to the Hacking River, where we also took some photos of the birds that flocked around when we ate.

  • Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Royal National Park Sydney
    Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
  • Purple Swamphen Royal National Park Sydney
    Purple Swamphen

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Boarding House Dam Walk

Moss Wall Boarding House Dam Walk Watagans

Getting There

The Boarding House Dam Walk is in the Watagans National Park west of Newcastle. We drove in via Cessnock and found most of the drive to be easy. However, the last section of road into the Watagans is dirt and very rough in places. Take care because of the corrugations and holes in the road.

Apart from the road the scenery as you drive into the National Park is very nice with beautiful trees along the road. There are several lookouts that provide views over the surrounding countryside and the forrest.

Road into the Watagans Boarding House Dam Walk
Road into the Watagans

Boarding House Dam Walk 

The walk starts at the Boarding House Dam picnic area which is nicely set up with covered picnic areas and bar-b-q sites. There are seats near the creek, so you can sit and relax by the water while in the shade.

Creek Near Boarding House Dam Picnic Area Boarding House Dam Walk
Creek Near Boarding House Dam Picnic Area

The Boarding House Dam Walk is very easy and only takes about 15 minutes. The walk forms a loop so that you leave on one side of the creek and return on the other. The scenery along the way is nice and the walk culminates at the moss wall which is the highlight.

Moss Wall Boarding House Dam Walk Watagans
Moss Wall

When we went there had been little rainfall resulting in only a small flow in the creek. This was a pity as there is a weir that would have looked amazing with water spilling over it.

Creek on the Walk Boarding House Dam Walk Watagans
Creek on the Walk

Even with the poor road condition we were very pleased that we did this walk. It was quiet and shady with A very nice moss wall at the end.

Kitchener

On our way home we stopped at Kitchener to look at the preserved
poppet head structure from the Aberdare Central Colliery. Coal mining is still important for the Hunter Valley but historically was located around Cessnock. As these mines were exhausted, mining operations moved further up the valley. To maintain a link with their past a residents’ group organised the preservation of this structure. If you are passing through it is a great place to stop for a break, let kids run around and read about the poppet head preservation on the signs placed there.

Aberdare Poppet Head Kitchener New South Wales
Aberdare Poppet Head Kitchener

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Kamay Botany Bay National Park Sydney

Entrance to Kamay Botany Bay National Park

Kamay Botany Bay National Park

Kamay Botany Bay National Park is the home to significant historical events as well as beautiful coastal scenery. It is the place in which Captain James Cook first landed in Australia and claimed the whole continent for England. The sight of the first flag raising now has several very large flags flying there including the Aboriginal flag to acknowledge their prior habitation of the country. The first European buried in Australia is also located here.

Kamay Botany Bay National Park
Kamay Botany Bay National Park

The Monument Precinct

First stop here is the Kurnell visitors centre. The area has Cook’s landing spot, where Europeans and aboriginal people first met and the flags.

The Meeting Place Kamay Botany Bay National Park
The Meeting Place
Flags at Kamay Botany Bay National Park
Flags at Kamay Botany Bay National Park

In the same area is a monument to Daniel Carl Solander, the first Swede to arrive in Australia.  He was on the Endeavour Expedition with Cook, assisting Banks with the collection of botanical specimens.

Solander Memorial Kamay Botany Bay National Park
Solander Memorial

The first European grave is well marked, belonging to Forby Sutherland who died of tuberculosis.

First European Grave Kamay Botany Bay National Park
First European Grave

The Leap

Only a short drive around the coast is The Leap with a small roadside carpark and stairs down to a rock platform.  The short walk down is worthwhile for the interesting rock formations in the area. Be careful of the tide and slippery rocks when you are walking around.

  • Stairs at the Leap Kamay Botany Bay National Park
    Stairs at the Leap
  • Rock Formation at The Leap Kamay Botany Bay National Park
    Rock Formation at The Leap
  • Rock Formation at The Leap Kamay Botany Bay National Park
    Rock Formation at The Leap

Cape Solander

Our final stop was at the Cape Solander Lookout for some spectacular coastal views. 

Cape Solander Kamay Botany Bay National Park
Cape Solander

So, if you are interested in Australian colonial history, want to see some great coastal scenery, or just want to have a relaxing day out, this is a great place to visit.

From here we headed over to La Perouse and some more Australian History.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.