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Tag: Hiking

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Eagle Rock Royal National Park

Close-up of Eagle Head

Eagle Rock in Royal National Park

Getting There

There are several ways to get to Eagle Rock, but we chose to start from Wattamolla car park. With great parking and toilet facilities, its a good place to start and finish the walk. A daily entry fee per car is payable and a ticket can be purchase in the carpark from a vending machine.

The Track

From the carpark, follow the coast track through coastal scrub and amazing ocean views. The 45 minute walk is generally flat, but there are several section with steep steps to climb. When we walked, the track was in excellent condition, with much of it on formed board walk. Steps are made of sandstone, carved into the slopes, while some areas travel over bare rocks. Where no track is obvious, like over rocks, it is well sign posted, making it easy to follow.

Several small creeks are crossed along the way, with steppingstones made from carved sandstone.

  • Flat Section of the Coastal Track Through Coastal Scrub
    Flat Section of the Coastal Track Through Coastal Scrub
  • Board Walk on the Coastal Track Through Coastal Scrub
    Board Walk on the Coastal Track Through Coastal Scrub
  • Sandstone Stairway on the Coastal Track
    Sandstone Stairway on the Coastal Track
  • Stepping Stones Over a Creek
    Stepping Stones Over a Creek
  • Stepping Stones Over a Creek
    Stepping Stones Over a Creek

Coastal Views

The track passes coastal cliffs with magnificent ocean views, where we stopped to take photos and admire the scenery. The cliffs are high, so stay away from the edges. During the whale migration season, this is a favourite place for people to watch them going by.

  • Boardwalk Near the Cliffs
    Boardwalk Near the Cliffs
  • Coastal Cliffs
    Coastal Cliffs

Eagle Rock

One of the iconic sites in Royal National Park, Eagle Rock looks out over the ocean creating a great silhouette for photos. The path widens slightly when you are opposite, so that you can stop and take photos without blocking the path.

  • Eagle Rock Royal National Park
    Eagle Head Royal National Park
  • Eagle Rock
    Close-up of Eagle Rock

Water Falls

Curracurrong Creek forms a small waterfall that plunges into the ocean near Eagle Rock adding another interesting sight when it’s flowing after rain.

  • Curracurrong Creek Waterfall Near Eagle Rock
    The Curracurrong Creek Waterfall
  • Curracurrong Creek Waterfall
    Curracurrong Creek Waterfall

What did We Think of Eagle Rock?

This was a very enjoyable walk, with the track moving from coastal scrub to rugged coastal cliffs, with amazing views. With the waterfall and Eagle Rock at the end you get more interesting sights to see, making for a great day out.

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

Our photos are available for purchase on

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Stoney Creek Track Strickland State Forest

Boulders in a Creek

Stoney Creek Track Strickland State Forest

Getting There

Located in the Strickland State Forest, Stoney Creek Track is a great walk winding its way along Stoney Creek from the upper Banksia picnic area to the lower carpark.

Banksia Picnic Area

The track starts near the entrance to the Banksia Picnic Area, where a large car park and toilet facilities sit next to covered picnic areas. Several information boards show the various tracks in the area, along with some of the wildlife you might see along the way.

The lower carpark provides an alternate starting point, where you can walk the track uphill, before returning.

Stoney Creek Track

With a one way distance of 1.1km, or 2.2km return, this walk can be combined with other tracks to form a loop. We combined it with the Ridge to Rainforest Track, giving us a constantly changing landscape for the whole walk.

After completing the Ridge to Rainforest Track, which finishes at the lower carpark, we used the Stoney Creek Track to return to our car at the Banksia Picnic Area. The gully rainforest at the start is dark and cool, where you are surrounded by dense trees and moss covered boulders. Toward the top, the vegetation changes to cabbage tree ferns, which adds great variety to the walk.

This is an uphill track, but we didn’t find it too steep and at only 1.1km long it’s quite short. To help in the steeper spots, steps cut into rocks make the track easier. The many boulders in the creek that give it its name look amazing covered in moss.

  • Stoney Creek Creek
    Stoney Creek Creek
  • Boulders in a Creek
    Boulders in a Stoney Creek
  • Boulders in a Creek
    Boulders in a Stoney Creek
  • Stoney Creek Track Stairs
    Stoney Creek Track Stairs

What did We Think?

This was a great uphill walk, with changing vegetation along the way. Following the creek from rainforest to cabbage tree palms was fun. Although an uphill walk, it is only 1.1 km long, with opportunities to stop and admire your surroundings on the way. When combined with the Ridge to Rainforest it creates a good length walk through different forest types.

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

Our photos are available for purchase on

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Ridge to Rainforest Track Strickland State Forest

Track Towards the Bottom the the Walk

Ridge to Rainforest Track Strickland State Forest

Getting There

Located in the Strickland State Forest, the Ridge to Rainforest Track is a great walk winding its way through the dry forest along the ridge into the gully rainforest along the creek. Mossy rocks, statuesque trees and a planted grove of Hoop Pine are featured along the track, making the walk interesting as the surrounding forest changes.

Banksia Picnic Area

The track starts near the entrance to the Banksia Picnic Area, where a large car park and toilet facilities sit next to covered picnic areas. Several information boards show the various tracks in the area, along with some of the wildlife you might see along the way.

Alternatively the track can be walked from the Stones Creek car park up to the Banksia Picnic Area. From here you are able to return to the starting point via the Stones Creek track.

Ridge to Rainforest Track

The well formed track runs downhill through the forest, which has a changing vista as it changes from dry to rain forest. Several small creeks cross the track, with each having bridges or stone culverts to aid crossing.

Descending from the ridge the ground rises on your left and consists of mossy rocks and boulders.

The track ends at the Stones Creek car park, where you can choose to return the way you came or use the Stones Creek track to return to the car park. We took the second option, so that we walked a different track on the way back. It’s a steep uphill climb but an enjoyable walk.

Alternatively, the Bellbird and Arboretum tracks start near the lower carpark if you want to extend the length of the walk.

  • Start of the Ridge to Rainforest Track
    Start of the Ridge to Rainforest Track
  • Stoney Creek Track Stairs
    Stoney Creek Track Stairs
  • Rocks and Boulders on the Forest Floor
    Rocks and Boulders on the Forest Floor
  • Stonework around a Culvert for a Creek
    Stonework around a Culvert for a Creek
  • Sunlight Through the Forest
    Sunlight Through the Forest
  • Boulders on the Side of the Track
    Boulders on the Side of the Track
  • Ridge to Rainforest Track Strickland State Forest Part of the track Descending
    Part of the track Descending
  • Ridge to Rainforest Track
    Ridge to Rainforest Track
  • Ridge to Rainforest Track Strickland State Forest Stand of Hoop Pines
    Stand of Hoop Pines
  • Ridge to Rainforest Track Strickland State Forest Track Towards the Bottom the the Walk
    Track Towards the Bottom the the Walk

What did We Think?

This was a very enjoyable walk, because of the varying vegetation and well formed track. Hiking through the while listening to the birds was very relaxing.

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

Our photos are available for purchase on