Marley Track — Deer Pool and Marley Beach, Royal National Park

The Marley Track runs from the road into Bundeena down to Marley Beach — 3.6 kilometres one way through coastal heathland, taking around 75 to 90 minutes at a comfortable pace. It's one of the quieter walks in the park and earns its place on a full day in the Royal National Park.

Deer Pool

Halfway along the track, Deer Pool is a small freshwater pool fed by a waterfall, with a sandy bank and enough depth to swim in. On a hot day it's a natural lunch stop, and sitting under the waterfall is more refreshing than it has any right to be.

The pool is named for the deer that occasionally pass through this part of the park — fallow deer, descendants of animals that escaped or were released decades ago. Sightings are uncommon. We've encountered one ourselves, on the road to Garie Beach late in the afternoon. Both parties were equally surprised. Neither lingered.

Marley Beach

Beyond Deer Pool the track continues to Marley Beach — wide, exposed and backed by rolling sand dunes and a reed-fringed lagoon. It has a wilder feel than most beaches in the park, largely because reaching it requires some effort.

The dunes look straightforward from the track. They're not — sand extracts a toll and the walk across them takes more out of you than expected. Factor that into your return journey.

The surf at Marley is powerful and unpatrolled — on a calm day it's swimmable, but the lagoon is usually the better option. On the return walk, Deer Pool is waiting. On a hot day, a second swim needs no justification.

Visiting with Sydney Nimble Tours

The Marley Track is one of the walking options on our Royal National Park private day tour — typically combined with Bundeena village and the Jibbon Head Aboriginal engravings nearby. The full day can be shaped around how much walking you want and what else you'd like to see in the park.

Royal National Park Private Day Tour →

Deer pool and Marley Beach walk