The coastal walk to Eagle Rock is a spectacular highlight of The Royal National Park
Eagle Rock is a large sandstone overhang in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney. It has the shape of an eagle’s head, with a beak, eyes and mouth on display.
Visitors are greeted with a sign depicting the shape of Eagle Rock when they drive into the Royal National Park from the south (Otford in the south) or from Sydney in the north via Sir Bertram Stevens Drive.
The only way to reach the eagle is by foot and it takes at least an hour and up to an hour and a half to walk to it depending on how often you stop and your walking speed.
And there are no shortcuts back!
Eagle rock can be accessed from the coastal track starting at either Garie Beach (south of the rock) or Wattamolla Beach (north of the rock).
Alternatively walkers can take the Curra Moors firetrail and head overland from Sir Bertram Stevens Drive.
As you approach Eagle Rock from the North you will see a large rectangular protruding block of sandstone.
The top of the rock is relatively flat and the rock looks rectangular in shape.
To see the rock from the south side it is necessary to cross Curracurrong Creek and if you look at it directly from the other side of the bay it is indeed very different.
You will now enjoy the view of an eagle’s head. There is no rectangle.
Weathering and erosion processes have carved out a shape that resembles the head of an eagle although some visitors see a less glamorous turtle’s head. We are going stick with an eagle’s head!
It is quite perplexing that from one angle you see a rectangle whilst from another angle you have the head of an eagle.
The first two photos below show the rock from the north and the third and fourth photos are taken from a southern vantage point.
If you proceed further south (80 metres or so) to the next waterfall which flows from Curra Brook, the rock changes again and it begins to lose its eagle shape.
Whilst on the topic of protruding rocks with facial features another overhanging rock has been identified in the Royal National Park.
The relative (fifth photo) is not as pretty as Eagle Rock but there are some distinct features: a forehead, eye, flattened nose or beak and a mouth.
Grumpy rock?
The final two photos are of a wedge tailed eagle, taken at nearby Symbio Wildlife Park.
Eagle Rock from the north looks to be just a protruding rectangular rock
close up
what a turnaround
celebrating the eagle
Grumpy rock
Wedge tailed eagle at Symbio Wildlife Park
a noble and beautiful bird
