Royal National Park Private Tour
Coastal Walks, Ancient Rainforest & Sea Cliff Bridge South of Sydney
The Royal National Park protects 16,000 hectares of forest landscapes: lush rainforest, open heathland and sandstone cliffs dropping directly to the Pacific Ocean.
Headlands shaped by uplift and millions of years of erosion interrupt wild beaches. There are freshwater pools, waterfalls, rock platforms and sandstone formations that show just how beautiful the coast of Sydney once was.
Move away from the coast and encounter rainforest pockets sheltering fern-lined creeks, cabbage tree palms and nature’s best imitator, the lyre bird. In winter and spring, the clifftop tracks become some of the best whale-watching vantage points in New South Wales.
This is a fully private day trip, just your group and your guide. The pace and itinerary are shaped entirely around your interests and fitness level.
Your Guide
Greg has been leading tours in the Royal National Park for eight years. He knows which cliff point gives the best chance of a whale sighting, which stretches of heathland are worth slowing down for if you want to see the birdlife, and where to find freshwater pools and other off beat places that visitors to the park do not usually visit.
What You’ll Experience
Audley Weir
Just next to the weir is a picnic area, surrounded by dense eucalypt forest, that provides access to the Hacking River. A great place to see bird life (Australian wood duck, Dusky moorhen, Sulphur crested cockatoos and many more) and our favourite tree, the Sydney Red Gum.
Wattamolla waterfall
A waterfall drops directly into a lagoon which then becomes a stream meandering towards the beach, one of the park’s signature locations.
Wedding Cake Rock
A smooth white sandstone formation with a flat top and sides that look like they have been smoothed with white icing. It is a stunning sight with the white rock contrasting the blue Pacific Ocean behind it.
Eagle Rock
A large protruding sandstone rock that looks like the beak of an eagle. It is a short distance to freshwater waterfall which falls directly into the ocean below. The walk to Eagle Rock is one of the finest coastal tracks in NSW.
Garie Beach
Garie Beach is open beach with large sand areas and two towering cliffs. The cliff at the northern end is powerful headland - a mighty chunk of exposed sandstone!
Bald Hill Lookout
Sweeping views of the Illawarra Escarpment and coastline. A regular launch point for hang gliders and paragliders.
Sea Cliff Bridge
A cantilevered road bridge curving around the cliff face above the Pacific, with outstanding ocean views. Often used as a backdrop for car commercials.
Symbio Wildlife Park
We rate this wildlife park highly. An expansive area for kangaroos and wallabies is refreshing to see plus many other native animals (all the usual suspects) and some great overseas acts (red pandas, meercats and more.) More information about the park is provided below.
Imperial at Clifton Hotel
The Imperial at Clifton is an historic hotel that has been sympathetically and cleverly renovated to maintain its heritage features. A pleasant place to enjoy ocean views and sip on a coffee or cold beverage.
Whale Watching (May–November)
Humpback whales migrate along this coastline in their thousands. Sightings of 20 or more whales in a day are common during peak season.
Birdlife
Over 240 species recorded. White-bellied sea eagles, yellow-tailed black cockatoos, little wattlebirds, Australian ravens and water birds along Audley Weir.
Wildflowers
August to October, the heathland blooms with waratahs, flannel flowers and native orchids. At other times of the year you will see other plants blooming such as Acacia, Fushia Heath, Boronia and several species of Banksia.
Choose Your Day
Every Royal National Park private tour is fully flexible. The day plans below give a sense of what’s possible, the day is shaped around your interests, fitness level and conditions.
Day Plan1 - minimal walking, sightseeing
A relaxed day built around the park's most spectacular lookouts, beaches and coastal drives. Includes: Audley Weir, Wattamolla waterfall and beach, Governor Game lookout, Garie Beach, Bald Hill, Sea Cliff Bridge and an optional visit to Symbio Wildlife Park. We finish the day with a coffee or cold drink at a heritage hotel, the Imperial at Clifton. The day is suited to guests who prefer to take their time and do gentle walks.
Walking: Short, easy walks only
Suitable for: All fitness levels, low-impact sightseeing
Day Plan 2 - Wedding Cake Rock Walk
The day includes a coastal walk to Wedding Cake Rock along a clifftop track that follows the Pacific Ocean with outstanding views the entire way. The walk can be extended to include Marley Beach, lagoon and sand dunes. We also pick up Wattamolla waterfall and Beach, Bald Hill, Sea Cliff Bridge, Imperial at Clifton. If you are interested the day plan can be amended to include Symbio Wildlife Park.
Walking: Approx. 90-120 minutes total
Suitable for: Moderate fitness, iconic coastal scenery
Day Plan 3 - Eagle Rock Walk
Before starting our walk we visit Wattamolla waterfall, lagoon and beach. We then turn south at Providential Point and take the Royal Coastal Track to Eagle Rock passing a pristine waterfall and clifftop lookouts. A little further on we reach Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Creek that drops 40 metres into the ocean below. One of the finest coastal walks in New South Wales. The day also picks up Garie Beach, Bald Hill and Sea Cliff Bridge.
Walking: Approx. 2.5-3 hours in total
Suitable for: Reasonable fitness, uneven coastal terrain
Guest Reviews
Optional - Symbio Wildlife Park
Many guests choose to include Symbio as part of their Royal National Park day, it’s one of the best places near Sydney to see Australian wildlife up close, without the crowds of the larger zoos.
Symbio is home to koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, quokkas, echidnas, dingoes, emus, cassowaries and a wide range of native birdlife. The enclosures are open and natural, and the experience feels relaxed and personal.
A visit typically takes 75–90 minutes and fits naturally into the flow of the day. If you’d like to meet a koala, watch the keepers at work or spend time with free‑roaming kangaroos, this is the ideal place to do it.
If you prefer to not visit Symbio, we use that time to explore quieter beaches, rock platforms and coastal lookouts within the park.
National Park entry fees
Freshly prepared picnic lunch
Snacks and bottled water throughout the day
Professional photos taken and shared after the tour
Greg as your private guide
Approximately $45 per person (adults)
