Solo Overnight Walk : Bundeena to Otford (May 2019)

I realised that although I have visited several locations on this walk in the past, I had never done this Sydney Royal National Park classic end to end. Time to put that right. I had two absolutely beautiful midweek days in May. Also a first solo walk.

Day 1 : Bundeena to North Era

I caught an early train to Cronulla, and crossed Port Hacking on the ferry.

A bit of mucking about and a short walk through the streets of Bundeena brings you to the trail head.

**National Park Entrance and trailhead.**

A short walk bring you out onto the coast at “The Balconies”. The sandstone cliff coast is what this walk is all about.

**The Balconies and cliff views south.**

Walking North to South keep the sun on your back and the May weather was not too hot.

The walking takes you along the cliff top edge, with views of the sea and cliff rock formations.

**Weathered sandstone gargoyle and the drop to the rock platform with pounding sea.**

Soon you reach the famous “Wedding Cake Rock”. Its all fenced off so you don’t crash into the sea below when it does?

We continue south along the cliffs, looking for Marley and Little Marley beaches.

**Little Marley (furthest south) and Marley Beaches.**

Down onto Marley and across the outflow from Marley lagoon, along the beach and over the next head.

Little Marley used to be a popular camp stop on the track, but camping is no longer allowed here.

But it was a good spot for a short break.

**Morning tea time at the southern end of Little Marley.**

The next section of walk heads for Wattamolla along the coast, then turns inland to get across the head of Wattamolla lagoon at Wattamolla Dam.

**Coast south of Little Marley and Wattamolla Dam.**

Without the weekend crowds and on such a beautiful day, Wattamolla was a picture of tranquility.

From Wattamolla, you head back to the coast via Providential point then south over Curra moors, crossing first Curracurrang creek then Curracurrong creek.

**Providential Point and cliff views south.**

**The cliff top track and Curracurrang creek, which flows into the bay comes into view.**

Curracurrang creek turned out to be a great lunch stop.

Climbing out of the little bay where Curracurrnang flows into the sea, takes you over a headland and soon to Curracurrong.

Curracurrong is quite a different creek, gentle flowing along in its little gulley, then plunging over the cliff to take its water home to the sea.

**Curracurrong in its upland gulley and its seaward plunge.**

Eagle Rock is another famous landmark and emblem of the Royal National Park.

Garie Beach is the destination for the next section of trail, which is the longest segment. I collected some extra water at Garie, since the designated campsite at North Era can be a bit uncertain.

**Garie Beach and the track below Little Garie Point.**

From here south the beaches have historic shacks, built in the 1920’s and 1930’s and still held by the families of the “shackies”.

**A Garie shack and the view north from Thelma Head across Garie and Little Garie beaches.**

From Little Garie it is a short climb over Thelma Head and down to North Era beach, where the campsite is.

Its about a 20 kilometer walk from Bundenna to North Era, so I was quite glad to get the campsite around 4pm, especially lugging an extra few kilos of water.

**The North Era campsite and my tent spot.**

Off for a quick dip to freshen up and settle for the night.

Day 2 : North Era to Otford

Say goodbye to North Era and head over to South Era and its famous shacks.

**North Era in the morning light and looking down to South Era from Mid Era Point.**

From Era the track ascends over Semi Detached Point and then drops to the next beach, Burning Palms.

**South Era and some shacks on the climb up Semi Detached Point.**

At Burning Palms you can divert to visit Figure Eight Pools by walking down the beach and around the rock platform. I took a look at it, but decided it was too long a diversion for me this time.

**Looking down to Burning Palms and a couple of people on the rock platform at Figure Eight pool.**

From Burning Palm we begin to climb diagonally up the escarpment. The track winds through Palm Jungle, a section of littoral rainforest. Its quite strange to be in the rainforest, but with the blue of the sea peaking through.

**View South and views of the escarpment we are about to climb.**

**The climb ascends through the littoral rainforest “Palm Jungle”.**

Its not too hard a climb and brings you out at a great lookout on Werrong Point, overlooking Werrong beach. Good spot for a bit of a break.

**Views from Werrong Point to Werrong Beach.**

The track now heads for Garawarra ridge and joins the Garawarra trail. Through some forest before meeting the clifftop again. Its a steep drop to the sea.

**Garawarra Trail and the forest walking to Otford Lookout.**

Journey nearly done. The trail reaches Otford lookout and the road.

Cross the road and its a short walk to Otford Station for the train trip home. I reach Otford about 12:30 pm.

This is a lovely and straightforward walk. Most of the first day (20k) is boardwalk now and the second day (10K) is short and includes the escarpment climb. Its easy navigation, a nice little campsite at North Era. I am very pleased with this as a first solo walk. Nice easy walking, good camping, beautiful weather and the fantastic and continual views. There is something new with different terrain every hour or so on this walk. It is a certainly deserving of its reputation as a classic.