About Royal National Park

Royal National Park is 15 080 ha in size and is situated in Southern Sydney. It is one of the most accessible parks with ferry, train and private car options available. It is therefore also one of the most highly visited national parks in Sydney.

Royal National Park is the oldest national park in Australia! Indeed after Yellowstone in the USA, it is the second oldest in the world. The entrance sign along Farnell Road proudly displays the establishment date of 1879 as well as some of the main features of the park, including sandstone cliffs, an Aboriginal handprint and the amazing Gymea lily. It acquired the extended 'Royal' title after Queen Elizabeth visited Sydney in 1954. (For more information see References)

It has a long Aboriginal history and was explored by Bass and Flinders in 1796.

It is a park which displays great variety - huge sandstone cliffs and beautiful beaches and coves along the coast; freshwater creeks, rivers and waterfalls; stunning wildflower displays in the heathlands and pockets of rainforest. It is an area where you can still see swamp wallabies, echidnas, goannas, dragon lizards and a great variety of birds, all on Sydney's doorstep.

This park gives Sydney-siders a sense of being completely away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Interstate and overseas visitors will also discover how precious it is on the doorstep of 4 million people.

Access

By ferry - from Cronulla to Bundeena

By train - stations with access into the park include Heathcote and Waterfall stations

By car - various entrances at Audley, and Lady Wakhurst DriveMcKell Ave

The entrance to Royal National Park