Royal National Park Visitor Centre
Royal National Park Visitor Centre
Royal National Park Visitor Centre
4.5
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
214 reviews
Excellent
142
Very good
56
Average
4
Poor
6
Terrible
6
Sadiq
2 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
Extremely rude and unfriendly staff - do not even know how to talk to customers and families. Not at all a friendly place for kids due to these unfriendly staff as they think everyone coming is a pro in boating and should be able to steer perfectly all boats on their very places after each ride. I was half way out of my boat when one of the rude staff pushed the boat back in water leaving me almost slipped out of the boat and almost drowned ! Offcourse no words of apologies came out either.
Written October 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ilocklock
Sydney, Australia34 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
This easy track is approximately 11 km.
We started from the Heathcote station and followed the signs to Karloo Track, and then we followed the signs to Karloo Pools where you can swim and have a rest. The water was very refreshing. It felt wonderful to soak yourself in a cool and calm pool surrounded by trees and rocks.
After the Karloo Pools we followed the signs and arrived at Uloola Falls. We haven't had any rain for many months and hence we didn't see any waterfalls. After Uloola Falls there is another 5km walk to the Waterfall station. It is a fire track to allow 4WD access during emergencies. This portion of the track is very uninteresting. It would actually be better to turn around at the Uloola Falls and return to Heathcote. The surroundings and the foot path would be much nicer.
Overall it's a pleasant walk. It took us 4 hours in total. The nice thing about this track is that you can take the train to Heathcote so you don't need a car to enjoy your day trip.
We started from the Heathcote station and followed the signs to Karloo Track, and then we followed the signs to Karloo Pools where you can swim and have a rest. The water was very refreshing. It felt wonderful to soak yourself in a cool and calm pool surrounded by trees and rocks.
After the Karloo Pools we followed the signs and arrived at Uloola Falls. We haven't had any rain for many months and hence we didn't see any waterfalls. After Uloola Falls there is another 5km walk to the Waterfall station. It is a fire track to allow 4WD access during emergencies. This portion of the track is very uninteresting. It would actually be better to turn around at the Uloola Falls and return to Heathcote. The surroundings and the foot path would be much nicer.
Overall it's a pleasant walk. It took us 4 hours in total. The nice thing about this track is that you can take the train to Heathcote so you don't need a car to enjoy your day trip.
Written January 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Warren S
Sydney, Australia52 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
South west arm, temptation Creek, wattamolla, Jibbon Beach, Coastal Walk, Lady Carrington Drive, Muddy Creek all special places and so near to Sydney but such an expanse of bush. Mountain biking, road riding, swimming, kayaking, walking all can be enjoyed within 20 minutes of Sutherland. Best to avoid during public holidays as can get very busy, also for some strange reason you are not allowed to bring private kayaks into Audley ( competition for the hire place??) but you can kayak anywhere on the Hacking River which fronts the Royal.
Written February 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RLFP_WSP
Melbourne156 contributions
Nov 2015
The Royal National Park is significant historically and it should be wonderful, but it is not. From a distance all looks great, but the closer you get the more disappointing it becomes. Visiting Wattamolla Beach is right up there with the third world in terms of rubbish - it is like a rubbish tip. Park management was also difficult to contact and ultimately unwilling to do anything about rescuing an abandoned native baby bird. Difficult to understand what the $12 day use fees are spent on - certainly not on rubbish control or collection or wildlife protection. This park should be a showpiece and it is not.
Written November 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1derers
Sydney, Australia23 contributions
Jan 2015 • Family
I went with my sons (11, 9) from Heathcote train station to the Uloola Falls site and returned after camping overnight.
The 5km track (estimated at 2.5 hours) is rated hard and was very good exercise with packs on. The travel time estimates were about right for us. No drinking water is available and we carried two 1.25l water bottles per person, which was definitely the minimum for us, given the hot weather. The falls were dry but the Karloo Pool was an oasis and a perfect midpoint for the walk.
The Uloola site is basically a stopover point, about an hour or more further up from the pool. It's sparse with a few bare spots for tents, and a non-flush toilet. (fan was broken) It was very quiet. We didn't have time to explore a way down to the bottom of the falls, but a track to the bottom would make the overall site more interesting.
The 5km track (estimated at 2.5 hours) is rated hard and was very good exercise with packs on. The travel time estimates were about right for us. No drinking water is available and we carried two 1.25l water bottles per person, which was definitely the minimum for us, given the hot weather. The falls were dry but the Karloo Pool was an oasis and a perfect midpoint for the walk.
The Uloola site is basically a stopover point, about an hour or more further up from the pool. It's sparse with a few bare spots for tents, and a non-flush toilet. (fan was broken) It was very quiet. We didn't have time to explore a way down to the bottom of the falls, but a track to the bottom would make the overall site more interesting.
Written January 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FrangipaniQueen777
Gold Coast, Australia52 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
Royal National Park is approx. 45 kms from Sydney, we entered the Royal National Park from Heathcote by driving or disembarking off the train. As we approached the entry to the park following the well used tracks and well signed posts, the bush starts to thicken and the thick vegetation is bottle green in colour and abundant. The track we take is the Karloo Track which you can travel along to get to Audley which is about 8.5km or 4.5 hour walk. We decided to only travel along the Karloo Track down to Karloo Pool which is a fresh water style billabong at the very bottom of the track before you take the steep trek up through the bush along a moderate to hard grade track. The cicadas and many variety of birds sing along in unison, it's a wildlife orchestra of sound.
The moderate grade walk from Heathcote to Karloo Pool is downhill and takes about 40 minutes and when there I definitely suggest having a dip in the pool, the fresh water is crisp and to dive for depending on the air temperature that day, there is plenty of room surrounding the pool to lay out your towel and settle in to soak up the sunshine and enjoy a waterside picnic too Be sure to look out for the 'whaleback' rock outcrops, named after their resemblance to whales surfacing for air..As it is a fresh water pool inhabitants of the pool are fresh water yabbies and eels and if disturbed they will definitely pop out from their hiding spots to play.
Another suggestion is on the way to Audley to stop off at Uloola Falls and when you come across the camping ground behind the toilet shed follow the small walking track which will then open out to a small hidden oasis, a beautiful pristine swimming pool with a delightful waterfall that trinkles down the rock formations and splashes into the shallow water pool. This hidden gem is so picturesque, beautiful and peaceful and believe you me a place you will want to keep it a secret - this is Heaven on Earth!
The moderate grade walk from Heathcote to Karloo Pool is downhill and takes about 40 minutes and when there I definitely suggest having a dip in the pool, the fresh water is crisp and to dive for depending on the air temperature that day, there is plenty of room surrounding the pool to lay out your towel and settle in to soak up the sunshine and enjoy a waterside picnic too Be sure to look out for the 'whaleback' rock outcrops, named after their resemblance to whales surfacing for air..As it is a fresh water pool inhabitants of the pool are fresh water yabbies and eels and if disturbed they will definitely pop out from their hiding spots to play.
Another suggestion is on the way to Audley to stop off at Uloola Falls and when you come across the camping ground behind the toilet shed follow the small walking track which will then open out to a small hidden oasis, a beautiful pristine swimming pool with a delightful waterfall that trinkles down the rock formations and splashes into the shallow water pool. This hidden gem is so picturesque, beautiful and peaceful and believe you me a place you will want to keep it a secret - this is Heaven on Earth!
Written May 26, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
compost51
Leeds, UK211 contributions
Apr 2012 • Solo
Not that far south of Sydney, Royal National Park has a fantastic coastline, stunning rock formations and mile upon mile of bush. It's a great day out if you get your boots on. The beaches are beautiful pale golden sands, the ocean a stunning blue, the waves foam over the rocks and throw spray high in the sky. On the land side the soft layered sandstone is weathered into beatiful curves and the bush stretched as far as you can see. There are certainly plenty of birds and lizards but no other wildlife presented itself while we were there.
For nature and solitude lovers, it's absolute heaven
For nature and solitude lovers, it's absolute heaven
Written June 12, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cdwijayarathna
Sydney, Australia64 contributions
Aug 2019
Royal National Park is the first national park in Australia. It has beautiful sceneries, especially in the coastal track and its a must-visit place.
We did bushwalking in RNP starting from Bundeena where we took the coastal track to Marley drive and then took the Marley walk to the car park in Bundeena drive. Marley beach to car park walk is a little less signed, but we had some mobile reception here and there and not hard to follow with GPS. Deer pool is in this walk, which is a beautiful place.
As the title of my review suggests, I want to focus my review on public transportation in Bundeena drive. This route has 1 bus that runs from Bundeena to Maianbar to Bundeena in the morning. Google maps and NSW trip planner will show times of the bus. When we took the walk, we planned to catch this bus from car park. However, there was no marked bus stop there, and a local uber driver said that the bus only take school children.
I contacted NSW transport regarding this and they informed me that "The 989 service is a public designated service, and all members of the public are entitled to utilize this service. We do not have Bus Stop signs for this particular route, however, the Drivers are always on the lookout when travelling through these points of interest in the national park. "
We did bushwalking in RNP starting from Bundeena where we took the coastal track to Marley drive and then took the Marley walk to the car park in Bundeena drive. Marley beach to car park walk is a little less signed, but we had some mobile reception here and there and not hard to follow with GPS. Deer pool is in this walk, which is a beautiful place.
As the title of my review suggests, I want to focus my review on public transportation in Bundeena drive. This route has 1 bus that runs from Bundeena to Maianbar to Bundeena in the morning. Google maps and NSW trip planner will show times of the bus. When we took the walk, we planned to catch this bus from car park. However, there was no marked bus stop there, and a local uber driver said that the bus only take school children.
I contacted NSW transport regarding this and they informed me that "The 989 service is a public designated service, and all members of the public are entitled to utilize this service. We do not have Bus Stop signs for this particular route, however, the Drivers are always on the lookout when travelling through these points of interest in the national park. "
Written August 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Asho A
1 contribution
Jan 2017 • Family
We visited the Audley boat shed and had the most terrible customer service. We were treated like idiots by the staff who smoked which we have a picture of and you can't smoke in the national park. Don't waste your money
Written January 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RisticPix
Sydney, Australia418 contributions
Mar 2016 • Family
Loved spending the morning here just walking along the tracks and seeing all the wildlife. There were heaps of people but the park remained clean and free from litter. There are canoe and paddle boat hires which were great watching lovebirds trying to navigate !The toilets were clean, I didn't see any Bbq facilities but maybe I just missed them. There are small signs all over the park that you need to purchase a parking ticket from the cafe but it was on the other side of the water and would have taken us longer to get there than we planned to stay,not many cars had parking permits but watch out for the Rangers. We will definitely go back there again, an absolute must do for your overseas visitors!
Written March 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello All,
We are planning to go Royal National Park for a day tour from Sydney. Actually we prefer to go National Park by train from Sydney. Can anyone please suggest how can I go to Royal National Park from Sydney by train and also is it possible to return the same day. Please advise. Thank you.
Written August 30, 2019
Hi,
It depends on what you are planning to do in the Royal National Park.
You can take train from Sydney Central to Cronulla (1hr-1.5hr), and then jump into Bundeena ferry which runs every half hour. You have to pay for this ferry as opal card does not work. It will take you to Bundeena where you can access coastal track (which includes balconies and wedding cake rock) and jibbon loop track.
The last ferry will leave Bundeena at 7pm (please double check). Uber is also available in this area, but sometimes there won't be any available drivers.
In addition to that, you can take train from central to Heathcote, where you can access the Karloo walking track or to Waterfall where you can access Uloola walking track.
We stayed close to Cronulla to visit RNP in 1 day trip where we walked the coastal drive to Marley beach and then took Marley walk to bundeena drive. From there we took an uber to Bundeena and caught the ferry to Cronulla.
Written September 2, 2019
Wie kann ich am besten mit den öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln zum Royal National Park ?
Written September 4, 2018
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