Palm Jungle loop track
Royal National Park
Overview
A challenging yet spectacular walk, Palm Jungle loop track takes in rainforest, cliff tops, beaches and scenic coastal views in Royal National Park, near Otford.
- Distance
- 10km loop
- Time suggested
- 4 - 6hrs
- Grade
- Grade 4
- Trip Intention Form
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It's a good idea to let someone know where you're going. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your trip to your emergency contact.
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- Opening times
Royal National Park opens at 7am. Gates are locked and the park closes at 8.30pm.
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen, binoculars, sturdy shoes, suitable clothing, snacks, mobile phone
- Please note
- There’s an optional detour south along the track from Burning Palms beach to Figure Eight Pools. Always check the risk rating tool first as the pools are only accessible at low tide with low swell conditions.
- Organise a pickup from Otford lookout if you plan to continue south along the Royal Coast Track after you get to the left hand turn near Werrong lookout.
This challenging track offers the best of all worlds in the southern reaches of Royal National Park. Near Otford, Palm Jungle loop track meanders through coastal rainforest, beaches and cliff tops offering spectacular ocean views and swimming. It’s perfect for bushwalkers who love to pack an adventure into a day trip.
From Garawarra Farm, the track leads through towering forests of gums and graceful angophoras. Descending the steep Burgh Ridge, stop and absorb the brilliant panoramic views along the dramatic coastline. Joining The Coast track, veer right past historic beach shacks to Burning Palms beach. It’s a great spot for a refreshing dip and a scenic picnic lunch.
The track winds through a jungle of lush palms to Werrong lookout; a rocky outcrop with magnificent views. At the track junction, take a right through shady woodlands back to your car or turn left towards Otford.
Take a virtual tour of Palm Jungle loop track captured with Google Street View Trekker.
Also see:
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Garawarra Farm carpark
Garawarra Farm carpark is in the Garie area of Royal National Park, just off Garie Road. It has toilets and is the starting point for a number of walks including Figure Eight Pools.
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The Coast track
The Coast track in Sydney's Royal National Park is an epic multi-day walk between Bundeena and Otford. Enjoy incredible coastal lookouts, swimming spots, seasonal wildflowers and whale watching along this challenging track.
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North Era campground
Located overlooking North Era Beach in Royal National Park, this location is now closed to camping.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/palm-jungle-loop-track/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Royal National Park in the Sydney and surrounds and South Coast regions
Royal National Park is open 7am to 8.30pm but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
$12 per vehicle per day. Payment options include Audley Visitor Centre, vehicle entry stations, pay machines and the Park’nPay app.
Vehicles over 8 seats: $4.40 per adult, $2.20 per child (per day). Students on educational programs: $1.10 per student. Teachers/educational supervisors: free (1 adult per 10 students).
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Palm Jungle loop track.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
10km loop
Time
4 - 6hrs
Quality of markings
Limited signage
Experience required
Experienced bushwalkers
Gradient
Very steep
Steps
Many steps
Quality of path
Rough track, many obstacles
Getting there and parking
Palm Jungle loop track starts at Garawarra Farm carpark in the southern precinct of Royal National Park. To get there:
From Audley:
- Drive across Audley Weir and continue along Sir Bertram Stevens Drive
- Turn left onto Garie Road and immediately turn right again
- Follow the unsealed trail to Garawarra Farm carpark
From Waterfall:
- Follow McKell Avenue to the end
- Turn left onto Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and continue for approximately 5km
- Turn right onto Garie Road and immediately turn right again
- Follow the unsealed trail to Garawarra Farm carpark
Road quality
- Mixture of sealed and unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Parking
Parking is available at Garawarra Farm carpark.
Bus
Skip driving and parking in Royal National Park and catch the Park Connections bus.
Hop from Sutherland station or Bundeena Wharf to spots in the park like Garrawarra Farm carpark, Audley, or Wattamolla.
Maps and downloads
Permitted
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Prohibited
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Visitor centre
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Royal National Park Visitor Centre
2 Lady Carrington Drive, Audley, NSW 2232 - 8.30am to 4.30pm daily. Closed Christmas Day.
- 02 9542 0648
- 1300 072 757 for campground and cottage bookings
Learn more
Palm Jungle loop track is in Royal National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A date with history
When exploring Royal National Park you can see a range of Aboriginal sites and artefacts. The best way to find out more about Aboriginal cultural heritage in the park is on a tour with an Aboriginal Discovery ranger. You might also spot one of the 80 historic remnants from the park’s Victorian-era establishment, including ornamental trees and residential remains.
- Audley heritage tour Take a guided tour through the historic Audley Valley, in the heart of Royal National Park. You’ll explore heritage-listed buildings and learn how this popular day trip destination came to be.
- Couranga walking track Vivid wildflowers pepper this medium walking track near Waterfall. Only an hour from Sydney, it offers several picnic spots and birdwatching opportunities.
- Lady Carrington Drive This historic cycling track near Audley and a short drive from Sydney follows the river and offers birdwatching, pretty picnic areas and history to explore.
A place to get active
Who needs a gym? At Royal National Park you can hike, swim and row to your heart’s content. Hire a paddleboat from the Audley boatshed or surf the renowned Garie Beach. Jog along sandstone cliffs, attempt over 100km of walking tracks or try mountain biking the East Heathcote trails (be sure to note the ‘no sign–no ride’ policy). Located at Audley, just 32km from Sydney city, the park offers incredible beauty and natural diversity just minutes from the highway and train station. Spanning Port Hacking to Helensburgh, the park features multiple entry points and is well signposted, though it’s always a good idea to take a Royal National Park map.
- Audley boatshed Hire a kayak and spend a few relaxed hours paddling up Kangaroo Creek from Audley Boatshed in Royal National Park, near Loftus.
- Bonnie Vale guided nature walk Join a NPWS guide for an immersive nature experience in Royal National Park. Setting out from Bonnie Vale campground, you’ll explore coastal bushland, mangrove tracks and rocky shorelines.
- Bundeena Drive to Marley walk This rewarding walk from Bundeena Drive to Little Marley Beach leads through heath, past fresh water pools and creeks, and on to scenic beach views in Royal National Park.
- Bush playgroup activities in Sydney’s south Join Bush Play School for a day of creativity in Sydney’s south. Their nature play activities are a great way for kids to learn about the world around them.
- Garie Beach picnic area A perfect day out, Garie Beach is a wonderful place to enjoy a picnic and is great for swimming, whale watching, fishing, surfing and walking options.
Exceptional environments
The park was one of Australia’s first areas of land set aside for conservation. In this natural haven, open ocean, sandstone cliffs and wetlands meet grassy woodland, rainforests, coastal heathland and eucalypt forests. You’ll also find some significant geological sites, including fascinating beach ridges at Cabbage Tree Basin.
- Bundeena to Wattamolla guided coastal walks Delight your senses on this coastal adventure run by M8 Explorer. With their knowledgeable and safety-conscious guides, explore beautiful coastline on a 4hr hike in the Royal National Park, beginning and ending with stops for delicious meals.
- Curra Moors loop track A challenging walk through heath and waterfalls, the Curra Moors loop track offers scenic sandstone cliff and coastal views, waterfalls and great birdwatching.
- Figure Eight Pools adventure with M8 Explorer Awaken your inner explorer with an exciting tour of Figure Eight Pools in Royal National Park. Start with a paddle down the Hacking River before trekking down to the pools to discover amazing rock formations, wildlife and spectacular coastal scenery.
- Guided forest therapy walk in Royal National Park Slow down and de-stress in Sydney’s beautiful Royal National Park on this guided forest therapy walk with Nature Being Australia.
- Palm Jungle loop track A challenging yet spectacular walk, Palm Jungle loop track takes in rainforest, cliff tops, beaches and scenic coastal views in Royal National Park, near Otford.
Home to the feathered and furry
Many visitors regularly spot native wildlife in the Hacking River Valley area, so keep an eye out for possums, sugar gliders and wallabies. This Sydney park is also home to a huge number of bats, amphibians and reptiles. Plus, birdwatchers are in luck - over 300 bird species have been recorded here, look out for sulphur-crested cockatoos, crimson rosellas, yellow-tailed black cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets.
- Biophysical interactions at Wattamolla Senior students will hone their fieldwork skills in this Stage 6 (Years 11-12) Geography excursion at Wattamolla. Located in Royal National Park, Wattamolla offers students a complex site to study biophysical interactions.
- Birds of Providential Point self-guided audio tour Discover native birdlife on this self-guided audio tour to beautiful Providential Point near Wattamolla in Royal National Park. You’ll walk through sun-dappled coastal forest and grassy glades as you learn about local birds and hear their calls.
- Bonnie Vale guided nature walk Join a NPWS guide for an immersive nature experience in Royal National Park. Setting out from Bonnie Vale campground, you’ll explore coastal bushland, mangrove tracks and rocky shorelines.
- Couranga walking track Vivid wildflowers pepper this medium walking track near Waterfall. Only an hour from Sydney, it offers several picnic spots and birdwatching opportunities.
- Figure Eight Pools adventure with M8 Explorer Awaken your inner explorer with an exciting tour of Figure Eight Pools in Royal National Park. Start with a paddle down the Hacking River before trekking down to the pools to discover amazing rock formations, wildlife and spectacular coastal scenery.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
The curious pelican is Australia’s largest flying bird and has the longest bill of any bird in the world. These Australian birds are found throughout Australian waterways and the pelican uses its throat pouch to trawl for fish. Pelicans breed all year round, congregating in large colonies on secluded beaches and islands.
Plants
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Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)
The beautiful waratah is not only the NSW floral emblem, it's also one of the best-known Australian native plants. This iconic Australian bush flower can be found on sandstone ridges around Sydney, in nearby mountain ranges and on the NSW South Coast. The waratah has a vibrant crimson flowerhead, measuring up to 15cm across, and blossoms in spring.
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Cabbage palm (Livistona australis)
With glossy green leaves spanning 3-4m in length and a trunk reaching a height of up to 30m, the cabbage tree palm, or fan palm, is one of the tallest Australian native plants. Thriving in rainforest margins along the east coast of NSW, in summer this giant palm produces striking spikes of cream flowers which resemble cabbages.
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Gymea lily (Doryanthes excelsa)
The magnificent Gymea lily is one of the most unusual Australian native plants, found only along the coast and surrounding bushland of the Sydney Basin, from Newcastle to Wollongong. In spring this giant lily shoots out spectacular red flowers that can reach heights of 2-4m.
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Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)
An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.
Environments in this park
Education resources (1)
School excursions (12)
- The earth's environment at Wattamolla, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Geography
- Biophysical interactions at Wattamolla, Stage 6 (Years 11-12), Geography
- Living world wet and dry environments, Stage 1 (Years 1-2), Science and Technology
- The Australian colonies at Jibbon Beach, Stage 3 (Years 5-6), History
- Community and remembrance at Jibbon Beach, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), History
- Environmental change and management at Wattamolla, Stage 5 (Years 9-10), Geography
- Past in the present at Jibbon Beach, Stage 1 (Years 1-2), History
- The earth's environment at Audley, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Geography
- Places are similar and different, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Geography
- Living world WildTracker at Audley, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Science and Technology
- WildThings at Audley, Stage 1 (Years 1-2), Science and Technology
- A local ecosystem at Bonnie Vale, Stage 6 (Years 11-12), Biology