Three kilometres down a turn-off from the main road, this excellent surf beach is a picturesque spot. Like all of the Royal National Park surf beaches, swimming can be treacherous. There's a toilet block but no other facilities despite the large building complex, though the beach is patrolled on summer weekends and daily from late December to late January. A food kiosk opens weekends and school holidays.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Figure Eight Pools

2.33 MILES

This eight-shaped pool on a rock shelf near Burning Palms Beach is an Instagram favourite. However it is imperative to pay attention to conditions: tides…

2. Royal National Park

3.42 MILES

The 15,091-hectare Royal National Park was established in 1879, making it the oldest national park in the world after Yellowstone in the USA. Stretching…

3. Wattamolla Beach

3.58 MILES

About halfway along the coast, Wattamolla Beach is one of the favourite picnic spots in the park and gets pretty busy in summer. It has the great…

4. Sri Venkateswara Temple

5.88 MILES

Bone-white and richly decorated with sculptures of Hindu deities, Helensburgh's temple is a rewarding detour on the drive between Wollongong and Royal…

5. Symbio Wildlife Gardens

6.12 MILES

Friendly kangaroos are the highlight at this private zoo, 34km north of Wollongong. Native animals such as emus, echidnas and koalas (plus imported…

6. Bundeena

7.65 MILES

The town of Bundeena, on the southern shore of Port Hacking opposite Sydney’s southern suburb of Cronulla, is surrounded by the Royal National Park and…

7. Cronulla Beach

9.4 MILES

Cronulla is a beachy surf suburb south of Botany Bay, its long surf beach (Sydney's only one reachable by train) stretching beyond the dunes to the Botany…

8. Kamay Botany Bay National Park

14.52 MILES

This national park straddles both heads of Botany Bay, 15km south of Sydney Harbour, enclosing 458 hectares of coastal bushland. Visitors come here to…