Our trip out to Eagle Rock was one of the highlights of our six years living in Sydney, and I don’t say that lightly! There are several ways to get to this lookout and having done them all we can say with certainty that walking from Wattamolla is your best option.
The walk itself is spectacular and fairly easy, if you visit after some decent rainfall, you’ll see Eagle Head Rock as well as three waterfalls cascading into the ocean!
Add in visiting at sunset and walking back under the stars, and you have one of the most memorable Sydney experiences you can have.
Here’s what to expect from this magical walk, our favourite in Royal National Park.
The Wattamolla to Eagle Rock Walk
The stats
Distance: 8.8km
Elevation: 235m
Difficulty: Easy
Type of trail: Return
The Wattamolla to Eagle Rock walk is one of the easier hikes in Royal National Park. It isn’t short, but the majority of the walk is on boardwalk, making it smooth sailing. Whilst there are two uphill sections, they are quite gradual.
We believe most people will be able to do this beautiful walk. Even if you find it difficult, the coastal views and the viewpoint at the end are the perfect tonic!
If you’ve got more time in the area, we’ve written a full guide to Wattamolla here.
How to make this walk extra special
If you are up for a bit of an adventure we would highly recommend planning your visit so that you arrive at Eagle Rock a little before sunset. The light behind the waterfall is particularly special at this time and the bush has a golden glow.
Walking back in the twilight, and then under the stars is a magical experience, and one that we won’t forget in a hurry. We walked on a clear night and could see the entire milky way, as well as an incredible meteorite which flew across the sky with a long red tail burning behind it.
The views of Curracarong Falls after the rain
It really was as extraordinary as it sounds and we’re already planning to do it again! All you can hear is the sound of the ocean and the chirping of insects, it was so amazingly peaceful, but also one of those experiences which just makes you feel alive!
The track is in excellent condition and much of it is boardwalk, so footing is not an issue. Another great alternative would be to do the walk to arrive at sunrise when the sun will rise behind Eagle Rock. Either way if you get the chance we couldn’t recommend it more highly. It’s easily one of the best walks in the whole of Sydney.
Starting the trail to Providential Point
From the car park at Wattamolla take the trail marked for Providential Point. You’ll start off in the bush for a few hundred metres, before coming out at a glorious ocean view on your left as well as the chance to look back at the gorgeous Wattamolla Beach. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the best beaches in the park.
After 700m you arrive at the Providential Point lookout which offers an expansive ocean view as well as some of the craggy cliffs which are characteristic of Royal National Park. It’s a fab whale watching spot in season.
In our opinion an even better view is waiting just to the right of this spot up the staircase. You can sit on the cliff side and look out at the ocean from a higher vantage point.
If you’re walking on a weekend it can get quite busy here but walk just two minutes further on and the din of the crowds melt away and you can enjoy many of the best views all to yourself.
That look when someone’s ruining your peaceful view!
Continuing on to Eagle Rock
The walk from Providential Point all the way to Eagle Rock is magnificent.
After a few hundred metres you join up with the Coast Track and walk with the ocean to your left and dense vegetation to your right, on a mixture of boardwalk and natural rock.
The boardwalk makes the walking very easy. It used to be pretty uneven terrain, but now it’s smooth sailing.
The views are just beautiful and don’t forget to look behind you at the picturesque cliffs. We were completely in awe of this track and think it is easily one of (if not the) most beautiful walk in Royal National Park.
There is never a moment where you will not be surrounded by stunning scenery, and for much of the way you can see the stunning coastline.
After just over a kilometre you’ll come to a creek crossing which has tall stepping stones to make for an easy crossing.
We visited after really heavy rain, when other tracks in the area were at the point where you couldn’t cross without flooding your boots, but this one was a breeze.
After the creek crossing there is a very short uphill section on rocky terrain, followed by a short spell on flat boardwalk before the track begins to climb.
It’s a gentle incline, which you probably won’t notice too much if you’re walking at a normal speed.
Having left a little late for sunset, we were semi jogging by this point, so did get a bit puffed, but the boardwalk means you can make very quick work of it.
As you ascend you have the odd peek through to the ocean but the vegetation is quite dense on both sides so it’s more about the greenery, which was still lovely, and there was a lot of bird life.
After 400m ascending, the trail flattens and it’s a walk in the park once again.
After just over half a kilometre which is 3.8km in, you’ll see an unmarked narrow trail to your left. This is the path to take if you want to stand on Eagle Rock itself or view Curracurrong Falls from a front on viewpoint.
Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls
The path to Eagle Rock is a little overgrown, but very passable, and it will get you on to a rocky ledge in just a few minutes - it’s 150m in total.
You’ll then come across two outcrops. At first it is not obvious which rock ledge is Eagle Head Rock, as you can’t see the formation from this angle and both options just look like a cliff edge. However, it’s the one that juts out on the far left.
Obviously be really careful if you are heading out on to the rock and don’t go if it’s windy or wet.
Otherwise it’s a bigger ledge than it looks in the photos, so you don’t need to be anywhere near the edge to get a shot that looks good, you just need the photographer to be in the right place further along the track.
Curracurrong Falls
This area also gives a great front on look at Curracurrong Falls and we’d highly recommend checking it out before continuing on to see it from the other side.
If there has been decent rainfall - in fact save this walk for after a period of rain if you possibly can - you will get two separate waterfalls!
The two separate falls visible from Eagle Rock
One is in the distance and then there is Curracurrong Falls which has two cascades which drop straight into the ocean. It is simply phenomenal and you’ll quickly see why we rate it the most beautiful waterfall in Royal National Park.
The whole scene with the powerful falls cascading straight into the sea and the amazing surrounding cliffs is just magical.
Add in the sunset behind the falls casting a golden light and honestly I couldn’t believe how awe inspiring it was.
The last epic view
Once you’ve admired the views from this angle head back along the narrow path and rejoin the main trail. It will take you over some stepping stones and you’ll get to see the falls from another angle as well as the classic view of Eagle Head Rock - this is when you can see it actually looks like an eagle!
This is also where the photographer will have to stand if you want a photo on the rock.
Many people clamber down the rocks and stand on top of the waterfall, we didn’t because it looked a bit precarious, so just be really careful if you do, some people were freaking me out doing jumps on the edge! Eeeek.
Heading back
The walk back is nice and easy, with almost all flat or downhill trail. You get fabulous views again and if you are walking back in the twilight it’s incredibly atmospheric.
We could walk much of the way without a torch but needed one for the last ten minutes or so, we kept turning it off to look at the stars though, as more and more began to appear before we could eventually see the Milky Way!
If you do this walk for sunset we’d love to know what you think!
If you’re looking for other great coastal walks, we have you covered in this post.
Essential information about the Eagle Rock walk
The possible routes
There are three possible routes you can take to Eagle Head Rock. One is as described from Wattamolla, and you can also walk along the Curra Moors Trail or from Garie Beach.
Garie Beach is our second favourite route but it’s not as spectacular as the one from Wattamolla and has one very steep climb. Overall we recommend Wattamolla as the number one choice by far but if you do want to go from Garie Beach, here are all the details.
The Curra Moors Trail is an easy route, with very little elevation gain. It’s a lovely walk when the wildflowers are out, but it’s still our third favourite option. Here’s our trail guide for the Curra Moors route.
Parking at Wattamolla
Wattamolla has a huge amount of parking, 5 car parks in fact, but despite this it can still fill up on a weekend. It’s worth going early or later in the day to make sure you get a spot.
Facilties at Wattamolla
There are picnic and BBQ facilities as well as flush toilets. There is also a beach for swimming if you want to make a whole day of it!
Royal National Park Entry Fee
The vehicle entry fee for Royal National Park is $12. If you’re planning on visiting several NSW parks in a year you are better off buying the $65 annual pass which includes all parks in the state except Kosciuszko.
Getting to Wattamolla by public transport
The only way to get to Wattamolla by public transport is to get the shuttle bus. This runs from Sutherland Train Station (a 40 minute train ride on the Illawarra Line - the blue one from Central Station) and the shuttle bus will drop you off at Wattamolla Beach.
Make sure you check their website for the times as this changes seasonally. The shuttle bus costs $9 one way, $15 return and isn’t a part of the Opal Card system (meaning you’ll have to pay on top of the train fare).
Packing suggestions for Royal National Park
Having the right gear can make a huge difference, especially in Royal National Park. Being on the coast, the conditions can change rapidly, so packing correctly can make a big difference.
Here’s what we pack and have relied upon for years:
Sunscreen: Cancer Council Active. With a high SPF, but not the greasy feel of other sunscreens. Makes a big difference when you’re working up a sweat on a sunny day! Check it out on Amazon
Good Rain Jacket: North Face This is an essential item we always pack in our bag! This jacket from North Face is designed to keep you dry but also comfortably warm (many rain jackets will make you feel like you’re in a sauna). Check it out on North Face
Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). Check on Amazon or direct with Osprey
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab (for men and women). We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going. Check them out on Amazon
Trekking poles: We’ve used Black Diamond for years as they are light, solid and durable. Check them out on Amazon.
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check them out on Amazon
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Are you planning a trip to Royal National Park? Have you done the Wattamolla to Eagle Rock hike? Let us know in the comments below!
