Until this hike, we’d visited almost every beach in Royal National Park but never Werrong. It’s one of those places that not many people talk about, and it turned out to be an absolute beauty. Very different from any other beach in the park, a bit more rocky and wild - which is something we always love.
It is a nudist beach though…. and not one of those ones where you get a mix of people with and without swimsuits! Although we do have a few tips for enjoying the beach if you’re not into the nudist scene, which we’ll share in this post.
The walk to get to the beach is stunning so we’d definitely recommend checking out this unique spot in Royal National Park.
Here’s what to expect from one of Sydney’s best secluded beaches and the walk to get there.
The Werrong Beach Track
Distance: 3.2km
Elevation: 221m
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of trail: Return
The Werrong Beach Track is a short trail, but pretty steep! The path isn’t slippery, so you don’t need to worry about your footing, but it is more tiring than you’d normally expect for a 3.2km trail. This is primarily because the 220m elevation is all on the way back up in one small section!
You can do the whole walk in 50 minutes - 1.15 hour, and then add on how long you want to spend at the beach.
We recently heard that during the warmer months people often hike the trail naked, so it’s something to be aware of if that’s not for you.
What to expect on the Werrong Beach Trail
Starting the trail at Otford Lookout
The trail starts at Otford Lookout, which offers a great view of the Seacliff Bridge and Stanwell Tops area, not as good as the one from nearby Bald Hill but still gorgeous.
To get to Werrong Beach you take the path heading into the bush which is also the beginning of the famous Coast Track.
You’ll have a few stairs to climb before you come out at a long flat stretch with some great sea views.
Part of this walkway is now boardwalked, with more being laid all the time, so we imagine the whole way down the stairs will eventually be done.
You’ll then head onto a bush track and have a small uphill section before the trail to Werrong Beach is signposted on your right.
From the lookout to the turn off is just 300m. Don’t miss, it or you could end up heading towards Burning Palms!
Into the jungle
Once you turn off, the track will be really quiet. Even on a sunny Saturday we didn’t pass anyone. It starts off as a regular bush track with partial ocean views to your right through the trees.
It’s a mixture of smooth dirt path, rocks, and tree roots, and it can be very narrow, but nothing too challenging.
It isn’t long before you start to feel like you’ve suddenly entered the jungle! The vegetation gets denser and there are dozens and dozens of Cabbage tree palms which are just spectacular.
It is an absolutely gorgeous walk, and we both said that even if there were no beach at the end we would have come just to do this track, it’s now one of our favourites in the whole park.
We’ve walked several trails in Royal National Park which have stunning rainforest sections like this, such as the Forest Path and Couranga Track. However, what the Werrong Beach Track has that makes it quite different, is those same jungle vibes, but with the constant sound track of the rolling waves in the background.
The combination is very special and we absolutely loved this short walk.
Apart from a couple of flat sections, for the most part you will be heading downhill. It’s gentle at first and then gets a bit steeper towards the end.
Arriving at Werrong Beach
You’ll spot Werrong Beach through the trees before you get to the final staircase and a grassy area that sits just above the beach.
You’ll get a great view of one half of the beach and the stunning headland behind it, and it’s a lovely quiet spot to relax in.
This is where we’d recommend staying if there are people on the beach and you want to stay fully clothed!
Whilst you could go down onto the beach, we decided not to because we didn’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable - we were there in our hiking gear!
It’s totally up to you how you feel about it, but we decided we still had a great view of the beach from our grassy mound and we wouldn’t be disturbing anyone.
It’s a totally different vibe to other nudist beaches in Sydney where it’s very mixed. This one definitely felt like to be on the beach, you should be in your natural state : )
The beach has both sandy and rocky sections and pretty big waves. It’s also really secluded, and feels cut off from the world which gave me holiday vibes! It’s different to other beaches in the park, being a lot more rocky, but I actually loved that for a change.
The beach is known for strong currents, so swimming isn’t advised. We would only have gone for a paddle for this reason, so we didn’t feel like we missed out by not spending time on the beach itself. We had a great time and loved both the beach and the walk.
Hiking back up
So to get to the beach, you went from the cliff top down to sea level. Now you have to go all the way back up!
It’s fairly relentlessly uphill, but there are a couple of flat bits to get your breath back. It’s not always steep either so you can walk up in around 25 minutes at a fairly steady pace.
Once at the top you can head back the way you came or if you were keen on doing a longer walk you could do the Palm Jungle Loop from here.
The loop is gorgeous but it does have a fair few hills so it’s one to save for when you’re feeling energetic!
Essential information about Werrong Beach
Parking for Werrong Beach
There is limited parking at Otford Lookout, but most people come and check out the view and then leave, so you can usually get a spot, even if you have to wait a few minutes.
If not, there is a little more parking up the road by the Otford Pantry.
Public transport to the beach
This is one of the few trails which is possible to get to by public transport, but it does mean a lot more walking! To get to the trail, take the train to Otford Station on the Illawarra Line. From here it is a 2km walk uphill to the start of the trail.
The alternative is to take the train to Sutherland Station and take the Park Connections shuttle bus to the start of the trail.
Royal National Park entry fee
The Royal National Park vehicle entry fee doesn’t apply to parking at Otford Lookout so you can visit Werrong Beach for free!
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 Amazon
Bushman Spray: Good for keeping off the mozzies and any other bugs. Check it out on Amazon.
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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