Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Wattamolla to Big Marley Beach hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Wattamolla to Big Marley Beach
Time:
4 Hrs
6.9 km SSW of Bundeena
Length:
10.3 km
Royal National Park
Climb:
347 m
Style:
Circuit
This walk is an excellent loop which takes in both the coast and the heathy inland of Royal National Park. Nearly the whole walk has views of the sea. Big Marley and Little Marley are great places for a swim in the right conditions. The dunes behind Big Marley are also worth exploring, as is Deer Pools if time allows.
(0 km) Wattamolla Picnic Ground Toilet Block to Wattamolla Dam Track: Moderate - road, bushtrack
Distance = 0.8 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 34 m
Descent = -25 m
From the toilet block the track heads north through the picnic ground until reaching the cliffs and Coote Creek. From the northern end of Wattamolla Picnic Ground this track crosses Coote Creek, which at this often a trickle. From here the track heads north, gradually rising and following a track through high scrub (with the ocean on the right). This rises up to Wattamolla Creek where there is a small dam creating a waterhole in the creek.
Wattamolla Dam
Alt = 21
Wattamolla pool, Royal National Park, is a quiet spot for a dip just south of the Coastal Tracks crossing of Wattamolla Creek. The pool is artificially made from a stone wall being built below a small waterfall.
(0.82 km) Wattamolla Dam to Int. Mowlee Ridge Trail and Marley Trk Track: Moderate - bushtrack, servicetrail, servicetrail
Distance = 3.1 km
Time = 45 mins
Climb = 72 m
Descent = -45 m
From the dam and creek the the track heads north-east (with the ocean on the right) with the track gradually rising. At this point the scrub is quite high and provides a tunnel feeling to the walk. This continues until reaching an intersection with another bushtrack, marked with a signpost saying 'Coast Track'. From the intersection the track heads north west down the left hand side of the spur. The track then descends onto the saddle and continues north west through the thick wall of scrub either side, to the intersection approximately 400m down the hill. From the intersection the track heads east for approximately 500m over speed bumps in the track. The track then turns left, north east, for approximately 600m slightly down hill to the sign marked intersection.
(3.9 km) Int. Mowlee Ridge Trail and Marley Trk to Deer Pools Clearing Optional Side Trip: Track: Hard - Bush Track
Distance = 0.6 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = -39 m
From the intersection the track heads north west along the flat trail which runs throguh the scrub. The track continues for approximately 100m then begins to descend after passing a rockshelf on the right. The track continues for approximately 300m following the sprayed white dashes through the dense scrub to a clearing.
Deer Pool
Alt = 12
Deer Pool, Royal National Park, is a small but very nice set of falls that run into a pool with a small sandy bank. The waterfall above Deer Pool is fed by Marley Creek which continues into Marley Lagoon, behind Big Marley Beach.
(3.9 km) Int. Mowlee Ridge Trail and Marley Trk to Int. Coastal Trk and Chimney Trk Track: Moderate - servicetrail, bushtrack
Distance = 1.1 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 10 m
Descent = -50 m
From the intersection the track heads down the north east down the hill. The track winds and undulates for approximately 500m to a rocky platform on the right. The track continues north east winding down the hill as it tends right, to a sign marked clearing backed by boulders on the eastern side. From the intersection the track follows the arrow on the sign, over the rocks. The track heads south past the ruins of a chimney on the right. The track heads down the hill for approximately 100m to turn left and continue to the intersection.
(5.02 km) Int. Coastal Trk and Chimney Trk to East Marely Beach Track: Moderate - bushtrack, beach
Distance = 0.6 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 12 m
Descent = -13 m
From the intersection the track heads north along the flat bushtrack and the cliff-edge. This continues until in the final section the track desends steeply off the rockshelf and down a rough bushtrack to the west end of Marley Beach. During this section of the track follows closely beside the cliff edge. To assist walkers in getting down these cut rock-stairs have been installed into the rockshelf. There are also several sections where they have installed small sections of boardwalk and footbridge. These are largely to prevent the erosion of the cliff-edge and the vulnerable plants that live there. From the west end of Marley Beach the track heads east along the beach until coming to a large green information sign on the aboriginal culture in the area. This is the start of a bushtrack that heads up the hill to the east. arley Beach is very beautiful and if it is possible to get a sunny day for walking then it would be a great spot to swim.
Big Marley
Alt = 1
Big Marley Beach, Royal National Park, is a large beach of approximately 400m in length. However, this beach is made special by the large dune area behind the beach which runs into the Marley Lagoon. The lagoon is fed y Marley Creek and the surrounding catchment. The beach is not patrolled and dangerous surf conditions are experienced here. The little brother of Big Marley, Little Marley Beach, is a more protected beach with safer conditons for swimming. For information on this beaches pollution levels follow the more info link. More info
(5.63 km) East Marely Beach to West Marley Beach Track: Moderate - beach
Distance = 0.4 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 8 m
Descent = -8 m
From the east end of Marley Beach the track heads west along the beach until coming to the rockshelf at the end. Marley Beach is very beautiful and if it is possible to get a sunny day for walking then it would be a great spot to swim. On the rockshelf at the end of the beach there are some shady spots that are good to break from the walk. At this point there is also an intersection with a small bushtrack that heads up to the north-west.
(6.03 km) West Marley Beach to Little Marley Beach Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.6 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 12 m
Descent = -17 m
From the west end of the beach the the track heads up the rockshelf to the south-west. During this section of the track follows closely beside the cliff edge. There are also several small but steep climbs. To assist walkers in getting up these cut rock-stairs have been installed into the rockshelf. There are also several sections where they have installed small sections of boardwalk and footbridge. these are largely to prevent the erosion of the cliff-edge and the vulnerable plants that live there. Once reaching the ridge the track flattens out for a short while before coming to an intersection with an unmarked intersection going off to the right and away from the cliffs. From the intersection the track heads south-west for a short while before descending to Little Marley Beach. From the ridge the beach is easy to see but once the track starts to go down the scrub becomes very high, and as such it feels like the track is going through a tunnel with only glimpses of the ocean and cliffs before emerging on Little Marley Beach.
Little Marley
Alt = 3
Little Marley Beach, Royal National Park, approximately 140m long is the small neighbouring beach south of Big Marley Beach. The beach is not patrolled but has safer surf conditions between its low rocky headlands than Big Marley Beach. For information on this beaches pollution levels follow the more info link. More info
(6.67 km) Little Marley Beach to Wattamolla Dam Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 2.8 km
Time = 1 Hrs
Climb = 174 m
Descent = -155 m
From Little Marley Beach the track heads south climbing to the clifftop using a well-signposted bushtrack. Once on the ridge the track follows the rockshelf for a short period before changing onto a metal footbridge. This continues along the scrub vegetation with short periods where the track changes back to being on the rockshelf above the cliff until the track changes to purely being a well managed bushtrack going through the high scrub. Shortly before tcoming to an intersection the track turns slightly to the north-west. This intersection is marked with a large green sign post saying 'Coast Track'. From the intersection the track heads south-west (with the ocean on the left) along the bushtrack. This descends gradually through the scrub with scattered views over the South Pacific Ocean. In this section the scrub is quite high and provides a tunnel feeling to the walk. This continues until reaching and crossing Wattamolla Creek where there is a small dam, creating a waterhole in the creek.
(9.48 km) Wattamolla Dam to Wattamolla Picnic Ground Toilet Block Track: Moderate - bushtrack, road
Distance = 0.8 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 25 m
Descent = -34 m
From the creek the track heads south-west (with the ocean on the left) and gradually turns to the south where it started to head downhill, crosses Coote Creek and arrives at the northern end of Wattamolla Picnic Ground. From the northern end of the picnic ground the track heads south, through the caparks and grasslands, following the direction to the Overflow Carpark. This continues until coming to the Toilet Block.
(10.3 km) Wattamolla Picnic Ground Toilet Block to Providential Point Optional Side Trip: Walk: Easy - Bush Track
Distance = 0.6 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 21 m
Descent = -23 m
From the mens toilets the track heads to an oval sized clearing. The track heads to the eastern end of the oval. The track continues along the service trail from the oval following the Providential Point signs. The track leads through the tree to another grass area, Providential Point Campsite. The track continues past the campsite sign heading east to the far side of the grass clearing to a ferny area. The track continues along the most worn and unobstructed single track for approximately 200m to the railed lookout on the headland.
Providential Point
Alt = 13
Providential Point, Royal National Park, has views out to sea and back towards Wattamola Beach and the cliffs on the north side, Boy Martin Point.
Hiking near Sydney 
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