Garie Beach to Eagle Rock

Download & Print Map and Notes

3 hrs

7.7 km Return

344 m

Hard track

This walk, from Garie Beach to Eagle Rock, is another great way to explore the Royal National Park coastline. Eagle Rock is an iconic rock formation in the park, and this lookout provides a great view of it. The walk then returns to the expansive Garie Beach, offering more great views as you head down the hill. Enjoy the beach before jumping back in the car.

Looking at Garie Beach and the coast from the north

Track through the heath north of Garie Beach

Garie Beach Kiosk

Garie Beach Kiosk is at the side of the carpark at the end of Garie Rd, in the Royal National Park. The kiosk is only open on weekends and most days during the summer holidays. The opening hours are based on demand and is generally open from 10:30am to 3pm (later in summer). The kiosk sells, cold drinks, ice creams, pies, salad rolls etc. Contact for Audley kiosk (same managers) 9521 2240.

Garie Beach

Garie Beach, Royal National Park, is a large, south-east facing, yellow sand beach. The beach is backed by steep headlands and gullies. There is a large car park at the end of Garie Rd for access to the beach. Garie Beach is popular for surfing, patrolled 9am-5pm from December to January. Facilities include toilets, kiosk, picnic tables, cold showers and Surf Life Saving Club. The water from the shower should be treated before drinking, this water comes from a tank and may be unavailable during dry periods. More info.

(0km) Garie Beach Car Park → North-East End of Garie Beach

690 m

13 mins

11m

-16m Moderate track

From the car park, the walk heads approximately 200m along the beach, keeping the ocean to your right, to the intersection below the stairs (leading up the hill on the left).
Veer right: Keeping the ocean to the right, this walk follows the beach to the northern end, to the base of a bush track which heads up the hill.

(1km) North-East End of Garie Beach → Garie Beach Lookout

510 m

13 mins

105m

-6m Hard track

Continue straight: From the end of Garie Beach, this walk heads up the short hill and through the grassy clearing to the base of the large hill. The walk continues up the steep bush track, winding up the steep rock and wooden steps as it climbs to the top of the hill.

Garie Beach Lookout

Garie Beach Lookout is an unofficial lookout on the hill at the eastern end of Garie Beach. The lookout has no facilities and is simply a spot on the Coast track. The lookout provides great views looking southwest along the coast along Garie Beach, Royal National Park and down to Wollongong.

(1km) Garie Beach Lookout → Eagles Rock Lookout

2.7 km

57 mins

68m

-138m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the clearing at the top of the large hill, this walk follows the bush track heading away from Garie Beach and through the high scrub, continuing along for a while before coming to the signposted intersection of the 'Curra Moors car park' track.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the narrow trail through the scrub, keeping the ocean on the right of the track. In various sections, metal walkways have been built to stabilise the environment in the area. The walk continues like this, occasionally breaking out onto the rockshelf of the cliffs, until reaching a signposted intersection, marked 'Wattamolla 2.9km'.
Continue straight: Keeping the ocean to the right the track follows the bushtrack through the scrub and along the coast for a short while before coming to the information signpost with views of Eagle Rock.

Eagle Rock Lookout

Eagle Rock lookout is an informal lookout marked by an information sign on the Coast track in the Royal National Park. The lookout is about halfway between Garie Beach and Wattamolla. Eagle rock is a piece of the cliff line that looks amazingly like the head of an eagle, with the eye and all. The lookout is about 150m west of the Eagle Rock on the other side of Carracurrong Creek. Eagle Rock is often used as an icon for the Royal National Park. Carracurrong Creek also forms a waterfall into the ocean nearby.

Maps for the Garie Beach to Eagle Rock walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Otford	1:25 000 Map Series	91294S OTFORD	NSW-91294S
Port Hacking	1:100 000 Map Series	9129 PORT HACKING	9129

Cross sectional view of the Garie Beach to Eagle Rock bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Garie Beach to Eagle Rock

Altitude analysis for Garie Beach to Eagle Rock

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

		Length	7.7 km
		Time	3 hrs
		.
Grade 4/6 Hard track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
		Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

2.2km of this walk has short steep hills and another 750m has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 510m is very steep and the remaining 380m is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

Around 2.5km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 1.4km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 3.2km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 650m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 3.2km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 650m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 3.9km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 3.2km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 690m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Garie Beach to Eagle Rock walk.

Garie Beach YHA

1.3 km Return, 45 mins

**On 02/12/2010 this YHA was completely destroyed by fire and plans for the future are not yet decided** This track is the only access to Garie Beach YHA. If you leave your car in the Garie Beach car park it is easy to head up to the hostel, before spending the rest of your time down at the beach. T

Total climbing: 68m

Moderate track

Curra Moors car park to Garie Beach

4.4 km One way, 1 hr 45 mins

This walk is another Royal National Park classic. The walk comes off a ridge to join with the Coastal Track's tour of the beaches. The walk starts at the small Curra Moors car park and heads through the heath and bush to the rock shelf at the coast. The track ends at Garie Beach. The beach has a kio

Total climbing: 65m

Hard track

Wattamolla to Garie Beach

7.6 km One way, 3 hrs 30 mins

The Wattamolla to Garie Beach walk is a scenic coastal stroll which takes you along the top of the coastal cliffs, before dropping down to the fantastic Garie Beach. The coastal cliffs give views out to sea, with many ledges also giving views down onto the waves crashing into the rock. The descent o

Total climbing: 317m

Hard track

Curra Moors Loop

9.2 km Circuit, 3 hrs 30 mins

A pleasant walk with some great views, mostly along service trails. The walk passes through heath and some areas of trees (flowering in spring). This walk follows the Coastal Track along the headland, giving great views along the coast and out to sea.

Total climbing: 242m

Hard track

Mowlee Ridge to Garie Beach

13.3 km One way, 5 hrs

This is a long and scenic walk down to Garie Beach. The walk travels along the ridge and then the heath covered cliff edge, with views over the coast and far out to see, as it meanders along to the beautiful Garie Beach. The descent from the headland onto Garie Beach also gives magnificent views of

Total climbing: 357m

Hard track

The Coast Track (Otford to Bundeena)

27.4 km One way, 2 Days

Following the coast through the Royal National Park with its magnificent coastal views, this walk is truly amazing. Although walked traditionally from Bundeena, this direction makes for a shorter first day. There are coastal and cliff views along much of this walk. There are also a small house commu

Total climbing: 1244m

Hard track

The Coast Track

27.4 km One way, 2 Days

Heading south, this walk covers the coastline of the Royal National Park and can truly only be described as amazing. With breathtaking coastal views from Bundeena to Otford this walk follows the cliffs along a well managed and signposted track. You will enjoy the truly fantastic views out to sea an

Total climbing: 1351m

Hard track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Garie Beach to Eagle Rock walk.

Garie Beach to Garawarra to Burning Palms Circuit

13.5 km Circuit, 7 hrs

Using a variety of tracks, this walk follows the coast as well as going inland to Garrawarra Farm. With great coastal views and a magnificent palm jungle, this walk demonstrates perfectly, the diversity of the Royal National Park. Of historical significance are the houses scattered along the coast t

Total climbing: 754m

Hard track

Garie Beach to Helensburgh (The Burgh Track)

11 km One way, 4 hrs 30 mins

This walk has a great mixture of ocean cliffs, with fantastic views, and beautiful forest. The walk follows the well maintained Burgh Track, passing great views of the ocean and the cliffs, before turning inland and exploring some eucalypt forest on the way to Helensburgh. The environment and views

Total climbing: 664m

Hard track

Garie Beach to North Era Beach

3.2 km Return, 2 hrs

This walk is the shortest walk to North Era Beach and starts from the Garie car park. Both beaches are popular surfing beaches, and have either camping or basic hostel accommodation. This makes the walk between the beaches an excellent way to transport boards and supplies for your surf retreat, week

Total climbing: 242m

Moderate track

Garie Road to Era Loop

5 km Circuit, 2 hrs 15 mins

This walk covers a great cross section of the environments in the Royal National park, with plenty of places to rest and take in the views. The walk follows the Squeeze Way from Garie Rd, then heads down Stockyard Spur to Era Gully. The walk then heads up to the old Garawarra Farm, via Burgh Ridge,

Total climbing: 271m

Hard track

Stockyard spur to Garie Beach

3.3 km One way, 1 hr 45 mins

The walk down Stockyard Spur to Garie Beach is an excellent way to take in coastal views before following the Coastal Track. This is great if you are with a driver who is happy to drop you and wait for you are Garie Beach, or if you can do a car shuffle. You can always just walk back up. There ar

Total climbing: 142m

Hard track

The Wallumarra Track to Bola Creek

4.7 km One way, 1 hr 45 mins

This walk becomes more interesting once you reach the end of the service trail section and start on the bush track. There are great views going down the hill, and once at Bola Creek the track meanders alongside the creek, through a dark forest, until meeting up with Lady Carrington Dr.

Total climbing: 74m

Moderate track

Wallumarra to Palona Cave

11.8 km Return, 4 hrs 30 mins

Winding next to Bola Creek, the Wallumarra bush track is very pretty, as is the track to Palona. Great rest areas at Bola Picnic Area, and next to the waterfall at Palona Cave, cap off a great walk. While the Wallumarra service trail and the side trip to the Beehives are not the most interesting tr

Total climbing: 439m

Hard track

Wallumarra Track to Forest Way

12.5 km Circuit, 4 hrs 30 mins

Initially following a section of service trail, this walk heads along the ridge before descending to Bola Creek. The walk becomes more enjoyable after the service trail section, especially down on the creek as the walk winds its way through the forest. After a short break at the Bola Picnic Area, th

Total climbing: 470m

Moderate track

Burning Palms loop from Garawarra

8.2 km Circuit, 3 hrs 30 mins

This walk explores a variety of environments through the Royal National Park. From the old Garawarra farm, the walk heads along the Squeeze Way then down a ridge to Burning Palms. There is an optional side trip out to Figure Eight pools. Burning Palms offers a nice beach and a great place to rest

Total climbing: 398m

Hard track

Garawarra Farm carpark to figure eight pools

6 km Return, 2 hrs 30 mins

This return walk starts from the old Garawarra Farm car park and heads down the ridge through the Royal National Park, to the coast. The walk then follows the coast, through Burning Palms beach, and around the base of the headland to the famous Figure Eight Pools. This walk explores 4 distinct env

Total climbing: 273m

Hard track

Garawarra Farm to Garie Beach

3.9 km One way, 2 hrs

This walk starts at the large Garawarra Farm car park taking the ridge straight down to the coast. Look for the change in vegetation as you descend along the spur to the Coastal Track, before beach hopping your way to Garie Beach. The track is a great way to see some of Sydney's best coast, with ple

Total climbing: 156m

Moderate track

Wises Track

4.1 km One way, 1 hr 30 mins

This isn't a particularly special walk, but is a nice way to see different heath environments. The walk follows an old road which has now been turned into a service trail. There are many wildflowers and banksia along this walk, providing great flower displays in the warmer months of the year.

Total climbing: 50m

Moderate track