Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park, NSW

This section of the Royal National Park Coast Track passes by the famous Eagle Rock, and you can continue to Garie North Head for elevated views down the coast.

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park

Most sections of the classic Royal National Park Coast Track can be visited as day walk circuits, however the section between Wattamolla and Eagle Rock cannot. We did this and continued on to Garie North Head for great views down the coast, then returned back along the Coast Track to Wattamolla. On this occasion the highlight for me was the novelty of seeing this area after substantial fire damage. The colours were intense blacks, blues, oranges, whites, browns, greys, pinks and greens, and we could see rocks and topography usually hidden by vegetation cover.

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
Eagle Rock at midway to our turnaround point.

Eagle Rock was midway to our turnaround point, but if you want a shorter walk then you can turnaround there after you’ve got your obligatory photo of the rock. You won’t really need track notes because the Coast Track is a major route, but you can start at Wattamolla, possibly turnaround at Eagle Rock, or continue on to Garie North Head. There’s also a kiosk at Garie Beach, so you might drop down to the beach to get an ice cream (check if it’s open). Garie Beach is patrolled in the summer months so you can have a swim too.

Wattamolla to Garie North Head: The Scenery

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
Curracurrang, near the start.

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
Curracurrang
Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
A burnt Banksia.

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
Love the contrasting colours.

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
A close up of Eagle Rock (or Eaglehead Rock).

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
These machines used in track construction got caught in the bushfire.
Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
Approaching North Garie Head. The bush fire damage seemed to stop about here.
Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
The view from North Garie Head.
Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
More intense colours.

And these pictures as we walked back to Wattamolla…

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
A funny looking grass tree.
Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
You know its windy when the waterfalls fall upwards. This water would usually fall into the sea.
Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
Looking very burnt.

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
Liked these pinks and oranges.

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park

And a shot from the drive out…

Wattamolla to Garie North Head, Royal National Park
An Australasian Darter sunning itself near the weir at Audley. We often visit Audley for coffee on the drive out of the national park.

Author: Edward Hathway

I'm a clinical psychologist and keen hiker.

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