Garie Beach is one of our favourite beaches in Royal National Park, and in fact, all of Sydney. The huge sweep of golden sand is backed by steep headland and despite how gorgeous it is, it never feels busy. The walk from Garie Beach to Eagle Rock provides some fantastic views of the beach from the headland as well as expansive ocean views along the way.
Eagle Rock is one of the most iconic rock formations in the park and sits beside Royal National Park’s most breathtaking waterfall, Curracurrong Falls.
Here’s what to expect from the trail.
The Garie Beach Walk
The stats
Distance: 9.1km (return)
Elevation: 240m
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Type of trail: Return
The trail from Garie Beach to Eagle Rock is easy, apart from the big climb at the end of Garie Beach! That’s why we classified it as easy to moderate. We recommend allowing 2.5 - 3 hours to do the return trail, but allow more time if you want to take lots of photos at Eagle Rock.
This is a great sunset walk, so if you can, we recommend leaving two hours before sunset to watch the sun drop behind Eagle Rock and the Curracurrong Waterfall. The walk back isn’t too bad in the twilight as the majority of the trail is on boardwalk or trail that is in very good condition.
Starting the trail up Garie North Head
The trail begins at Garie Beach and you’ll head left and walk just over half the length of the beach, around 700m.
Just walking along this gorgeous stretch of sand and watching the surfers is actually one of my favourite parts of the whole walk. It really is a stunning spot.
After reaching the end of the sand you’ll start the climb up to the top of the headland. This is the only real climb of the whole walk but it is fairly steep.
Having done this trail many times in all seasons, I can definitely say that the climb feels much more intense in summer as it’s fairly exposed. If you’re walking at a cooler time of year it’s really not too bad at all.
The whole climb is roughly 800m - 100m of which is elevation gain - and is predominantly on really well formed steps. It used to be much rougher but it’s now nicely manicured.
As you climb, you’ll start to get fabulous views looking back over Garie Beach almost immediately. Once you get to the very top the view is partially obscured by the bush so make sure you get some photos along the way as you climb.
There are quite a few good spots to take photos, or simply relax on one of the rocks overlooking the beach if you’re not in a hurry.
Onto Eagle Head Rock
Once you’re at the top of the headland you’ll hop straight onto some boardwalk and this will stay with you virtually all the way to Eagle Head Rock.
It makes the walking really easy, especially as it’s almost all flat or very gradually downhill - something you only really notice on the way back!
The boardwalk is lined on both sides with fairly dense vegetation, you can see the ocean but it’s not a clear view for a little while. It’s a really peaceful section of the track and there are lots of amazing plants.
There are so many Gymea Lillies which normally have a deep pink flower, you see them in many places around Sydney, but this is probably where we’ve seen them in the biggest quantities. Unfortunately in winter there is no flower and they are quite black, which is why we didn’t take photos!
After just under 2.5km you’ll come to a creek crossing, there are tall stepping stones so crossing should never be an issue, even after heavy rain.
The views open up and it’s a good point to start keeping an eye out for whales if you’re walking between May and October. We’ve seen them several times from here.
Eagle Head Rock and Curracurrong Falls
You’re now just minutes away from one of the prettiest views of Curracurrong Falls along the trail.
You’ll see a narrow path on your right which cuts through the bush and offers an interesting perspective on the falls, although you can see Eagle Rock from here you won’t notice the eagle shape until you are a little further along the main track.
Heading back the way you came you follow the trail for a few minutes further before you reach the iconic view of Eagle Head Rock, or Turtle Head Rock depending on who you talk to!
You also get a fabulous view of Curracurrong Falls and you can get both the falls and the rock in one shot. Some people scramble down to the top of the falls from here but we’ve never done it because it looks like it could be precarious.
If you want to stand on Eagle Head Rock or get a front of view of the falls you can follow the boardwalk round, passing over another set of stepping stones and a few rocky sections before you’ll come to an unmarked but distinct path on your right. It’s around 400m to get there.
This narrow trail leads through the bush and out on to the rocky platform by Eagle Rock. It gives you a fabulous view of the falls, the sun also sets behind them which is gorgeous if you don’t mind walking back in the twilight.
This is also the place to go if you want to stand on Eagle Rock. If you want a photo, the photographer needs to be back at the previous viewpoint, around 400m away.
Be careful when standing on the rock, you don’t need to be on the tip or the edge to get a really good photo! If it’s wet or windy I’d definitely avoid.
Heading back
The walk back is generally easy, you’ll notice that the first couple of kilometres go very gently uphill before flattening out completely.
The walk down to the Garie Beach is also really straightforward now thanks to the great stairs. We tend to head out to Eagle Rock for sunset so we always walk in the twilight which is a lovely experience. If you get a clear night the stars are incredible.
All in all, it’s a fabulous walk and one of our favourites in the whole park.
Packing suggestions for the walk
Having the right gear can make a huge 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
Essential information about the Garie Beach to Eagle Rock walk
Parking for the walk
Garie Beach has quite a large car park and we’ve never had trouble parking, even on weekends.
Public transport to Garie Beach
There is no public transport to Garie Beach but you can take the train to Sutherland Station (a 40 minute train ride on the Illawarra Line - the blue one from Central Station) and then use the park shuttle service.
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).
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.
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Are you planning on a walk in Royal National Park? Have you done the Garie Beach to Eagle Rock Walk before? Let us know in the comments below!
