Who knew that one of the best walks in Royal National Park is not by the coast, but in the forest with no big views whatsoever?! Hear us out because this walk blew us away. I mean truly, we tacked it on to the end of our day in the park with no real expectations whatsoever. Isn’t it always extra special when that happens?!
The forest is absolutely beautiful, with huge swathes that feel like wild and unruly rainforest. It’s packed with incredible plants and trees that sometimes drape across the trail in front of you. It’s also an easy walk which is suitable for the whole family.
Here’s what to expect from one of the oldest trails in the park.
The Forest Path
The stats
Distance: 4.4km
Elevation: 86m
Difficulty: Easy
Type of trail: Loop
Starting the trail
The walk begins on a wide and stony path on Lady Carrington Drive which is lined on both sides with tall trees and thousands of ferns. The amount of bird life along this section of track was staggering, and the cacophony of sounds made it feel like we were strolling into Jurassic Park.
Lady Carrington Drive
The trail is mainly flat or gradually descending and it’s in great condition so you can truly relax and take in your surroundings without having to watch your step.
The occasional hanging vines and huge mossy boulders give you an indicator of what’s to come when you leave Lady Carrington Drive.
After 900m you come to the turn off and head left into the rainforest. Incidentally, at several points along the trail it said you had 4.5km to go which confused us, but we measured the track with our watch and it’s definitely only 4.5km total so ignore the signposts!
Into the rainforest
This is when it goes from very pretty to magical. Less light can enter the forest and the atmosphere completely changes. It was such a ‘wow’ feeling that I was worried that we hadn’t enough light left to do the trail justice.
Luckily we just made it through, but it didn’t really matter because I know we’ll be back! The path narrows and the trees close in around you, there are lots more hanging vines and you can hear the sound of the creek in the distance.
The path continues to be flat and easy, with the occasional short staircase but never anything which feels like a climb. There are also strategically placed benches throughout the trail which are good if you want a break or simply to sit and soak up the sights and sounds of the rainforest.
The further you go along the track the more dense the forest becomes with vines hanging across the path or plants whose leaves have branched out so far they meet in the middle of the track.
There are sections where it feels more open and you get glimpses of the creek but for the most part it’s full jungle vibes. We were also lucky enough to see a Lyrebird run across the path which is always a treat!
It’s hard to write as much detail as I’d love to about this walk because I have no idea what the majority of plants are, I know there are hundreds of Cabbage tree palms and ferns but the rest were a mysterious bunch! I need to do a little swatting up before I visit again.
Finishing the loop
Around 700m before the end of the trail you’ll come to a point where you can turn right to make a longer walk on the Couranga Track to Waterfall, but if you do that and then return to finish the loop it will be a significantly longer walk (we worked out it adds on around 10km. If you’ve taken the shuttle to the start of the Forest Path, you could make the walk a one way track and go back to the city from Waterfall Station, in which case the Couranga Trail adds on about 5km).
If you’re sticking to the Forest Path you will continue on straight and from here the forest thins out a bit. It’s still spectacular but not quite as magical as the the walk up to now.
Having said that it’s still a beautiful end to the trail and we were already discussing coming back and doing it again as a longer version in conjunction with the Couranga Track.
We hope this has convinced you to give a non coastal walk at Royal National Park a go! You might just find it’s one of the best walks in Sydney!
Essential information about the Forest Path
There can be leeches!
We visited after four days of heavy rain and we didn’t see or experience a single leech, thank goodness! We have heard that when people walked the track when it was actually raining at the time that you may pick up a hitchhiker or three! Bring bug spray - if that works? Can you deter leeches?!
Where to park
Luckily the parking for the Forest Path is marked on Google Maps and pretty easy to see from the side of the road. You can find the exact spot by clicking here.
Royal National Park entrance fee
Unless you have arrived by public transport you will need to pay the $12 vehicle entry fee. You will pass through a pay booth and assuming it’s manned you can pay the fee there. If you are planning to visit several parks in a year it may be better value to buy the $65 NSW parks pass which includes all parks except Kosciuszko.
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
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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What’s your favourite rainforest walk near Sydney? Have you done the Forest Path? Let us know in the comments below!
