The Palm Jungle Loop Track is one of our favourite walks in Royal National Park. Whilst most people stick to the coastal paths, this loop track will take you through the wilds of the park, into dense jungle with hanging vines, Cabbage palms and trees with fairytale-like root buttresses. You’ll rarely see another soul and it feels like you are somewhere truly remote.
If you can’t imagine walking in Royal National Park without visiting a beach, you also get to detour to the park’s most spectacular beach, as well as the Figure of 8 Pool.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Palm Jungle Loop Track.
The Palm Jungle Loop Track
The stats
Distance: 8.2km
Elevation: 250m
Difficulty: Moderate
The Palm Jungle Loop is a moderate walk, that has some steep sections. The path is in good condition throughout, with some sections of boardwalk. It took us about 2.5 hours in total (mainly because we were enjoying the views!).
Starting the trail at Garrawarra Farm
As it’s a loop track you could walk it in either direction. We’d recommend heading clockwise though (heading down to Burning Palms Beach as opposed to the Garrawarra Ridge), so that you finish the walk on a long flat stretch of track, rather than a climb.
Heading clockwise means you’ll walk straight into a dense patch of forest, which is absolutely beautiful. With giant Cabbage tree palms and gum trees it’s got that wild feel to it from the off. It’s also wonderfully shady if you’re walking on a hot day.
It used to be a relatively rough track, with lots of rocks and tree roots but it is gradually being made over with a mix of boardwalk and stone steps.
Whilst it does take away a little from the natural feeling of the trail, it makes it quick and easy, and you won’t need to watch your feet! The track through the forest is downhill all the way.
Onto Burning Palms
After 750m you’ll leave the forest and come out to one of our favourite views in the park, of Burning Palms Beach from above. It’s my favourite beach in the whole park, and that’s saying something!
You’ll continue heading downhill, mostly on boardwalk, past the small community of people living at Burning Palms and after 1km from when you left the forest you’ll reach a path on your left down to the beach itself. It’s just a few steps down and well worth it.
This is also where you can detour to the Figure of 8 Pool, which can only be visited at low tide and low swell. We have all the details on the track between Burning Palms Beach and the pools in this post.
After the beach, head back onto the main trail and you’ll be on your way to the Palm Jungle.
Walking above the ocean
You’ll initially head into a gorgeous stretch of forest but it’s not long before you leave the bush and walk along an open stretch of grassland with a view of the coast. You can even see the rocky platform the Figure of 8 Pool is located on, as well as ahead to the Sea Cliff Bridge.
We were walking on a seriously overcast day, but nothing can diminish the beauty of this track. You’ll climb a few staircases as you go, but this part of the walk is mainly flat.
After roughly 1.5km on leaving the beach you’ll arrive at the Palm Jungle.
Into the wilds of the Palm Jungle
The Palm Jungle is one of the best stretches of track in the entire park if you’re a forest lover, like me. It’s wild and beautiful, a tropical jungle alive with the sounds of creaking palm fronds and the rolling waves beyond its borders.
You can wander through this forest, not see another soul, and feel like you’re walking through the pages of a novel. The twisting vines and gnarled tree roots always get my imagination going.
As you walk through the forest you’ll be gradually heading uphill, sometimes very gently, and sometimes a lot more steeply. Basically the entire elevation of the trail comes in these next two kilometres.
The closer you get to the top of the forest, the steeper it gets, but there are always plenty of rocks and logs to sit on if you need a break.
No matter the temperature outside, the Palm Jungle always feels really humid, which I find makes it feel more tiring than the elevation would suggest.
After 1.7km, when you’re almost at the top, you’ll come to Werrong Lookout on your left. It’s not signposted but it’s just a few steps off the trail and you can’t miss it.
You get a fabulous view down to Werrong Beach, as well as the surrounding bushland.
Just 300m later you’ll come to the end of the climb, and a signpost where you’ll want to turn right, towards Garrawarra Ridge.
Finishing the loop along Garrawarra Ridge
The last 3km back to the car park are almost entirely flat and it’s an easy finish to the walk. Whilst the best of the scenery is over, this part of the walk still has nice forest on either side of the wide stony fire trail, and there’s plenty of birdlife.
It’s also a really relaxing way to end the track, there are no turns to make, or need to watch your footing, so you can just enjoy the sights and sounds of the bush, which I find quite meditative.
All in all, this is a fabulous track which allows you to see some of the park’s best features in one moderate loop track.
Essential information about the Palm Jungle Loop
Royal National Park entrance fee
If you’re arriving by car you’ll need to pay the $12 vehicle entry fee. That will either be collected at the booth on the road into the park, or there’s a ticket station at the car park. If you plan on visiting several NSW parks in a year, you will be better off buying the $65 annual park pass, which covers all the NSW parks except for Kosciuszko.
If you don’t want to pay the fee, you can also start this trail from Otford Lookout, which has no parking fee. It does add on 4.4km though.
The access road and parking
The last few kilometres to the car park are on dirt road, there are quite a few potholes, but it is still very doable in a 2WD. The car park is large, but can get busy as it’s the closest point to access the wild popular Figure of 8 Pool.
Packing suggestions for the Palm Jungle Loop
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
Bushman Spray: Good for keeping off the mozzies and any other bugs. Check it out on Amazon.
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
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Thanks for your support.
