Palona Cave Walk - a trail of hidden gems

If you love to feel like you’ve gone a little off the beaten track, the Palona Cave trail in Royal National Park is for you. This short and easy bush walk treats you to some fabulous rainforest, a large cave and even a gorgeous waterfall.

We didn’t see anyone else on this walk and it felt really peaceful, we even spotted a wallaby right in the middle of the day!

Here’s what to expect from the Palona Cave track, one of our favourite forest walks in the park.

The Palona Cave Trail in Royal National Park

Palona Cave Walk

The stats

Distance: 5.3km
Elevation:
129m
Difficulty:
Easy
Type of trail:
Return

The Palona Cave Walk is one of the easier trails in Royal National Park and shouldn’t take much longer than 1.5 - 2 hours to complete as a round trip. The majority of the trail is flat, however the path undulates in places and gets rough for the final 800m.

Starting the trail on Lady Carrington Drive

The walk begins at the most beautiful end of Lady Carrington Drive and the moment you set foot on the trail you are surrounded by rainforest.

It’s not one of those tracks where the rainforest closes in around you, as the path is actually quite wide and open but that doesn’t make it any less spectacular. It’s also open to cyclists but I’ve never seen any on this part of the trail before.

It has a wonderfully peaceful feel to it from the very beginning and staring up at the huge dense clusters of Cabbage tree palms and mossy boulders always leaves me in awe.

The Cabbage Tree Palms on Lady Carrington Drive

The dirt path is in excellent condition and is smooth enough that you never need to be looking down at your feet, which is something I always appreciate.

The track takes you gradually downhill before flattening out and it’s all very leisurely.

The creek on the foreest trail

The junction with the Forest Path

After 750m you’ll reach a junction with the Forest Path. If you haven’t walked this track, and you have time to spare for an additional 4.5km, we highly recommend adding it on.

The Forest Path is one of my favourite walks in the park, and takes you through a truly spectacular rainforest.

Walking on Lady Carrington Drive past the Forest Path

Unlike Lady Carrington Drive, the forest on this path does close in around you, and it feels like you’ve entered another world.

It’s also an easy track which you can walk in just an hour, but you’ll probably want a little longer to soak it all up.

If you love forests I personally think it’s the most magical area in the whole of Royal National Park.

The rainforest on Lady Carrington Drive

If you are going to add it on to the Palona Cave walk, it’s better to do so on the way back, as the Forest Path finishes in the same place you will have already parked your car.

If you do it first, you’ll end up walking the first 750m of Lady Carrington Drive again (not that that’s exactly a hardship!). If that’s confusing, check the map at the top!

Walking the Palona Cave Trail in Royal National Park

Onto Palona Cave

From the junction with the Forest Path you continue on straight for just over a kilometre. The track to Palona Cave is on your right hand side at the 1.8km mark.

It could be easy to miss if you weren’t looking for it, but there is a sign saying ‘limestone cave’. It’s facing in the opposite direction to the way you’re walking though!

The sign for the turn off

The track immediately narrows and begins heading uphill. I felt a little disappointed at first because I didn’t think the scenery was as beautiful as Lady Carrington Drive, feeling a bit more like regular bush than rainforest, but it did get prettier as it went along. It also had it’s fair share of huge plants which sometimes took over the trail, which I loved!

The Palona Cave Trail

It’s a rougher part of the walk, with some rocks and the odd tree root. There’s nothing difficult, but it’s not 100% smooth sailing.

After a short time you’ll come out at an area with lots of rocky outcrops. This is when it really feels like you are going to come out at a cave, and also where to start looking out for wallabies.

The Palona Cave Trail Rocky Headlands

We saw one bounding up the rocks and it was amazing to watch how effortlessly it covered the tricky terrain!


Arriving at the cave and the waterfall

You’ll arrive at Palona Cave 800m after the turn off from Lady Carrington Drive.

The cave was much bigger than I was expecting, and as you walk through it you’ll see it’s even bigger than it looks when you first see it.

Arriving at Palona Cave

There are stalactites and stalagmites and it’s an interesting spot to explore. Sadly some people have graffitied parts of it which is a real shame.

Just beyond the cave you’ll see a pretty waterfall which we had no idea existed before we saw it! As with all waterfalls in Royal National Park, it will require decent rainfall to be at its best.

Some falls in the park do dry up entirely after long dry spells and this could be one of them, so if you’re particularly keen to see it, head there after a wet period.

The waterfall at the Palona Cave Trail

There’s a large log which rests up alongside the falls and makes the perfect place to sit and relax and take in what feels like a little hidden gem within the park.

Palnoa Falls in Royal National Park

Heading back

You’ll head back the way you came. The first 800m along the narrow bush track is easier than on the way in, as you’ll be heading gradually downhill.

You’ll then hit a long flat section on Lady Carrington Drive before you begin heading uphill to the car park.

Hiking back on the Lady Carrington Drive Trail

All in all this was a fab little hike in a part of the park that we’ve fallen in love with and definitely one to head for when you feel like a fairly relaxing walk.

The end of the Palona Cave Walk

Essential information about the Palona Cave walk

Where to park

Make sure you start the walk at the right end of Lady Carrington Drive or you’re going to be in for a very long hike! It’s the end that you would begin the Forest Path at and you can find the exact spot by clicking here.

If you don’t have a car you can use the park shuttle service from Sutherland Train Station to reach the trailhead. Fares are in addition to your train fare.

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.

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 them 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 out on Amazon.

  • Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check them out on Amazon


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If you’re looking to walk one of the lesser known trails in Royal National Park, the Palona Cave track is a great choice. As well as walking through some gorgeous rainforest, you’ll also visit a large cave and hidden waterfall. We’re sharing everyth…
 

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What’s your favourite walk in Royal National Park? Have you explored away from the coast yet? Let us know in the comments below!


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