I have wanted to do the Royal National Park Coast Track for years. It’s a track that follows the coast from Bundeena to Otford just south of Sydney. Kahlia needed to break in her new boots and we both needed some exercise before the Overland Track at the end of the month so off we went.

The walk is amazingly beautiful. The best hike we have ever done, with how easy it is to get to it’s criminal we haven’t done till now. The track meanders through little coves and beautiful beaches to exposed cliff tops looking out over the surf.

The walk even throws in some history in the form of little shacks dotting the first half of the walk. Reminders of the depression and the exodus that ensued from the cities to for sustainable land surrounding. The signs tell us that a farmer who owned the land allowed out of work families to come and setup a home there, fishing, rabbitting and farming vegetables to survive. The farmer eventually donated the land to the crown on the condition the families could stay.

We chose to do it in the traditional two days (as there is only one allowed campsite advertised). This means one day of 8km and one day of 18km. We can’t get up early enough to get there and do 18km in one day so we started with the short day first. The first day was lovely and short with only 3 hours walking required. The day still took it’s toll on Kahlia’s feet and the second day started out with a few blisters for her.

The second day we had to cover 18km. We got up late as usual and left at around 10am. We had to be on the last ferry by 6:30pm. At 2pm we reached the halfway point, Wattamolla. Wattamolla is an amazing cove, with snorkelling and fishing a plenty in it’s calm waters. An isthmus of sand separates the ocean from a fresh water (well brackish) lagoon filled from a cascading waterfall. For better or for worse it is also car accessible. A highly recommended day picnic spot an hour from Sydney.

I digress. Kahlia had been hobbled by her new boots. They hadn’t taken kindly to being broken in and were retaliating. So upon reaching this tranquil haven and finding out that camping is now allowed here for weary Coast walkers (with permits) and knowing that we were not going to have much time at Wattamolla if we were to make the ferry. We decided to stay an extra night, one of the luxuries of not having anywhere to be. The downside was we only had some hot chocolate and a lunch left. So we skipped lunch in favour of dinner and had hot chocolate and lollies for breakfast.

We finally made it to the Ferry by 1pm. A lovely trip across the Hacking River in the afternoon sun and a gorging of takeaway food in Cronulla prepared us for our train road home. Hopefully this walk will aid our preparation for the Overland Track.