This return walk starts from the old Garawarra Farm car park and heads down the ridge through the Royal National Park, to the coast. The walk then follows the coast, through Burning Palms beach, and around the base of the headland to the famous Figure Eight Pools. This walk explores 4 distinct environments and gives a great cross section of what the park has to offer. The Figure Eight pools are on an ocean rock platform. Rock platforms can be very dangerous places, especially at high tide and during high seas. Only plan to visit the rock platform at low tide and low seas (see BOM website for forecast). Please also wear appropriate footwear for the walk and rock platforms. Let us begin by acknowledging the Dharawal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Near the top of Era spur. | Photo by admin, 2008.the locals. | Photo by admin, 2008.small falls. | Photo by admin, 2008.open forest. | Photo by admin, 2007.The Burgh Ridge Track as it goes away from the coast. | Photo by admin, 2007.looking down on Burning Palms beach. | Photo by admin, 2008.walkway. | Photo by admin, 2008.looking through to Burning Palms beach. | Photo by admin, 2008.light shining through fern. | Photo by admin, 2008.path up from beach. | Photo by adminCoastal Walk. | Photo by adminwaves hitting the rocks. | Photo by admin, 2008.A view along the coast from Figure of 8 Pools Track. | Photo by adminrock pools. | Photo by admin, 2008.the figure eight pools. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)
Directions
From Sir Bertram Stevens Drive
Turn on to Garie Road then drive for 65 m
Turn sharp right onto Garrawarra Farm Road and drive for another 1.5 km
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started From the Garawarra Farm car park, this walk heads east out of the car park to turn right onto the main dirt road (that leads into the car park). A short distance down the road this walk comes to an intersection just beyond the locked gate marked with a 'Coast Walk' and a 'Garawarra Ridge Management Trail' signpost.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
Find the Garrawarra Farm Carpark at the start.
After another 20 m turn right.
Then find the "Garawarra Farm" (70 m on your left).
Garawarra Farm
Garawarra Farm
Garawarra Farm is a clearing in the southern section of Royal National Park near the intersection of the Squeeze Way and Burgh Ridge track. This area was initially protected in 1934, when it and the surrounding area was turned into the Garawarra Park. This protection occurred after much lobbing from Myles Dunphy and the Mountain trails club, following their concerns of the impact been caused from logging and grazing in the area. This area and much more was re-named to Royal National Park in 1954 following the first visit of Queen Elizabeth II. The old farmhouse is now used by NPWS and is not open to the public. There is a large public carpark that are popular for people walking in the area.
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Garawarra Farm is a clearing in the southern section of Royal National Park near the intersection of the Squeeze Way and Burgh Ridge track. This area was initially protected in 1934, when it and the surrounding area was turned into the Garawarra Park. This protection occurred after much lobbing from Myles Dunphy and the Mountain trails club, following their concerns of the impact been caused from logging and grazing in the area. This area and much more was re-named to Royal National Park in 1954 following the first visit of Queen Elizabeth II. The old farmhouse is now used by NPWS and is not open to the public. There is a large public carpark that are popular for people walking in the area.
After another 25 m head through/around the gate.
After another 1 m turn sharp left.
After another 280 m continue straight.
After another 680 m come to the viewpoint.
After another 130 m turn right.
After another 15 m pass the "Figure 8 Pools" (on your right).
After another 6 m come to the viewpoint.
After another 185 m veer right.
After another 15 m pass the "Burgh Ridge" (on your left).
After another 10 m head down the earthen steps (about 140 m long)
After another 75 m cross the bridge (about 15 m long)
After another 75 m continue straight.
After another 115 m find the "Burning Palms" (85 m on your left).
Burning Palms
Burning Palms
The Burning Palms beach and community is in the Royal National park about 4.5km northeast of Otford. The yellow sand 450m long beach has two rock shelves at each end. The beach is patrol ed on Sundays and public holidays October to April and some Saturdays. There are no other facilities at the beach. There are a number of cottages dotted over the hills behind the beach. The rock self on the southern end of the beach has some interesting sinkholes through out with a few joining up to form the well known Figure eight pools.
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The Burning Palms beach and community is in the Royal National park about 4.5km northeast of Otford. The yellow sand 450m long beach has two rock shelves at each end. The beach is patrol ed on Sundays and public holidays October to April and some Saturdays. There are no other facilities at the beach. There are a number of cottages dotted over the hills behind the beach. The rock self on the southern end of the beach has some interesting sinkholes through out with a few joining up to form the well known Figure eight pools.
Turn left.
After another 325 m turn left.
After another 40 m pass the toilet (110 m on your right).
(Figure of Eight Pools) Continue another 910 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 3.1 km to get back to the start.
About 30 m past the end is "Figure Eight Pools".
Figure Eight Pools
Figure Eight Pools
The Figure Eight Pools are on the rock shelf, south of Figure Eight Pools gully, near Burning Palms. There are a number of circular sinkholes in the rock, and a few of them have joined over time to form a figure '8' shape. Two sink holes in particular have joined to form a very spectacular figure '8' shape in the rock. The safest time to visit the pools is at low tide when there is only a very low swell in the ocean.
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The Figure Eight Pools are on the rock shelf, south of Figure Eight Pools gully, near Burning Palms. There are a number of circular sinkholes in the rock, and a few of them have joined over time to form a figure '8' shape. Two sink holes in particular have joined to form a very spectacular figure '8' shape in the rock. The safest time to visit the pools is at low tide when there is only a very low swell in the ocean.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities
Garawarra Farm carpark to Figure Eight Pools
Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length
6.1 km
Time
2 h 15 min to 3 h 15 min
Quality of track
Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage
Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Bushwalk
2 h 15 min to 3 h 15 min
Toilet: There is one 2.2 km from the start.
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Find the Garrawarra Farm Carpark at the start.
Then find the "Garawarra Farm" (70 m on your left).
After another 25 m head through/around the gate.
After another 680 m come to the viewpoint.
After another 15 m pass the "Figure 8 Pools" (on your right).
After another 10 m head down the earthen steps (about 140 m long)
After another 75 m cross the bridge (about 15 m long)
