COAST WALK - Bundeena & Marley Beach loop, Royal National Park - 10km easy-mod

This awesome adventure-in-a-day has some of the most stunning coastal scenery in Sydney, it follows a beautiful well-formed track, and is very do-able at 10km length. You can either drive, or catch the ferry from Cronulla station, to our start/finish point in the idyllic coastal village of Bundeena. Then let's spend the day traversing the coastal heath of the Royal National Park, crossing secret deer trails and dramatic rock platforms, lunch at a stunning beach, wander big sand dunes and crashing sapphire-coloured surf beaches, and follow the epic sea cliffs of the iconic Coast Track to loop us back to our origin in Bundeena.

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THE PLAN
If you arrive well before the start time of 10am Bundeena has nice cafes and a supermarket for breakfast, coffee and supplies.

We will do a car shuffle for this walk: everyone, whether arrived by car or ferry, will gather at Bundeena village in the car park of Bundeena Reserve (corner of Brighton St and Loftus St) for the start at 10am sharp. Then we will use the cars available to drive everyone 4km up Bundeena Drive to the start of our bush trail.

Lunch stop is half way along the track at beautiful Marley Beach, plus mid-afternoon break up on the sea cliffs.

The end of the walk brings us back to our origin in Bundeena village and the ferry wharf if you are taking public transport home. For the car drivers, the organiser will have a car there and transport you 4km back to the trail head on Bundeena Drive to retrieve your cars and head home from there.

Depending on how fast the group walks the 10km route, we will aim to be at the end point by 4.30pm, for the 5pm ferry departure. Next ferry is 6pm.

If you like, stay after the walk to join us for excellent pizza and drinks on the beach ... the perfect way to end the weekend :-)

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IS THIS WALK RIGHT FOR ME?
This 10km walk is graded EASY TO MODERATE.

• It is within the abilities of beginner walkers if you have done a couple of walks of 5 - 7km length before.
• The route is not technical - a mix of flattish dirt tracks, a bit of soft-sand beach walking, a lot of flattish board walks and smooth rocky cliff paths, and two short steep sections of stairs as we cross two gullies.
• You will be tired by the end, but the pace will be relaxed, we will stop for a substantial lunch break at Marley Beach, plus take as many breathers as you like to enjoy the scenery along the way.

There are NO outpoints part way through the route - once you start, you must walk all the way to the end.

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TRANSPORT

By car:

• Bundeena is 56km south of Sydney CBD, so allow well over 1 hour in case of traffic. Drive via the Princes Highway to Loftus, then Farnell Ave, Audley Rd, Sir Bertram Stevens Drive, and Bundeena Drive to get to Bundeena village.
• There is free parking at our Bundeena Reserve meeting point and in the surrounding streets in Bundeena village.
• Bundeena can get busy on warm days, so arrive 20-30 minutes early to find a parking spot.

By train and ferry:

• Head by train to Cronulla station (take the T4 line from Central station platform 25 at 7.52am, via Wolli Creek, Hurstville and Sutherland, arriving at Cronulla station at 8.44am. See the trip planner at www.transportnsw.info for all connections and times).
• As you exit Cronulla station onto Cronulla St, turn left and walk 100 metres, turn left again into the subway tunnel (sign post points to the ferry wharf), turn left again as you exit the subway onto Tonkin St, walk 100 metres along Tonkin St beside the park, and turn right at the big sign and walk down the driveway to the ferry wharf.
• The Bundeena ferry departs at 9.30am - be there at least 20 minutes early to ensure that you get a seat on that departure. Tickets are $9.10 each way - pay by card or cash. Opal cards are NOT accepted. Arrives at Bundeena wharf about 9.50am. Walk 100 metres from the wharf to the group meeting point in Bundeena Reserve.

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GRATUITY
Please contribute $15 cash on the day to help cover the substantial costs of organising and running the group's events.

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BRING
• opal card for public transport,
• cash/credit card for ferry ticket
• lunch, snacks (there are no shops along the way)
• water (at least 2 litres, there are no refills along the way)
• hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent
• a warm jacket (it may be windy along the ocean cliffs, and cool on the ferry home in the afternoon)
• sturdy walking shoes
• beach towel to sit on
• swimmers if you fancy a dip in the surf at Marley Beach.

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DISCLAIMER:
By your RSVP to this event you agree to the conditions of membership and participation which you can read in the WHAT WE'RE ABOUT section HERE.