What was my favourite thing I did during my 3 months in Sydney? Waitressing. Just kidding. Although I do look fly in an apron, hiking to the Figure 8 Pools through the Royal National Park was an unforgettable day. Here are tips on how to prepare, what to expect, and how to get there!
At a glance:
- Length: 13 km (round trip from Otford Lookout/public transport route) OR 6 km (round trip from Garrawarra Farm Car park)
- Time: 6 hours (round trip from Otford Lookout) OR 4 hours (round trip from Garrawarra Farm car park)
- Difficulty level: Moderate
How to prepare for the Figure 8 Pools:
READ THE DAMN TIDE CHARTS AHEAD OF TIME FOR HEAVENS SAKE. I cannot stress this enough. The Figure 8 Pools are INACCESSIBLE AT HIGH TIDE. You can literally hike all the way there, and not even be able to go to the pools because the rock ledge is underwater. We couldn’t believe how many people were JUST getting to the beach as we were leaving while the tide was coming in, which could even cause you to get stuck. You can probably see the pools 1-2 hours on either side of low tide, depending on tide height and swell. It’s a good idea to check weather and wave conditions as well before you go. It might be a low tide, but if the swell is big there’s no way you’re getting anywhere near the pools.
I am here to supply you with a Tide Chart for the nearby beach, and it’s incredibly easy to read and understand.
The Hike:
The Royal National Park is the second oldest National Park in the world! (Right behind Yellowstone in the U.S.) There are a couple different starting points, depending on if you’re arriving by car or by train. I took the train so I’ll explain that trail in more detail. (At the bottom of this post I have also mentioned how to get there by car).
When you leave the train station you’re going to have to walk up a hill and get your blood pumping. Eventually this will take you to Lady Wakehurst Dr which you can cross, providing you with ocean views. Walking to the left there will be Otford Lookout and a sign to start the Royal National Park track.
The trail follows along the coast for a while, with a steep side trail that goes down to Werrong Beach (4km return track). Werrong Beach is a designated nude beach (1 of 3 in Sydney), and no swimming is allowed here due to strong currents.
Eventually the track will begin to descend and you will enter the Palm Jungle. We loved walking through here as it was our first time ever surrounded by jungle vegetation. The palm trees towered above us, and the dense canopy began to block out the sunshine as we ventured deeper. Suddenly a dinosaur appeared. Okay not really but that shit felt like it was straight out of Jurassic Park.
We spotted a lot of different types of lizards along this hike! This one is called a Jacky Dragon; it’s camouflage is pretty impressive and we almost didn’t see it.
After about an hour, you emerge from the jungle into open grasslands with the ocean back in sight. On this boardwalk trail along the cliffs, you can see the beach and rocks you will soon be walking on down below. You will also come across a sign that has an 8 scratched into it and an arrow pointing down the cliff. There might be a trail here but it is STEEP. I don’t think it’s worth the short cut, keep walking straight for just a little bit longer.
When Burning Palms Beach comes into sight, you will be glad you took the slightly longer route. This incredibly beautiful sandy beach was completely empty and we enjoyed a break before continuing over the rocks at the right end of the beach.
The rest of the walk is now mostly along a flat sandstone terrain.
There are a ton of really cool sandstone formations along the way as well!
There is one stretch you’ll have to balance over small boulder type rocks, but around that bend are the Figure 8 Pools!
You’ll know you are getting close when a ton of tide pools start appearing. Now you just have to find the one in the shape of a figure 8. Easier said than done if you’re the first ones to arrive like we were. We had the whole place to ourselves which is VERY RARE these days. Once we had left, there was a very large crowd around them, not hard to find at all.
They’re located near the base of the second headland. They’re very close to the edge near the ocean, and a large pool is right next to it. Make sure you go for a swim!
On your way back, when you reach the Palm Jungle it is more uphill and much harder. Make sure you eat lunch beforehand to get your energy back up. Hiking to the Figure 8 Pools was an epic day, I’d recommend it as the #1 thing to do while you’re in Sydney.
How to get there by train:
Some posts claim you can’t get there by public transport. Spoiler alert: THEY WRONG. Lucky for you, I got there by train and can help you go exactly where you need to.
From Central Station catch the South Coast Line to Helensburgh Station (50min). Here you will switch trains which will take you to Otford Station (7min). Walk up the stairs to leave the station and turn left after you pass the gate. You have to walk up a hill (where I already began to feel out of breath), then when you reach Station Rd you can follow the Royal National Park Coast Track signs. This will take you to the main road, Lady Wakehurst Drive. Cross the street and turn left. Walk along the road until you reach Otford Lookout and signs for the Coastal Track. (DO NOT follow Google Maps directions for getting from the station to Otford Lookout, it takes you on a much longer 30min route).
TIPS:
- Check the train times from Otford Station back to Central because it doesn’t run often and we ended up having to wait an hour.
- Go to the Figure 8 Pools on a Sunday! Public transport caps a daily limit of $2.50 on this day, so you won’t have to pay up to $15. Such an awesome deal! If you want to avoid crowds though, going on a weekday (NOT during school holidays) is your best bet.
How to get there by car:
Drive to the Garrawarra Farm Carpark (off Garie Rd) for the start of the trail (1 hour from Sydney). The road is unsealed but you don’t need 4WD. There is a $12 fee per vehicle for visiting the National Park in some car parks. You start the trail at the opposite end than those going by public transport and will miss the fantastic Palm Jungle, but this track is much shorter.
What to bring:
- LOTS of water and a lunch
- Sunscreen
- Swimsuit and towel for a refreshing dip in the pools
- Sturdy shoes (running shoes are fine)
You should also check out the National Parks website for the Figure 8 Pools Track to see if there are any alerts/closures for the trail.
Interested in more walks? Read my post about the best walks and hikes around Sydney!
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