How to Canoe in Royal National Park

Australia's Royal National Park is situated near Sydney, and was Australia's first national park according to the New South Wales (NSW) government. The park was established in 1879, and was originally called "The National Park." This region has been inhabited by indigenous aboriginal people of the Dharawal nation for thousands of years, and comprises over 15,000 hectares of land. Many outdoor enthusiasts from Sydney and across the globe visit the park every year for its beautiful scenery and recreational activities, including canoeing, around the numerous waterways within the park.

Instructions

    • 1

      Contact or stop into the park headquarters to check current river conditions prior to launch. Water conditions can change rapidly, especially after heavy rainfall. You should also obtain a map of the area which contains campground information, water routes, and canoe launch points. These are all available from the park headquarters, which is located just inside the parks entrances off of Farnell Avenue from Princes Highway if coming from Sydney, or at Mckell Avenue, coming from Waterfall.

    • 2

      Choose your canoeing destination based on what you want to see or experience. The park has canoeing and kayaking opportunities for beginners and advanced paddlers, but most of the waters are perfect for floating, and each waterway has different geological features. Popular areas are Ironbark Flat off of Kangaroo Creek, or in the Wattle Forest off of Hacking River. Cabbage Tree Basin adjacent to Bonnie Vale, and the Southwest Arm from Warambul are also choice spots recommended for solo canoeing by the NSW government website.

    • 3

      Rent, hire or join a canoe tour guide group, or bring your own canoe. For first-timers to the park, a tour is recommended and many are available through Bundeena Kayaks, Colourful Trips, and the Collaroy Centre. Each of these groups offer different kayaking and canoeing experiences in different areas of the park including self guided tours, group tours, and hired river and water guides available. Rates will vary at all locations, and in peak seasons rates may be higher.