View source for Royal National Park

{{Short description|Protected area in Australia}}
{{other places}}
{{use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name            = Royal National Park
| photo           = Late Afternoon at North & South Era.jpg
| photo_caption   = A view of the Era beaches on the Royal National Park Coast Track, looking south from Thelma Head{{NoteTag|This view of the southern region of the Royal National Park coastline, pictured in May 2009, depicts North Era Beach (foreground) and South Era Beach (behind North Era), with Semi-Detached Point visible as the thin stretch of land visible at the left of South Era in this image. A chain of mountains that form part of the [[Illawarra Escarpment]] can be visible in the distance behind Semi-Detached Point. Mount Mitchell is the most distant discernible feature in this image.}}
| coordinates         = {{Coord|-34.118308315902134|151.06378565443237|format=dms|type:city_region:AU-NSW|display=title}}
| photo_alt       = 
| iucn_category   = II
| iucn_ref        = 
| map             = New South Wales
| map_alt         = 
| map_width       = 200px
| relief          = 
| label           = Royal National Park
| label_position  = 
| location        = [[New South Wales]]
| established     = {{start date|1879|04|26|df=y}}<ref name=oeh/>
| area_ha         = 
| area_km2        = 150.91
| area_ref        = <ref name=oeh>{{cite web |title = Royal National Park: Park management |url = http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkManagement.aspx?id=N0030 |work=Office of Environment & Heritage |publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]] |access-date=24 May 2010 }}</ref>
| visitation_num  = 
| visitation_year = 
| visitation_ref  = 
| nearest_city    = [[Sydney]] and [[Wollongong]]
| nearest_town    =
| governing_body  = [[National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)|NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]]
| website         = {{official|1=http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/royal-national-park?gclid=CK2Vn8zWksECFdR8vQody3QASA}}
}}

The '''Royal National Park''' is a [[state park|protected]] [[national park]] that is located in the [[Sutherland Shire]] local government area in Southern [[Sydney]] and in the [[City of Wollongong]] local government area in the [[Illawarra]] region of [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]].

The {{convert|151|km2|adj=on}} national park<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnb.nsw.gov.au/place_naming/placename_search/extract?id=TRjLBKKmuj|title=Extract - Geographical Names Board of NSW|last=Wales|first=Geographical Name Board of New South|website=www.gnb.nsw.gov.au|access-date=2016-11-07}}</ref> is about {{convert|29|km}} south of the [[Sydney central business district]] near the localities of {{NSWcity|Loftus}}, {{NSWcity|Otford}} and {{NSWcity|Waterfall}}.

It was founded by [[John Robertson (premier)|Sir John Robertson]], Acting [[Premier of New South Wales]],<ref name="environment.gov.au/ahdb/place_id=105893">{{cite AHD|105893|Royal National Park and  State Conservation Area, Sir Bertram Stevens Dr, Audley, NSW, Australia|access-date=8 October 2007}}</ref> and formally proclaimed on 26 April 1879, a mere 7 years after [[Yellowstone National Park]] (1872) and 11 years before [[Yosemite National Park]] in the United States. Although Yosemite had been federally protected land since 1864, it did not become a 'National Park' until 1890.<ref>Kim Allen Scott, 2011 "Robertson’s Echo The Conservation Ethic in the Establishment of Yellowstone and Royal National Parks" Yellowstone Science 19:3</ref> It was the first national park to be declared in Australia.<ref name="fnp">{{cite web |url=https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/first-national-park |title=First national park |date=14 April 2023 |website=The National Museum of Australia |access-date=15 May 2023 }}</ref>  Its original name was just '''National Park''', but it was renamed in 1955 after [[Elizabeth II]], [[Monarchy in Australia|Queen of Australia]] passed by in the train during her 1954 tour.<ref name='cultureandrecreation.gov.au/natparks'>{{cite web|url=http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/nationalparks/|title=National parks|access-date=8 October 2007|date=31 July 2007|work=Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825184051/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/nationalparks/|archive-date=25 August 2006|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The park was added to the [[Australian National Heritage List]] in December 2006.<ref name="environment.gov.au/ahdb/place_id=105893"/>

==Features==
The park is situated in traditional lands of the [[Dharawal]], an [[Aboriginal Australian]] people.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Attenbrow|first=Val|date=2012-08-31|title=The Aboriginal Prehistory and Archaeology of Royal National Park and Environs: A Review|url=https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/index.php/LIN/article/view/6079|journal=Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales|language=en|volume=134|issn=1839-7263}}</ref> The park includes today's settlements of [[Audley, New South Wales|Audley]], [[Maianbar, New South Wales|Maianbar]] and [[Bundeena, New South Wales|Bundeena]]. 

Audley can be accessed by road from [[Loftus, New South Wales|Loftus]], [[Waterfall, New South Wales|Waterfall]] or [[Otford, New South Wales|Otford]], and there are several railway stations ([[Loftus railway station, Sydney|Loftus]], [[Engadine railway station|Engadine]], [[Heathcote railway station|Heathcote]], [[Waterfall railway station, Sydney|Waterfall]], [[Helensburgh railway station|Helensburgh]] and [[Otford railway station, New South Wales|Otford]]) on the outskirts of the park. Bundeena and Maianbar can also be accessed by road through the park or by the passenger ferry service from [[Cronulla, New South Wales|Cronulla]].

The national park once had [[Royal National Park railway station|its own dedicated railway station]], part of a branch off the [[Illawarra line|Illawarra Line]]. The branch closed in 1991, and has since been converted to a [[heritage tramway]] operated by the [[Sydney Tramway Museum]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Carrick |first=Judith |url=http://encore.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1226273__Shistory%20of%20royal%20national%20park%20carrick__Orightresult__U__X2?lang=eng&suite=cobalt |title=History of Royal National Park 1879 - 2013 |date=2014 |isbn=9780646916095 |access-date=7 November 2016 |via=Sutherland Shire Library Catalogue}}</ref>

There are numerous cycling and walking trails, barbecue areas and picnic sites throughout the park. Over {{convert|100|km}} of walking tracks take in a wide range of scenery. Cycling is allowed on some fire trails and only on specially marked tracks within the Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/mobile/RoyalNPCyclingMobile2011.pdf|title=Cycling in Royal National Park guide|publisher=New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage|access-date=7 November 2016}}</ref> The specially marked [[mountain biking]] tracks are bi-directional; care should be taken when traversing these trails. A fee of $12.00 applies when taking a car into the Park.

The most popular walk is the Coast Walk, which skirts the park's eastern edge and delivers exceptional coastal scenery. It is a 30 kilometre track, involving walking from Bundeena to Otford, or vice versa. It's recommended that walkers allow 2 days for the walk.  This walk is often done as part of [[The Duke of Edinburgh's Award]]. The Wallumarra Track (Wallumarra is an Aboriginal word for education/protect) was constructed in 1975 to meet the growing need for Environmental Education and as a supplement to the park's walking track system. The park is intensely used for environmental education by schools, TAFEs, universities and other groups.

The park has been burnt in bushfires on several occasions, most notably in 1939, [[1994 Eastern seaboard fires|1994]] and in the [[Black Christmas bushfires|2001 Black Christmas]] fires. Australian native bush naturally regenerates after bushfires and as of 2008 few signs of these fires remain visible. In times of extreme fire danger the parks service might close the park to ensure visitor safety.

There are camping sites at Bonnie Vale, North Era and Uloola Falls. These are the only places where camping is permitted within the park, and they are regulated with a booking/registration system, which requires pre-booking a site. The park charges a vehicle access fee, but is free for people on foot.<ref name='environment.nsw.gov.au/annualpass/DailyVehicleEntryFees.htm'> {{cite web
|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/annualpass/DailyVehicleEntryFees.htm
|title=Which parks charge daily vehicle entry fees? |access-date=2009-09-27
|work=NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water
|publisher=Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water }}</ref>

==Geography, flora and fauna==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2014}}
Royal National Park contains a wide variety of terrain. Roughly, landscapes in the park vary from coastal cliffs broken by beaches and small inlets to an ancient high plateau broken by extensive and deep river valleys. The river valleys drain from south to north where they run into [[Port Hacking]], the extensive but generally shallow harbor inlet which forms the northern border of the park. When looking across the park from east to west (or vice versa) the rugged folds of valley after valley fade into the distance.

The geology of the site consists mostly of the Triassic Hawkesbury Sandstone with some sections of the park having the more recent richer Wianamatta shale capping. Deep below the Hawkesbury sandstone belt lies Narrabeen Shales which is mixture of shale and sandstone under which and within which are untapped coal seams which run right through Sydney and are mined extensively where they come closer to the surface south of the National Park near Wollongong. Sections of recent alluvium fringes of estuarine watercourse where the endangered ecological communities; swamp oak woodlands and [[Lophostemon suaveolens|swamp mahogany]] woodlands grow still.

===Coastal heathland===
[[File:Wedding Cake Rock and the White Cliffs, December 2014.jpg|thumb|The majority of the park's coastline is dominated by tall cliffs, forming unique features such as [[Wedding Cake Rock]] (pictured), facading vast [[heath]]land.]]
Running the full coastal length of the park is a coastal [[Heath (habitat)|heathland]] characterised by hardy, low-growing, salt-tolerant shrubs that spread across rocky, hard terrain with very little topsoil. The coast itself is composed mostly of high cliffs reaching a height of nearly one hundred metres at the southern end. These cliffs are punctuated by a number of fine, sandy beaches open to the ocean and providing fine swimming and surfing. Several of the beaches can be reached by road, others only by several hours of [[Hiking|bush walking]]. There are a small number of rocky coves. The beaches, two of which have volunteer surf life-saving clubs and large car parks, are amongst the most visited areas of the park. These heath lands are a hotspot for many small birds that have forsaken the suburbs of Sydney such as the [[New Holland honeyeater]].

Common vegetation on the exposed heaths on the headlands and cliffside paths include [[Westringia fruticosa|Coastal rosemary]],  [[Darwinia fascicularis|darwinia]],  [[Melaleuca armillaris|bracelet honey-myrtle]],  [[Allocasuarina distyla|she-oak]],  [[Kunzea ambigua|white kunzea]],  [[Drosera spathulata|sundew]],  [[Xanthorrhoea|grass trees]],  [[Baeckea imbricata|ridged heath-myrtle]],  [[Pterostylis|snakehood orchids]], prostrate forms of  [[Banksia integrifolia|coast banksia]] and  [[Lomandra longifolia|long-leaf matrush]].

Common vegetation on top of the ancient sand dunes above the coastal path includes Silver banksia (''[[Banksia marginata]]''), scrub-oak (''[[Allocasuarina distyla]]''), silky hakea (''[[Hakea sericea]]''), and pine heath (''[[Astroloma pinifolium]]'').

Sections of rare and threatened clifftop grasslands occur along exposed and windy sites which are generally dominated by long-leaf mat-rush and kangaroo grass (''[[Themeda australis]]'').

Many heath specialist birds are present in the heaths which include [[Lewin's honeyeater]] (''Meliphaga lewinii''), [[New Holland honeyeater]] (''Phylidonyris novaehollandiae''), [[beautiful firetail]] (''Stagonopleura bella''), [[chestnut-rumped heathwren]] (''Hylacola pyrrhopygia'') and the [[southern emu-wren]].

===Littoral rainforest===
In Royal National Park, [[littoral]] [[rainforest]] (often the first type of vegetation destroyed during coastal development) has survived the ravages that occurred elsewhere during the 19th and 20th centuries. An example of this vegetation occurs in the southern stretch of the Coast Walk, often referred to as the "Palm Jungle", and includes a typical tuckeroo (''[[Cupaniopsis anacardioides]]'') forest, under grown by coastal tea tree (''[[Gaudium laevigatum|Leptospermum laevigatum]]'') and long-Leaf matrush (''[[Lomandra longifolia]]'').

===Exposed uplands===
Moving farther inland the terrain rises to a series of very rocky ridges and plateaus characterized by hardy, low-growing shrubs and very poor, rocky soil. These ridges are the remnants of an ancient, much larger plateau that has been deeply eroded into an extensive series of river valleys. This specific ridge land habitat is particularly significant for Sydney as most similar habitat was left unprotected and was subsequently destroyed to make way for cheap development which has made many species only found ridges threatened with extinction due to extreme habitat clearance/fragmentation. Soils on plateau land are often up to 2m deep and consist of on sandstone ridges: sandy podsol interspersed with pockets of clay derived. Clay Ridges and Plateaus also have deep Soils but are far rarer due to lack of representation in the park on these sites the soil is derived from Wianamatta clay and is considered rich land producing good quality forest.

===Valley sides===
[[File:Eucalyptus luehmanniana.jpg|thumb|Many species of [[Eucalyptus]], such as the ''[[Eucalyptus luehmanniana]]'', thrive in the Royal National Park.]]
On the sides of the steep river valleys that punctuate the uplands the terrain changes to exposed rock with collected pockets of soil. Although still fairly rocky, a large number of [[eucalyptus]] and other tree species are prevalent. Small streams are to be found reasonably frequently and understory plants cohabitate with the larger trees, although the terrain is still fairly open and easy to move through. Tree heights in this area reach an average maximum of about ten metres. The plant mix and geography conditions in this area are typical of much of the terrain in the coastal areas of [[New South Wales]] but with many widespread [[wiktionary:genus|genera]] having highly localized species in the Royal National Park. This sort of habitat is one of the most floristically diverse in Sydney Basin.

This environment is classed as sclerophyll open forest and is divided into "dry" and "wet" sclerophyll forest. Factors that shape this habitat are primarily bushfires, low phosphorus/nitrogen levels, intense summer heat and low water levels. Resulting in a diverse floristic assembly of flora and fauna with apparently divergent paths in similar habitats, for example scribbly gums (''[[Eucalyptus racemosa]]/[[Eucalyptus sclerophylla|sclerophylla]]/[[Eucalyptus haemastoma|haemastoma]]'') have smooth barked trees in a manner which reduces their chance of catching on fire while stringy barks (''Eucalyptus sp.'') have bark which easily catches alight clearing the way for its fire-stimulated seedlings.

[[File:The Forrest Island - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|The "Forest Island", a section of forest in the park's south mostly flanked by the [[Hacking River]]. In raised valley floors such as these, many more species of flora thrive than in other environments of the park.]]
Commonly encountered vegetation in this environments include but are not limited to; Sydney redgums (''[[Angophora costata]]''), Sydney peppermints (''[[Eucalyptus piperita]]''), Port Jackson pine (''[[Callitris rhomboidea]]''), red bloodwoods (''[[Corymbia gummifera]]''), ''[[Pomaderris]] sp.'', old man banksia (''[[Banksia serrata]]''), hairpin banksia (''[[Banksia spinulosa]]''), rock banksia (''[[Banksia oblongifolia]]''), Sydney boronia (''[[Boronia ledifolia]]''), native sarsaparilla (''[[Smilax glyciphylla]]''), violet twining pea (''[[Hardenbergia violacea]]''), dusky coral pea (''[[Kennedia rubicunda]]''), the traditional narcotic hop bush (''[[Dodonaea triquetra]]''), native pea (''[[Dillwynia sieberi]]''), sometimes dwarf apple (''[[Angophora hispida]]''), parasitic devils twine (''[[Cassytha]] sp''.), native panic (''[[Entolasia stricta]]''), ''[[Lepidosperma]] sp.'' grass, forest grass trees (''[[Xanthorrhoea arborea]]''), Sydney waratah (''[[Telopea speciosissima]]''), flannel flowers (''[[Actinotus minor]]'' as well as ''[[Actinotus helianthi]]''), blueberry ash (''[[Elaeocarpus reticulatus]]''), silky hakea (''[[Hakea sericea]]''), variable bossiaea (''[[Bossiaea heterophylla]]''), bonnet orchids (''[[Cryptostylis erecta]]''), hyacinth orchids (''[[Dipodium variegatum]]/[[Dipodium punctatum|punctatum]]/[[Dipodium roseum|roseum]]''), ''[[Pomax|Pomax umbellata]]'', native parsley (''[[Lomatia silaifolia]]''), edible native currants (''[[Leptomeria acida]]''), broad leaved geebungs (''[[Persoonia levis]]''), Sydney golden wattles (''[[Acacia longifolia]]''), gymea lilies (''[[Doryanthes excelsa]]''), various sheo-oaks (''[[Allocasuarina littoralis]]/[[Allocasuarina distyla|distyla]]/[[Allocasuarina verticillata|verticillata]]'' etc.), flax leafed wattle (''[[Acacia linifolia]]''), bracken (''[[Pteridium esculentum]]''), grey spider flower (''[[Grevillea buxifolia]]/[[Grevillea sphacelata|sphacelata]]''), red spider flower (''[[Grevillea oleoides]]''), pink spider flower (''[[Grevillea sericea]]'') and native iris (''[[Patersonia sericea]]/[[Patersonia glabrata|glabrata]]/longifolia'') to literally name a few of the hundreds of beautiful flora encountered in this diverse and widespread habitat. Even certain hybrid species may be encountered such as the common ''[[Banksia ericifolia]] x spinulosus'' or the rarer ''Angophora costata x hispida''.

Birds that frequent this habitat include [[Golden whistler]]s (''Pachycephala pectoralis''), [[yellow-tailed black cockatoo]]s (''Calyptorhynchus funereus''), [[laughing kookaburra]] (''Dacelo novaeguineae''), [[eastern whipbird]]s (''Psophodes olivaceus''), [[New Holland honeyeater]]s (''Phylidonyris novaehollandiae''), [[eastern spinebill]] (''Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris''), [[rufous whistler]]s (''Pachycephala rufiventris''), [[willie wagtail]]s (''Rhipidura leucophrys''), [[superb fairywren]]s (''Malurus cyaneus''), [[crimson rosella]]s/mountain lowry (''Platycercus elegans''), [[yellow-rumped thornbill]]s (''Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)'' and [[white-browed scrubwren]]s (''Sericornis frontalis'').

Other commonly encountered animals in this habitat include native honeybees, wallaroos (''[[Common wallaroo|Macropus robustus]]''), common echidnas (''[[Short-beaked echidna|Tachyglossus aculeatus]]'') as well as other far rarer species such as the [[koala]] (''Phascolarctos cinereus''), the [[dingo]] (''Canis lupus dingo'') or the predatory native marsupial the spotted quoll (''[[Tiger quoll|Dasyurus maculatus]] spp. maculatus'').

===Valley floors===
[[File:Waterfall Creek - panoramio (2).jpg|thumb|left|Couranga Track view of Waterfall Creek, one of many that run throughout the park]]

With rich soils and good supply of water the valley floors are cooler and more humid than any other part of the park. Large tree species such as [[Toona australis|Australian cedar]] (''Toona cilliata'' prev. ''T. australis'') and the larger [[Eucalyptus|eucalypt]] species dominate. Tree height reach 50 metres or more and a rich understory of [[fern]], [[Acacia|wattles]], and other medium-size plants proliferate. Some small areas are classified as [[Temperate rain forest|temperate rainforest]]. These areas are characterized by dense groves of very large trees including the iconic [[Ficus rubiginosa|Port Jackson fig]] (''Ficus rubiginosa'') and [[Ficus macrophylla|Moreton Bay fig]] (''Ficus macrophylla'') trees. The absence of light leads to a lack of undergrowth other than a profusion of ferns. These are among the more popular areas for visitors to the park. The park service is also very careful to protect these areas due to their general rarity in the hot, arid Australian landscape.

[[File:RNPStream.JPG|thumb|A tributary of the [[Hacking River]], beside [[Lady Carrington Drive]]]]

Impressive groves of turpentine (''[[Syncarpia glomulifera]]'') and blackbutt (''[[Eucalyptus pilularis]]'') trees may be seen growing straight up into the sky forming an open canopy with widely spaced trunks. In these characteristic areas they are generally considered open forest, they may have a grassy understory, a sclerophyll shrubbery or alternatively they may have a rainforest subcanopy or a rainforest understory with growth being densest nearest to the valley floor or permanent watercourses. In these turpentine forests often hundreds of cabbage palms (''[[Livistona australis]]'') may be seen growing in dense tall thickets which are rarely touched by fire or they may exist as young plants in open grassy spaces which are burnt regularly enough not to form visible trunks. Rainforest pockets are dominated by [[jackwood]] and [[Doryphora sassafras|sassafras]]. The lilli pilli (''[[Acmena smithii]]'') produces a fruit edible raw. Another common species is the coachwood (''[[Ceratopetalum apetalum]]'') which were used extensively from Australian rainforests to manufacture horse-drawn coaches.

Birds distinctive to these rich rainforest habitats include Topknot pigeons (''[[Lopholaimus antarcticus]]''), green catbirds (''[[Ailuroedus crassirostris]]''), rufous fantails (''[[Rhipidura rufifrons]]'') and black-faced monarchs (''[[Monarcha melanopsis]]''). Two interesting birds often encountered in dense scrub or rainforest include the flightless brush turkey (''[[Alectura lathami]]'') and the noise mimicking superb lyrebird (''[[Menura novaehollandiae]]'').

[[Platypus]] once found habitat in the Hacking River.  In May 2023, the [[Species reintroduction|species was returned]] to the national park under a relocation program jointly conducted by the [[University of New South Wales]], NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the [[World Wildlife Fund]].<ref name="prt">{{cite news |last=Roe |first=Isobel |date=14 May 2023 |title=Platypuses return to Sydney's Royal National Park after disappearing for decades |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-14/platypus-reintroduced-to-royal-national-park-sydney/102344804 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref> The platypus have been fitted with [[Wildlife radio telemetry|transmitters]], so monitoring in their new environment can continue.<ref name="prt"/>

===Riparian forest===
In a zone generally up to 10-25m away from running water grows a distinct vegetation community often containing many rare or threatened species only found along several streams in the world. Common vegetation growing in this zone include Blackbutt (''[[Eucalyptus pilularis]]''), Sydney red gum (''[[Angophora costata]]''), water gums (''[[Tristaniopsis laurina]]''), bottlebrush (''[[Melaleuca]] sp.''), tea trees (''[[Leptospermum]] sp.''), woolsia (''[[Woollsia pungens]]''), ''[[Epacris]]  sp.'', heath banksia (''[[Banksia ericifolia]]''), ''[[Pittosporum undulatum]]'', pine leafed geebungs (''[[Persoonia pinifolia]]''), willow leaved hakea (''[[Hakea salicifolia]]''), ''[[Lomandra fluviatilis]]'', [[bulrushes]] (''[[Typha orientalis]]'' / ''[[Typha domingensis|dominigensis]]''), rushes (''[[Juncus]] sp.''), reeds (''[[Phragmites australis]]'') and tree ferns (''[[Cyathea]] and [[Dicksonia]] sp.''.)

A variety of different molluscs, crustaceans, insects, fish and birds call the riparian zone their home with a variety of life living near on in the creeks of the Royal National Park. Long-finned eels (''[[Anguilla reinhardtii]]'') which migrate from oceanic spawning grounds as babies and adults mature in the creeks and streams of the Royal National Park and can often be seen in the murky depths of pools and ponds along freshwater courses such as the [[Hacking River]].

===Mangroves and salt marsh===
Mudflats exist along the shoreline of the Royal National Park which is substantial enough to sustain a simplistic system of mangrove woodlands especially along the Port Hacking Estuary with the occasional clump of stunted tree on the seaward coastline in sheltered coves. Vegetation in the mangroves consists almost exclusively of the grey mangrove (''[[Avicennia marina]] var. australasica'') growing up to 4m as well as the river mangrove (''[[Aegiceras corniculatum]]'') which is usually only found on the shoreward edge of mangrove woods or in the brackish end of the Port Hacking Estuary.

These mangroves are important nursery grounds for nearly all major angling fish including yellowfin bream (''[[Acanthopagrus australis]]''), flat-tail sea-mullet (''[[Liza argentea]]''), luderick (''[[Girella tricuspidata]]'') and sand whiting (''[[Sillago ciliata]]'') which are caught in adjoining waters as adults, mangroves also provide rich organic matter to the Port Hacking Estuary by fixing carbon into the river system through the addition of leaves into the thick rich black mud. Many crustacean and mollusc species rely on mangroves as a source of food whether by providing foraging through leaf litter, mud or direct predation of the mangrove trees and seeds. Soldier crabs (''[[Mictyris longicarpus]]''), semaphore crab (''[[Heloecius cordiformis]]''), blue swimmer crabs (''[[Portunus pelagicus]]'') and hermit crabs (''[[Pagurus sinuatus]]'') also call the mangroves home. A more casual visitor to the mangroves at high tide is the eastern sea garfish (''[[Hyporhamphus australis]]'') which scoots around just an inch from the surface and is virtually invisible unless viewed through a snorkel.

Dozens of different bird species may be seen foraging in the rich mudflats in and around mangrove flats many of these birds being threatened with extinction and protected by international agreements. Commonly seen bird species include Eastern curlews (''[[Numenius madagascariensis]]''), striated herons (''[[Butorides striatus]]''), brown honeyeaters (''[[Lichmera indistincta]]''), little egrets (''[[Egretta garzetta]]''), royal spoonbills (''[[Platalea regia]]''), white-faced grey herons (''[[Egretta novaehollandiae]]''), Australasian little bitterns (''[[Ixobrychus dubius]]''), pied oystercatchers (''[[Haematopus longirostris]]''), Australasian pelican (''[[Pelecanus conspicillatus]]''), sacred ibis (''[[Threskiornis moluccus]]''), chestnut teal (''[[Anas castanea]]'') and azure kingfishers (''[[Alcedo azurea]]'').

===Tidal rockshelves and rock pools===
{{multiple image
 | image1 = Big Marley Beach.JPG
 | width1 = x100
 | alt1   = 
 | image2 = Infinity Pools.jpg
 | width2 = 116
 | alt2   = 
 | align  = left
 | footer = Rockshelves, such as those found south of the Marley beaches (left) and the famous Figure Eight Pools (right) populate the central to southern coast of the park.
}}

A series of sandstone rockshelves and rock pools fringe the entire coastline and [[Port Hacking]] Estuary Line of the National Park broken on by small sandy beaches and gentle freshwater inlets. Some of the most commonly encountered [[molluscs]] in this habitat include black nerites (''[[Nerita atramentosa]]''), turban snails (''[[Turbo undulata]]''), zebra snails (''[[Austrocochlea porcata]]'') as well as the commercially farmed Sydney rock oyster (''[[Saccostrea glomerata]]''). One of the most common and distinctive [[seaweed]] species that grow among the rock pools and the nearshore rockshelves is Neptunes necklace (''[[Hormosira banksii]]'') a seaweed made of small buoyant fleshy bead-like structures which resemble strongly that of a necklace. Beds of the primitive sea-squirt cunjevoi (''[[Pyura stolonifera]]'') are common along coastal rockshelves which are covered by high tide and near sea spray. Considered the most beautiful and obvious of the Royal National Parks' sea anemone is the waratah anemone (''[[Actinia tenebrosa]]'') named after the waratah flower due to its corresponding flame red coloration. A common sea-star found growing in the rock pools is the biscuit sea star (''[[Tosia australis]]'').

The fatally toxic blue-lined octopus (''[[Hapalochlaena fasciata]]''), the most common of the [[blue-ringed octopus]] species in the area, can, when touched, prove to be fatal within minutes. They are nearly impossible to spot unless pointed out, and can be found in small or large rock pools. The best way to avoid stings completely is to not allow any part of one's body to enter any rock pool.
{{clear}}

==Park highlights==
[[File:Royal National Park NSW 2233, Australia - panoramio (13).jpg|thumb|The National Falls, the namesake of the nearby suburb of [[Waterfall, New South Wales|Waterfall]], as it appeared in December 2010]]
[[File:Wattamolla lagoon.jpg|thumb|[[Wattamolla]], a [[lagoon]] and beach complex popular among visitors of the Royal National Park during summer]]
[[File:Eagle Rock .jpg|thumb|The "Eagle Head" rock formation on the Coast Track, as viewed in November 2016]]

* [[Audley, New South Wales|Audley]]{{spaced endash}}a large, flat area at the base of one of the larger valleys in the park. The main road into the park from the north drops quickly from the heights to Audley, where it crosses the Hacking River on a weir before climbing up the other side of the valley to continue further into the park. Audley was developed in the late 19th century as a picnic area for Sydneysiders on a day trip. A large, heritage listed timber boathouse from that time still exists on the western bank of the weir and currently rents rowing boats and canoes to allow leisurely exploration of the upper reaches of the river. It also rents mountain bikes. A timber dance hall built in the early 20th century on the eastern bank is available for functions. Large picnic areas, grassy meadows and a café, rest rooms and a colony of hungry ducks complete the picnic picture. Audley is as popular with families today as it was in the 19th century. After a heavy rain the weir floods, closing the road and forcing the residents of Bundeena to drive an extra 30 kilometres to the southern end of the park if they wish to drive to Sydney.
* Jibbon Point{{spaced endash}}This is the southern head of Port Hacking and has fine views over the [[Sutherland, New South Wales|Sutherland]] peninsula. Aboriginal rock art sites are visible which were used as initiation sites, the name Jibbon stems from the Dharawal word for Port Hacking, "Djeebun".
*Eagle Rock{{spaced endash}}A unique rock formation near Curracarong, about halfway down the length of the park on the coast. It is a large rock outcrop that looks like an eagle's head when viewed from the side. The other remarkable feature of Curracarong are the several waterfalls which tumble over the cliffs and into the sea over one hundred metres below.
* [[Garie Beach]]{{spaced endash}}One of the most popular coastal surf beaches in the park.<ref>[http://www.gariesurfclub.com/ gariesurfclub.com]</ref>
* [[Wattamolla]] Beach{{spaced endash}}a large lagoon tucked behind the beach, which then enters the sea via an ankle-deep stream at one end of the beach. Families enjoy playing in the calm lagoon with their young children whilst adults enjoy the clean, even surf. There is substantial parking places provided but on busy summer Sundays and public holidays, it can fill up early. Wattamolla is a sheltered cove with a sandy bar at the inlet behind which lies a lagoon fed by the waters of Wattamolla Creek and Coote Creek.  Coote Creek finds its way down another valley, then as a beautiful waterfall, it rushes over a sandstone rock face into the lagoon below.<ref name=Wattamolla />
* 'Figure 8' pool south of [[Burning Palms, New South Wales|Burning Palms]]
*Werrong Beach{{spaced endash}}the only legal [[naturist]] beach in the park. It faces east towards the [[Tasman Sea]]. The hill behind the beach is covered in trees and undergrowth. Those who camp overnight can be woken at dawn by wallabies wandering around the campsite or a Ranger who might fine you for illegal camping.
* Lady Carrington Drive was one of the early roads through the park. It runs south from Audley, roughly following the Hacking River upstream from the weir for a distance of about {{convert|10|km|mi}} to its end, where it meets the main sealed road through the park (there is limited parking at the southern end). The road was a popular carriage drive in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It had long been closed to traffic and now forms one of the most popular walking and cycling tracks in the park. It is mostly flat and well formed (although unsealed) and being a former road averages {{convert|4|to|5|m}} in width. It passes through valley floor vegetation and in spring is lit up by brilliant yellow displays of wattle trees and oranges and reds of the Australian native banksia trees and waratah flowers. Many secondary schools in the [[Sutherland Shire]] area use Lady Carrington Drive for an annual sports or fundraising event where their students walk from the southern end through to Audley where a large [[barbecue]] picnic is held.
*North and South Era beaches.<ref name=eraslsc /> Camping at North Era campground overlooking North Era beach in Royal National Park is allowed. North Era's bush campsites are perfectly located for an overnight stop while walking the Coast Track.<ref name=NEC />[[Burning Palms, New South Wales|Burning Palms]] Beach - A common rest place for hikers travelling along the royal coastal walk. Surrounded by the distinctive palms the beach is known for the adjacent [https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/lookouts/figure-eight-pools 'Figure 8' rock pools].
*Winnifred Falls and South West Arm Pool – Natural formed freshwater and saltwater waterholes at the base of Winnifred Falls on South West Arm Creek.
*Royal Coastal Walk – Most popular track in the park spanning from Bundeena to Burning Palms and up to the Otford Cliffs.
[[File:Local waterhole, Royal National Park.jpg|thumb|Many waterholes such as this one are found in the many creeks throughout the park.]][[File:Werrong Beach, RNP 1920x1440.jpg|thumb|Werrong Beach, Royal National Park, New South Wales.|none]]

==Heritage listings==
Royal National Park has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
* [[Royal National Park Coastal Cabin Communities]]<ref name=nswshr-1878>{{cite NSW SHR|5054896|Royal National Park Coastal Cabin Communities|hr=01878|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref>

==Naturism==
Royal National Park offers one legally sanctioned and several unofficial [[naturism|naturist]] beaches. Werrong Beach is "the only authorised nude bathing area in the national park".<ref name='NPWS-RoyNatPark-Walk-2007-10-08' /> Informally listed places include Little Jibbon Beach, Jibbon Beach, and Ocean Beach.<ref name='gangart-freebeach-nsw' />

== See also ==
{{Portal|New South Wales|environment}}
* [[Protected areas of New South Wales]]
* [[Geography of Sydney]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name=NEC>{{Cite web |title=North Era campground |author= |work=NSW National Parks |date= |access-date=11 August 2021 |url= https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/north-era-campground |quote=}}</ref>

<ref name=Wattamolla>{{cite web|url=http://www.daytoursydney.com.au/en/home-mainmenu-1/1-day-royal-national-park-eco-tour/tour-royal-national-park-sydney/wattamolla|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317001309/http://www.daytoursydney.com.au/en/home-mainmenu-1/1-day-royal-national-park-eco-tour/tour-royal-national-park-sydney/wattamolla |archive-date=17 March 2011|title=Wattamolla |website=daytoursydney.com.au }}</ref>

<ref name=eraslsc>{{cite web|url=http://www.eraslsc.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031010607/http://www.eraslsc.com/ |archive-date=31 October 2007|title=Welcome To Era Surf Life Saving Club|website=eraslsc.com }}</ref>

<ref name='NPWS-RoyNatPark-Walk-2007-10-08'>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/parks.nsf/ParkContentByDistance/N0030?OpenDocument&ParkKey=N0030&Type=I|title=Royal National Park: Walking tracks|access-date=8 October 2007|date=19 July 2007|work=Office of Environment & Heritage|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012132319/http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/parks.nsf/ParkContentByDistance/N0030?OpenDocument&ParkKey=N0030&Type=I|archive-date=2007-10-12}}</ref>

<ref name='gangart-freebeach-nsw'>{{cite web|url=http://www.gangart.com/freebeach/beaches_nsw.shtml|title=Free Beaches in New South Wales|access-date=8 October 2007|author1=Reed, Bob |author2=Mulholland, Jo|author3=Ganglbauer, Gerald|date=24 July 2006|work=Free Beach Action NSW|publisher=Gerald Ganglbauer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030222448/http://www.gangart.com/freebeach/beaches_nsw.shtml|archive-date=2007-10-30 }}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Royal National Park}}
*{{cite web|title=Royal National Park|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/nationalparks/parkhome.aspx?id=N0030|work=Office of Environment & Heritage|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]}}
* {{cite web |url = http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/parks.nsf/parkContent/N0030?OpenDocument&ParkKey=N0030&Type=Xo |title=Royal National Park|work=[[National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)|NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]]|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820034120/http://nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/parks.nsf/parkContent/N0030?OpenDocument&ParkKey=N0030&Type=Xo|archive-date=20 August 2006|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/HackingRiver/maplg.htm|title=Hacking River catchment|format=Map|work=Office of Environment and Heritage|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]}}
* {{cite book|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/pomFinalRoyalGarawarraHeathcote.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806035944/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/pomfinalroyalgarawarraheathcote.pdf |archive-date=2008-08-06 |url-status=live|type=PDF|title=Royal National Park, Heathcote National Park and Garawarra State Recreation Area: Plan of management|work=[[National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)|NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]]|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|date=4 February 2000|isbn=0-7310-0895-2}}
* {{cite book|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/planmanagement/final/20100831RoyalPOMamendments.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110331151802/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/planmanagement/final/20100831RoyalPOMamendments.pdf |archive-date=2011-03-31 |url-status=live|type=PDF|title=Amendments to the Royal National Park, Heathcote National Park and Garawarra State Recreation Area: Plan of management 2000|work=[[National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)|NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]]|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|date=15 September 2010|isbn=978-1-74232-956-7}}
* [http://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-south/royal-national-park Visitor's Guide to the Royal National Park – sydney.com]
* [http://bundeenainfo.com/royal-national-park/ Royal National Park Photo & Video Gallery]

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{{National Parks of New South Wales}}
{{Royal National Park}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1879]]
[[Category:Australian National Heritage List]]
[[Category:1879 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Sutherland Shire]]
[[Category:Nude beaches]]