Wattamolla Beach is a lovely beach sheltered between the cliffs and the bush of the Royal National Park. The thumb-like peninsula of sand that forms the beach faces a calm lagoon formed by Wattamolla Creek and Coote Creek on one side and a relatively sheltered bay facing the Pacific Ocean on the other. It’s accessible from Sydney and Wollongong, making it a lovely day trip destination in nature–but don’t expect to have the beach all to yourself on a hot summer’s day! Travelers typically visit independently while checking out the national park.
A waterfall on the Wattamolla Creek feeds into the lagoon–don’t jump from the waterfall into the lagoon as people have been injured doing this.
As Wattamolla Beach is inside a national park, there’s an entry fee per vehicle per day.
There are toilets, picnic tables, and barbecue facilities at the beach, but bring your own drinking water.
Wattamolla Beach is within the Royal National Park, south of Sydney and north of Wollongong. From either city, travel along Princes Highway and turn off at the access roads into the park. The Wattamolla entrance to the park is on Wattamolla Road, off Sir Bertram Stevens Drive.
The Royal National Park is open from early morning until late evening but may sometimes close at other times for safety reasons. The safest time to swim at Wattamolla Beach is in the summer (December–February) when lifeguards patrol the beach. As the main attraction of this beach is swimming and water activities, summer is the best time to visit, but bushwalking may be more comfortable in other, cooler months. The roads within the park can be bustling on weekends and public holidays during the summer.
Over 300 species of birds live within the Royal National Park, so whether you’re sticking to Wattamolla Beach or venturing deeper into the park, there’s plenty to look out for. Superb lyrebirds, satin bowerbirds, rock warblers, and crimson rosellas are some species that live in the rainforest, eucalypt forest, and coastal scrub. Introductory birding safaris can also be arranged within the park.