The top-rated walking trails within one hour of Sydney

Lace up your hiking boots and head to the coast.

Sydney is in its fitness era. From run clubs to pilates studios, the harbour city has stepped up its wellness game tenfold. According to AllTrails, long-distance hikes saw the strongest growth within hiking in 2025 — further proof that Sydney’s love for getting outside and staying active is stronger than ever.

Sydney boasts an incredible range of walks, but sometimes you want to explore further afield and make a day of it. For that reason, we’re sharing AllTrails top-rated day trip trails within one hour of Sydney – so you can feel like you’ve escaped, without travelling too far.

Wattamolla to Garie Beach

People enjoying swimming at Wattamolla, Royal National Park Sydney. — Wattamolla is a popular swimming destination. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Difficulty: Hard

Distance: 15.8km return (approx 5-5.5 hours)

Located in the picturesque Sydney’s Royal National Park, about 50 kilometres south of the city CBD, the Wattamolla to Garie Beach walk delivers some of the most striking coastal views in NSW. Stretching nearly 16 kilometres of the Coast Track, the trail starts at Wattamolla, a popular spot with a lagoon, beach and picnic area. The trail guides hikers along wind-swept coastlines to hidden coves and the pristine surfers’ beach, Garie Beach. The terrain is varied metal boardwalk, paved path, rocky outcrops and soft sand, so sturdy walking shoes are a must.

Curracurrang Falls

A waterfall near Curracurrang Gully — Take a refreshing dip in the natural swimmable pool.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 4.3 kilometres (Approx 1-1.5 hours)

If more laid-back hiking is your vibe, turn your attention to the lovely Curracurrang Falls trail. Also located in Sydney’s Royal National Park, this trail takes hikers on a journey from the dramatic coastline to the lush Curracurrang Gully. A quick 200-metre detour from the Curracurrang Gully reveals a delicate waterfall and natural swimmable pool amid palm forest.

Tip: Plan your hike around recent rainfall for optimal waterfall viewing.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Bouddi Coastal Walk: Little Beach to Putty Beach

Bouddi Coastal Walk, Central Coast — The boardwalk leads to a postcard-perfect stretch of sand. (Credit: Nikki To)

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 8 kilometres (Approx 2.5-3 hours)

If we were to choose our ideal hiking time, it would be around the 2.5-3 hour mark. And that’s exactly the length of the Little Beach to Putty Beach walk. This Bouddi National Park trail is located on the Central Coast, offering non-stop sparkling views of the Tasman Sea and lush bushland. Starting at the secluded Little Beach and finishing at Putty Beach, the walk’s elevated locations, such as Gerrin Point and Marie Byles Lookouts, offer fantastic views for spotting humpbacks as they migrate up the coast from May to October.

Note: The terrain includes a mix of steep stairs, inclines and potential mud.

Tessellated Pavement from Putty Beach Camping Area

A boardwalk overlooking ocean vistas in Bouddi National Park — The Tessellated Pavement from Putty Beach Camping Area is a short but spectacular walk.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 2.1 kilometres (0.5-1 hour)

It may be short, but this Bouddi National Park trail rewards walkers big time with ancient rock formations and spectacular ocean vistas. Kicking off at the Putty Beach campground, walkers are guided across sand before traversing a timber boardwalk that guides them through coastal heath and along rugged cliffs, the thrashing waters of the Tasman Sea below.

The highlight of this walk is the mosaic-like rock shelves that have formed from erosion. And don’t forget to pack your swimmers for a post-walk dip at Putt Beach.

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Palm Jungle Loop Track

Difficulty: Hard

Distance: 10.9 kilometres (0.5-1 hour)

Adventure enthusiasts looking to get their heart rate up are catered for with the Palm Jungle Loop Track. This difficult hike sits along the southern end of Sydney’s Royal National Park, beginning and ending at Garrawarra Farm Carpark. Meander through rainforest, trace rugged cliff tops and cross secluded beaches across 11 kilometres.

This track also offers access to the popular Figure 8 Pools. The rock platform and rock pools are known to be dangerous and are only accessible depending on the tide and waves, so exercise with a degree of caution.

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

The top-rated walking trails within one hour of Sydney

Lace up your hiking boots and head to the coast.

Wattamolla to Garie Beach

Curracurrang Falls

Bouddi Coastal Walk: Little Beach to Putty Beach

Tessellated Pavement from Putty Beach Camping Area

Palm Jungle Loop Track

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Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.