Picnic area · Royal National Park
A shady picnic lawn beside sheltered water for swims and paddles.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Royal Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Royal National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this place
Bonnie Vale Riverbank and Picnic Area“Bonnie Vale is coming up, with a sandy spit and sheltered water for a relaxed swim or paddle. I'd choose the shady picnic lawn if you want a waterside break without a long walk.”
Plays as you drive up to Bonnie Vale Picnic Area in the Parkwolf Royal Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Bonnie Vale Picnic Area is a day-use picnic lawn beside Cabbage Tree Basin near Bundeena. Shallow, sheltered water and easy shore access suit a relaxed swim or paddle, with a broad grassy area under trees for lunch. The basin is also part of Port Hacking, so you can make a short stop of it or settle in for a longer picnic.
There are shaded picnic tables, free gas and electric barbecues, drinking water and flush toilets. There is no food outlet at the picnic area; bring a meal or stop at a cafe in Bundeena. Kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards can be hired in town.
The approach roads are sealed and suitable for two-wheel drive. Parking demand can exceed the available spaces, so carpool or consider taking the ferry from Cronulla to Bundeena and walking about 15 minutes from the wharf. Swimming is unpatrolled, even though the basin is sheltered.
Wildlife
56 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
68 sightingsWhite-bellied Sea-EagleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
12 sightingsKoalaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
33 sightingsJavan RusaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
69 sightingsShort-beaked EchidnaMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
11 sightingsRed FoxMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Royal. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyBonnie Vale to Maianbar Walk1.5 km · 30 min · 0.5 km awayA quick creek crossing and bush climb to Maianbar.
EasyJibbon Loop Track5.2 km · 2 hr · 0.9 km awayA sandy beach, Dharawal engravings and a rugged headland in one loop.
ChallengingGreat South Coast Walk Stage 01: Bundeena to Wollongong63 km · 20 hr · 0.9 km awayThree days from sandstone cliffs to the Wollongong waterfront.
ModerateBundeena to Jibbon Head Circuit7.5 km · 2.5 hr · 1 km awayBeach, headland engravings and a quieter sandy return in one circuit.
EasyJibbon Head Engravings Walk2.6 km · 1.3 hr · 1.7 km awayA beach walk to a whale carved in Dharawal sandstone.
ModerateRed Jacks Point Walk2.1 km · 45 min · 1.8 km awayStone ruins and small islets reward a short bush walk.
ModerateWedding Cake Rock Track5.6 km · 2.5 hr · 1.8 km awayCoastal walk to a fragile rock, viewed safely from behind the fence.
ModerateBundeena to Marley Beaches10.6 km · 3.5 hr · 1.8 km awayTwo remote beaches after a cliff-top walk through coastal heath.
Campground · 0.5 km awayBonnie Vale CampgroundCamp beside a sandy spit with sheltered water right out front.
Beach · 0.7 km awayHorderns BeachBundeena's sandy waterfront, steps from the ferry and village.
Sight · 0.9 km awayBundeena WharfA ferry landing for Jibbon walks and Dharawal rock engravings.
Beach · 1.3 km awayGunyah BeachA Bundeena beach of sand pockets and rocky shelves.
Beach · 2 km awayJibbon BeachAn 800-metre crescent, with a Dharawal cultural site beyond.
Sight · 2.5 km awayJibbon Rock EngravingsA beach-and-bush walk ends at a protected Dharawal engraving site.
Beach · 2.7 km awayShelley BeachA quiet cove of sand and rock pools off Jibbon Head.Sight · 3.2 km awayWedding Cake RockA fragile white landmark reached along a rugged coastal walk.Parkwolf’s Royal ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
