Sight · Royal National Park
A small cascade and freshwater pool along the Marley walk.
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
Bundeena Drive Walk to Little Marley“Ahead is the Bundeena Drive start for the walk to Little Marley Beach, through heath and past Deer Pool. Allow three to four hours for nearly eight kilometres return, with plenty of steps and short, steep hills.”
Plays as you drive up to Deer Pool 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
Deer Pool is a natural freshwater pool and small cascade on Marley Creek, just off the Bundeena Drive to Marley track. It makes a worthwhile swimming stop if you're already up for a walk: a pool-only out-and-back is about 4 km from the Bundeena Drive car park, while the full walk to Little Marley Beach is about 7.8 km return. The last descent to the water is unmarked, so keep an eye out as you approach the creek.
The main track is formed but has steps, short steep hills and other obstacles; some bushwalking experience is recommended. The final descent leaves the marked route. Weekend parking at Bundeena Drive can be limited, and no food or drinking water is available at the pool, so carry your own water.
A low rock ledge feeds a short cascade into the pool, with a small sandy edge, ferns and rock formations around the water. It stays shallow in places but reaches shoulder depth elsewhere, so check before you wade or swim. For a photo, frame the falling water with the pool in the foreground and the leafy banks around it.
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
ModerateDeer Pools Walk4 km · 1.5 hr · 1.7 km awayA short heath walk to a shaded cascade and rock pool
ModerateBundeena Drive to Marley walk7.8 km · 3.5 hr · 1.7 km awayHeath and creek pools make the coastal walk feel like two hikes.
ModerateWattamolla to Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls8.5 km · 3.5 hr · 2.8 km awayA coastal walk to falls that drop straight into the sea.
ModerateWattamolla to Big Marley Beach Loop10.4 km · 4 hr · 2.8 km awayA boardwalk and sandstone coast walk to two wild beaches.
EasyProvidential Point Walk1.7 km · 45 min · 2.8 km awayA short coastal walk to a fenced lookout above the surf.
ModerateWattamolla Dam Walk1.7 km · 45 min · 2.8 km awayA short bush walk to a quiet creek pool above the lagoon.
ChallengingWattamolla to Garie Beach16 km · 7 hr · 2.8 km awayA hard 16 km return to Garie Beach, via Eagle Rock.
EasyCurracurrang Falls Walk3.5 km · 1.5 hr · 2.9 km awayA short coastal walk to a rough, creekside waterfall pool.
Beach · 1 km awayLittle Marley BeachA quiet beach that takes a real walk to reach.
Beach · 1.4 km awayMarley BeachWalk in for the beach, then explore the broad dune field.
Sight · 2.2 km awayWattamolla DamA short Coast Track detour reaches a sheltered creek swimming hole.
Sight · 2.4 km awayWedding Cake RockA fragile white landmark reached along a rugged coastal walk.
Beach · 2.7 km awayWattamolla Beach and Picnic AreaA waterfall, calm lagoon, and surf beach share one cove.
Sight · 2.7 km awayWattamolla FallsA high lagoon view of a waterfall that changes with rain.
Sight · 2.8 km awayProvidential Point LookoutLayered cliffs and Pacific surf make the short walk pay off.
Campground · 3.6 km awayBonnie Vale CampgroundCamp beside a sandy spit with sheltered water right out front.Parkwolf’s Royal ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
