Parking
Start at the visitor parking beside the Royal National Park Visitor Centre at Ironbark Flat, Audley. Currawong Flat has a separate car park along the return route. Vehicle entry to the park is charged; parking capacity was not found.
Overview
About Robertson's Roundabout Walk
Why go
- A quick climb to a distinctive Hacking River lookout
- Currawong Flat picnic facilities and an Audley cafe are close by
Heads up
- Steep, rocky footing packed into a short walk
- The ridge tread can be faint in places
Map & elevation
The route
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
4 active Royal alerts
- ClosureOvernight closures for deer-control operationsSpecified areas of Royal National Park are closed between sunset and sunrise from Monday to Thursday, excluding school holidays, through 18 December 2026 so NPWS can carry out deer-control operations.Official details
- ClosureUnauthorised trail between East Heathcote and Waterfall closedThe unauthorised trail between East Heathcote and Waterfall is formally and physically closed; access is not permitted.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Royal Tour Guide
Your drive to Robertson's Roundabout Walk, narrated.
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 trailhead
Audley Boats, Lunch and the Dance Hall0:00 / 0:36
“You're approaching Audley, where you can swap a long walk for a paddle and lunch by the river. The visitor centre is useful for choosing tracks and checking where they start.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Royal Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Willow Tree Walk to Jersey Spring
- Reids Flat and Pool Flat Picnics
- Bungoona Lookout and River View
- Winifred Falls Walking Access
- 43 audio storiesacross Royal’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Humpback Whale, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Koala, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 69 trails, 58 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Robertson's Roundabout Walk
A short, steep loopRobertson's Roundabout Walk is a 2.
Robertson's Roundabout Walk is a 2.3 km loop from the Royal National Park Visitor Centre at Ironbark Flat. It crosses the Hacking River, climbs to Robertson Knoll, and returns via Currawong Flat and Lady Carrington Drive. Allow about 1 hour 15 minutes; the route climbs about 141 m, so the mileage hides a real uphill effort. I'd choose it for a quick lookout walk if rocky steps suit you, not as an easy flat stroll.
Cross the river and climbThe approach crosses the Hacking River on a footbridge, then climbs steeply through open forest.
The approach crosses the Hacking River on a footbridge, then climbs steeply through open forest. You catch glimpses of the river below as you rise. The ridge changes to dry heath and open woodland, and the tread gets faint in places; follow the arrow markers rather than assuming every worn patch is the main route.
Stop at Robertson KnollRobertson Knoll is a rocky lookout.
Robertson Knoll is a rocky lookout. Trees partly hide the Hacking River and Audley Weir; move higher on the rocks for a clearer view, and look out toward Cronulla on a clear day. This is the route's photo stop: frame a bend of river beneath the wooded ridge rather than aiming only at the distant skyline.
Take care on the way downThe descent uses steep rocky steps and zigzags toward Currawong Flat, then reconnects with Lady…
The descent uses steep rocky steps and zigzags toward Currawong Flat, then reconnects with Lady Carrington Drive and Ironbark Flat. Uneven footing asks for most of your attention here. Currawong Flat has flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables and free barbecues; Audley Dance Hall Cafe nearby does tea and coffee. Dogs and other pets aren't permitted in Royal National Park.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Royal
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.
