Parking
Use street parking in Bundeena and walk to the end of Beachcomber Avenue for the Coast Track start. There is no car park at or near Wedding Cake Rock; street parking can be limited on weekends, holidays and in summer.
Overview
About Wedding Cake Rock and Big Marley Circuit
Why go
- Layered cliff scenery and the creek-cut Waterrun shelf make the coastal section varied.
- The loop pairs Wedding Cake Rock and Marley beach views without retracing the Coast Track.
Heads up
- Rough, steep, rocky sections and sandstone steps make footing uneven.
- The rock stays fenced off, and there is no drinking water or toilet along the track.
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 Wedding Cake Rock and Big Marley Circuit, 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
Bundeena Coast Track to Wedding Cake Rock0:00 / 0:23
“You're approaching the Coast Track start in Bundeena, where you can walk to Wedding Cake Rock. Allow about two and a half hours return over rough sandstone, boardwalk and stairs, with cliff views along the way.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Royal Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Bundeena Waterfront and Horderns Beach
- Jibbon Beach and Rock Engravings
- Bonnie Vale Riverbank and Picnic Area
- The Spinebill at the Flowers
- 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 Wedding Cake Rock and Big Marley Circuit
The whole loopThis 4.8-mile (7.
This 4.8-mile (7.7 km) circuit starts at the end of Beachcomber Avenue in Bundeena, follows the Coast Track past The Balconies, The Waterrun and Wedding Cake Rock to Marley Head, then returns inland on Big Marley Fire Trail and a connecting footpath. Allow about three hours with stops. It is a moderate walk with several rough, often steep and rocky coastal stretches. A shorter out-and-back from the same start reaches Wedding Cake Rock but leaves out the Marley Head and fire-trail loop.
The Balconies and coastal heathThe route begins on a fire trail before turning onto the coastal track.
The route begins on a fire trail before turning onto the coastal track. An elevated boardwalk crosses heath to The Balconies, where layered sandstone shelves open toward the ocean. Farther south, expect a mix of boardwalk, exposed rock and sandstone steps rather than one continuous smooth path.
The Waterrun and Wedding Cake RockAt The Waterrun, a creek cuts across a broad sandstone shelf before reaching the sea; steps…
At The Waterrun, a creek cuts across a broad sandstone shelf before reaching the sea; steps cross the rock. Wedding Cake Rock is pale because iron has leached from its sandstone. The layers are cracked and unstable, so stay behind the safety barrier. From the safe side, the light rock stands out against the darker coast; the route’s cliff scenery is a large part of the payoff even if you cannot approach the formation.
Marley Head and the returnContinue to Marley Head for views over Big and Little Marley beaches.
Continue to Marley Head for views over Big and Little Marley beaches. The circuit then turns inland onto Big Marley Fire Trail and follows a mapped footpath and short connectors back to Beachcomber Avenue, rather than retracing the coast. The inland return is part of the full 4.8-mile distance.
Heath, flowers and whalesCoastal heath flowers in spring, and whales can sometimes be seen from the cliffs during their…
Coastal heath flowers in spring, and whales can sometimes be seen from the cliffs during their migration season. Neither wildlife nor flowers are guaranteed on a particular visit.
Access and essentialsStreet parking is in Bundeena; walk to the end of Beachcomber Avenue for the Coast Track start.
Street parking is in Bundeena; walk to the end of Beachcomber Avenue for the Coast Track start. There is no car park at or near Wedding Cake Rock. You can also take the train to Cronulla, then the ferry to Bundeena and walk to the start. There are no toilets, drinking water or bins along the Coast Track, so use facilities before setting out. Dogs are prohibited except certified assistance animals. The track closes during total fire bans.
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.
