Parking
Start at Otford Lookout, the published access for the walk. Parking, toilets and picnic facilities are available there.
Overview
About Werrong Beach track
Why go
- A sandy cove and surf payoff reached by a short Coast Track approach.
Heads up
- Rough, steep footing with many steps.
- The final beach access is exceptionally steep and slippery.
Map & elevation
The route
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Royal Tour Guide
Your drive to Werrong Beach track, 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.
See the Royal audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Otford Lookout and the Werrong Walk0:00 / 0:29
“You're nearing Otford Lookout, where the coast opens out beyond the roadside. This is a good stop if you want a wide ocean view without committing to a hike.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Royal Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Bulgo Beach Walking Access
- Bald Hill Views and Hargrave’s Kites
- The Banksia's Seed Bank
- Why It’s a Cabbage-Tree Palm
- 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 Werrong Beach track
The route and the decisionThis is a Grade 5 out-and-back from Otford Lookout to Werrong Beach.
This is a Grade 5 out-and-back from Otford Lookout to Werrong Beach. The mapped route is about 3.2 km return; published distances range up to 4 km, so leave room for the longer estimate. Allow around 2 hours. It is a good choice if you want a rugged beach and are comfortable on steep, uneven ground; it is not an easy-access beach walk.
Down through coastal forestFollow the shared Coast Track approach from the lookout.
Follow the shared Coast Track approach from the lookout. About 300 m in, take the signed branch for Werrong Beach. There is a short climb early, then the narrower path drops through rocks and roots into cabbage tree palm rainforest. The trail is rough, with many steps and limited signs. The final descent to the sand is exceptionally steep and can be slippery; decide before that drop whether you are comfortable going down and climbing back up.
The coveThe reward is a small sandy cove beneath a densely forested headland, with surf breaking along…
The reward is a small sandy cove beneath a densely forested headland, with surf breaking along the shore. A grassy shelf above the beach gives a view across the sand and headland before you commit to the last descent.
Rules and facilitiesWerrong is a designated nude beach, and swimming is prohibited because of strong rips and…
Werrong is a designated nude beach, and swimming is prohibited because of strong rips and currents. Dogs are not permitted apart from certified assistance animals. Otford Lookout has parking, toilets and picnic facilities; carry drinking water for the walk.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Royal
56 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
70 sightingsWhite-bellied Sea-EagleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
12 sightingsKoalaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
34 sightingsJavan RusaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
70 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.
