⚠️ Royal National Park Announces Extensive Closures and Operations

Visitors to the Royal National Park are advised of multiple closures and ongoing operations impacting various tracks, trails, and areas within the park. National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has released a comprehensive alert detailing works and activities set to affect access over the coming months.

Upcoming Operations and Temporary Closures

Helicopter Operations on Savilles Creek Track:On Friday, May 30, 2025, from 8am to 4pm, specific tracks and trails in the Savilles Creek area will experience closures or temporary access restrictions. This is to facilitate a helicopter lifting operation delivering materials for track repairs.

Aerial Pest Shooting Program:An aerial deer shooting program is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, to Thursday, May 29, 2025. During this period, several key areas will be closed, including:

• Wattle Forest and Currawong picnic areas (west of Varneys Bridge at Audley)
• Wattamolla Picnic area
• Forest Path and Bola Creek
• The Engadine Track east of Parklands Fire Trail (between East Heathcote and Audley)
• Bushland areas surrounding Robertsons Roundabout (between Audley and Kangaroo Creek)
• Walking tracks and management trails around East Heathcote (including Karloo Pools, Bottle Forest, Parklands, and Goarra Ridge)
• The Uloola Track between Uloola Campground and Audley (Uloola Campground also closed)
• Bushland areas around Artillery Hill, Anice Falls track (west of Mt Bass fire trail intersection), and The Meadows and Gundamaian Fire Trails
• Bushland areas surrounding Cabbage Tree Basin (bounded by Maianbar Road, Bundeena Drive, and The Basin Track)
• Areas east of Sir Bertram Stevens Drive, Bundeena Drive, and Lady Wakehurst Drive, from Bundeena to Otford
• The Coast Track, including Jibbon Loop Track
• Mount Bass and Winifred Falls trails
• Warumbul Road and Warumbul picnic area
• Surrounding walking and service trails near Bonnie Vale campground (campground remains open)

The Basin Walking Track, between Maianbar and Bonnie Vale, will remain open for local residents but may experience short delays. Visitors must follow NPWS staff directions, as adjoining bushland areas are closed.

Fox Baiting Program:From Tuesday, May 6, to Saturday, May 10, 2025, NPWS will conduct an aerial baiting program using 1080 poison for fox control. Signs will mark all baiting locations. Park visitors are urged not to touch baits, and pets are strictly prohibited in national parks due to the lethal nature of 1080 to domestic animals. This initiative aims to improve eco-health by reducing predation on ground-dwelling mammals and small birds, specifically aiding the re-introduction of platypus into the Hacking River.

Ongoing Closures and Upgrade Works

Deer Pool Walking Track:This section of the Marley walking track, from the carpark to the fire trail, is closed for repairs until June 30, 2025. Big Marley and Little Marley fire trails remain open.

Temptation Creek/Loftus Loop Area:Several walking and mountain bike trails within the Loftus Loop network at Temptation Creek are closed for upgrade works from Tuesday, March 11, to Monday, June 30, 2025. Closed areas include Farnell Avenue, Rawson Parade, and Savilles Creek trails. Fire trails east of Farnell Avenue will remain open.

Werrong Beach Track:This track is closed until further notice due to landslides. Signs are in place around the closed area.

The Coast Track:The full length of The Coast track, from Otford to Bundeena, is currently impassable due to erosion, rockfall risks, and ongoing upgrade works. Specific closures include:

• The Garie to Little Garie section (due to hazardous rockfalls and erosion)
• North Era campground (closed until further notice for operational activities)
• Garie Road, Garie Beach, and the Garie precinct (closed until further notice due to road surface damage and subsidence)

Bushwalker access is available for the Bundeena to Curra Moors track (via Wattamolla and return only, no access to Garie Beach) and north-bound access via Garawarra Farm Ridge trail and Burgh Ridge track to North Era and return (during track upgrades).

Garie Road:Garie Road remains closed indefinitely due to severe damage to the road surface, requiring extensive repairs. A reopening date is not yet known. Updates will be available via Live Traffic NSW.

Penalties apply for non-compliance with closure directives. For more information on any of these closures or operations, please contact the Royal National Park Visitor Centre on 02 9542 0648 or the NPWS Audley office on 02 9542 0632 (business hours), or the NPWS after-hours call centre on 1300 056 294 for baiting enquiries.