If you love to feel like you’ve gone a little off the beaten track, the Palona Cave trail in Royal National Park is for you. This short and easy bush walk treats you to some fabulous rainforest, a large cave and even a gorgeous waterfall.
We didn’t see anyone else on this walk and it felt really peaceful, we even spotted a wallaby right in the middle of the day!
Here’s what to expect from the Palona Cave track, one of our favourite forest walks in the park.
Palona Cave Walk
The stats
Distance: 5.3km
Elevation: 129m
Difficulty: Easy
Type of trail: Return
The Palona Cave Walk is one of the easier trails in Royal National Park and shouldn’t take much longer than 1.5 - 2 hours to complete as a round trip. The majority of the trail is flat, however the path undulates in places and gets rough for the final 800m.
Starting the trail on Lady Carrington Drive
The walk begins at the most beautiful end of Lady Carrington Drive and the moment you set foot on the trail you are surrounded by rainforest.
It’s not one of those tracks where the rainforest closes in around you, as the path is actually quite wide and open but that doesn’t make it any less spectacular. It’s also open to cyclists but I’ve never seen any on this part of the trail before.
It has a wonderfully peaceful feel to it from the very beginning and staring up at the huge dense clusters of Cabbage tree palms and mossy boulders always leaves me in awe.
The dirt path is in excellent condition and is smooth enough that you never need to be looking down at your feet, which is something I always appreciate.
The track takes you gradually downhill before flattening out and it’s all very leisurely.
The junction with the Forest Path
After 750m you’ll reach a junction with the Forest Path. If you haven’t walked this track, and you have time to spare for an additional 4.5km, we highly recommend adding it on.
The Forest Path is one of my favourite walks in the park, and takes you through a truly spectacular rainforest.
Unlike Lady Carrington Drive, the forest on this path does close in around you, and it feels like you’ve entered another world.
It’s also an easy track which you can walk in just an hour, but you’ll probably want a little longer to soak it all up.
If you love forests I personally think it’s the most magical area in the whole of Royal National Park.
If you are going to add it on to the Palona Cave walk, it’s better to do so on the way back, as the Forest Path finishes in the same place you will have already parked your car.
If you do it first, you’ll end up walking the first 750m of Lady Carrington Drive again (not that that’s exactly a hardship!). If that’s confusing, check the map at the top!
Onto Palona Cave
From the junction with the Forest Path you continue on straight for just over a kilometre. The track to Palona Cave is on your right hand side at the 1.8km mark.
It could be easy to miss if you weren’t looking for it, but there is a sign saying ‘limestone cave’. It’s facing in the opposite direction to the way you’re walking though!
The track immediately narrows and begins heading uphill. I felt a little disappointed at first because I didn’t think the scenery was as beautiful as Lady Carrington Drive, feeling a bit more like regular bush than rainforest, but it did get prettier as it went along. It also had it’s fair share of huge plants which sometimes took over the trail, which I loved!
It’s a rougher part of the walk, with some rocks and the odd tree root. There’s nothing difficult, but it’s not 100% smooth sailing.
After a short time you’ll come out at an area with lots of rocky outcrops. This is when it really feels like you are going to come out at a cave, and also where to start looking out for wallabies.
We saw one bounding up the rocks and it was amazing to watch how effortlessly it covered the tricky terrain!
Arriving at the cave and the waterfall
You’ll arrive at Palona Cave 800m after the turn off from Lady Carrington Drive.
The cave was much bigger than I was expecting, and as you walk through it you’ll see it’s even bigger than it looks when you first see it.
There are stalactites and stalagmites and it’s an interesting spot to explore. Sadly some people have graffitied parts of it which is a real shame.
Just beyond the cave you’ll see a pretty waterfall which we had no idea existed before we saw it! As with all waterfalls in Royal National Park, it will require decent rainfall to be at its best.
Some falls in the park do dry up entirely after long dry spells and this could be one of them, so if you’re particularly keen to see it, head there after a wet period.
There’s a large log which rests up alongside the falls and makes the perfect place to sit and relax and take in what feels like a little hidden gem within the park.
Heading back
You’ll head back the way you came. The first 800m along the narrow bush track is easier than on the way in, as you’ll be heading gradually downhill.
You’ll then hit a long flat section on Lady Carrington Drive before you begin heading uphill to the car park.
All in all this was a fab little hike in a part of the park that we’ve fallen in love with and definitely one to head for when you feel like a fairly relaxing walk.
Essential information about the Palona Cave walk
Where to park
Make sure you start the walk at the right end of Lady Carrington Drive or you’re going to be in for a very long hike! It’s the end that you would begin the Forest Path at and you can find the exact spot by clicking here.
If you don’t have a car you can use the park shuttle service from Sutherland Train Station to reach the trailhead. Fares are in addition to your train fare.
Royal National Park entrance fee
Unless you have arrived by public transport you will need to pay the $12 vehicle entry fee. You will pass through a pay booth and assuming it’s manned you can pay the fee there. If you are planning to visit several parks in a year it may be better value to buy the $65 NSW parks pass which includes all parks except Kosciuszko.
Packing suggestions for Royal National Park
Having the right gear can make a huge difference, especially in Royal National Park.
Here’s what we pack and have relied upon for years:
Sunscreen: Cancer Council Active. With a high SPF, but not the greasy feel of other sunscreens. Makes a big difference when you’re working up a sweat on a sunny day! Check it out on Amazon
Good Rain Jacket: North Face This is an essential item we always pack in our bag! This jacket from North Face is designed to keep you dry but also comfortably warm (many rain jackets will make you feel like you’re in a sauna). Check them out on Amazon
Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). Check on Amazon or direct with Osprey
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab (for men and women). We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going. Check them out on Amazon
Trekking poles: We’ve used Black Diamond for years as they are light, solid and durable. Check out on Amazon.
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check them out on Amazon
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What’s your favourite walk in Royal National Park? Have you explored away from the coast yet? Let us know in the comments below!
