Curracurrong Falls is one of the most breathtaking waterfalls in Sydney. Located in the Royal National Park, next to the famous Eagle Rock (AKA Eagle Head Rock), Curracurrong Falls beautifully plunges off the cliff’s edge and directly into the Pacific Ocean. The waterfall is also famous for a rare phenomenon where it flows upwards on a windy day! Best of all, you can easily reach the waterfall by doing the Wattamolla to Eagle Rock Walk. But, there are also other walks you can do to reach Curracurrong Falls, which we’ll discuss in this guide.
To that end, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about visiting Curracurrong Falls!
Table of Contents
About Curracurrong Falls at Eagle Rock
When it comes to Royal National Park waterfalls, Curracurrong Falls is up there with the best of them. Plunging around 80 metres, the single-drop waterfall is the biggest (alongside the seasonal Curra Brook Waterfall) in the Royal National Park. But, this isn’t even the main reason why it’s such a special waterfall. Well, there are several other reasons why this waterfall isn’t your ordinary waterfall.
First, this waterfall empties directly into the ocean. This isn’t an all too common occurrence across the globe. So, that’s just one reason to go and visit. Second, with the right conditions (a hell of a lot of wind), the waterfall can actually flow upwards! Have you ever seen a waterfall flow in an upward direction?! Again, it’s just another reason to chase this unique waterfall, especially on a windy day!
And, last but not least, Curracurrong Falls is amazingly positioned right next to Eagle Rock – an iconic Royal National Park attraction. So, when you’re gawking at the waterfall from the main lookout, you’ll also be looking directly at Eagle Rock, the famous rocky outcrop in the Royal National Park that’s shaped like an eagle’s beak.
So, exactly where are Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock located in the Royal National Park?
Where Is Curracurrong Falls?
Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock are located roughly halfway between Bundeena and Otford in the Royal National Park in New South Wales. The waterfall is found along the Royal Coastal Track.
How to Get to Curracurrong Falls
To get to the waterfall, you’re going to have to walk to it! Given its location, you can’t simply drive to it nor are there any nearby Curracurrong Falls parking options. Thankfully, there are various walking tracks and route options you can take to reach this waterfall.
4 Curracurrong Falls Walk Options
All in all, there are four options for reaching Curracurrong Falls. The most well-known walk to reach the waterfall is the walk from Wattamolla to Eagle Rock, which is actually one of the most popular walks in the Royal National Park. Beck and I have completed this walk several times and highly recommend it as your walk of choice if you haven’t visited Curracurrong Falls before. This is the walk we’ll talk about the most in this article.
Otherwise, there are three other route options for accessing the waterfall. We’ll cover these options briefly below, discussing why these may be a more suitable option!
1. Wattamolla to Eagle Rock (AKA Wattamolla to Curracurrong Falls)
- Type: Out & Back
- Distance: 9km
- Time: 2.5–3.5 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 220 metres
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Wattamolla
- Map: AllTrails
Also known as the Wattamolla to Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls Hike, this is the obvious trail option for chasing the waterfall. Click here to jump to our trail description.
2. Garie Beach to Curracurrong Falls
- Type: Out & Back
- Distance: 9km
- Time: 2.5–3.5 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 255 metres
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Garie Beach
- Map: AllTrails
When you look at the trail specs, the walk to Curracurrong Falls from Garie Beach (AKA Garie Beach to Eagle Rock Walk) is very similar to the walk from Wattamolla.
Because Wattamolla is the main hub of the Royal National Park, most people will simply walk to Curracurrong Falls from there instead of Garie Beach. But, access to Wattamolla can close when the car park is full during busier times on the weekend and during summer holidays. If this is the case when you visit, you may need to head to Garie Beach instead to do the walk.
In reality, the walk from Garie Beach to Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock is just as good as the from walk Wattamolla. So, this is a solid option for reaching the waterfall.
3. Curra Moors Loop Track
- Type: Loop
- Distance: 9.7km
- Time: 2.5–3.5 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 215 metres
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Curra Moors Track Trailhead
- Map: AllTrails
The Curra Moors Track is a lesser-walked trail option in the Royal National Park that leads directly to Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock. This is a good option if access to Wattamolla and Garie Beach is restricted.
By doing this walk, you’ll follow the Curra Moors Track and then the Curra Moors Fire Trail, before reaching the waterfall. You’ll then follow along the Royal Coastal Track in a southerly direction, passing quaint cascades such as Curra Brooks. Eventually, you’ll re-join the Curra Moors Track to complete the circuit walk.
4. Royal Coastal Track
- Type: One-way
- Distance: 30.5km
- Time: 6.5–10 hours (or over 2 days)
- Accumulated elevation gain: 900m
- Difficulty: Grade 5
- Trailhead: Bundeena or Otford Lookout
- Map: AllTrails
The final option is doing the Royal Coastal Track. Also known as the Royal Coastal Walk and the Royal National Park Coast Track, it’s easily one of the best coastal walks in New South Wales. Certainly, this is a great way to see Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock as well as all of the other coastal attractions in the Royal National Park.
Read more: Hiking The Royal National Park Coastal Walk In One Day
Wattamolla to Eagle Rock Walk Overview
As mentioned, the most popular way to reach Curracurrong Falls is by doing the Wattamolla to Eagle Rock Walk. So you know what to expect during this walk, we’ll tell you all about it below!
Wattamolla Picnic Area
The walk to Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock starts at the Wattamolla Picnic Area. After finding parking, you’ll wander into the lovely picnic area, fitted with BBQs, sheltered picnic tables and a large toilet block. At Wattamolla itself, there are plenty of great attractions to see even before getting to Curracurrong Falls. This includes another waterfall – Wattamolla Falls.
Wattamolla Falls
Wattamolla Falls is a small yet charming seasonal waterfall in the Wattamolla Visitor Precinct. Tumbling around six metres over a sandstone cliff into Wattamolla Lagoon, the waterfall can be easily seen from the picnic area. Fed by Wattamolla Creek, you’ll also find beautiful cascades and streams near the top of the falls.
Read more: Wattamolla Falls and 12 Other Epic Attractions Around Wattamolla
Wattamolla Lagoon
From the Wattamolla Picnic Area, you’ll also enjoy views of Wattamolla Lagoon and Wattamolla Beach. Wattamolla Lagoon is a popular place to swim in the Royal National Park and may be exactly what you need to cool off after the walk to Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock!
Also, it’s possible to shower under Wattamolla Falls by swimming in the lagoon!
Wattamolla Beach
Located next to Wattamolla Lagoon, Wattamolla Beach is a beautiful golden sand beach. Accessing the beach isn’t strictly part of the walk from Wattamolla to Eagle Rock. But, it’s a nice extension to the walk if you want to explore the beach before or after reaching Curracurrong Falls.
Providential Point Lookout
From Wattamolla, you’ll join the Royal Coast Track, passing the large toilet block. At this point, you have two options. You can either continue along the Royal Coastal Track straight to Curracurrang Cove. Or, you can take a detour via the Providential Point Lookout Track, which later re-joins the Royal Coastal Track. We highly recommend following the detour to visit Providential Point Lookout.
From the lookout, you’ll enjoy immense views of the coast, while it’s also a great place for whale watching. Once you’ve re-joined the Royal Coast Track, the next attraction you’ll arrive at is Curracurrang Cove (AKA Curracurrang Gully).
Curracurrang Cove
Curracurrong Cove is a supremely serene cove and a genuine highlight of the walk from Wattamolla to Eagle Rock. At this small and pretty cove, you’ll also find the turn-off to explore another waterfall with a very similar name – Curracurrang Falls!
Curracurrang Falls
Just to confuse you, Curracurrang Falls (with an ‘a’) is located just a stone’s throw away from Curracurrong Falls. Again, this detour to Curracurrang Falls is optional and not part of the typical route from Wattamolla to Eagle Rock. But, in the name of chasing waterfalls, why not?
Curracurrang Falls is a splendid small waterfall that’s hardly known compared with Curracurrong Falls. That’s definitely one of the best parts about visiting this waterfall – you may even have it to yourselves!
Whether you visit Curracurrang Falls or not, from Curracurrang Cove, you’ll continue the walk towards Eagle Rock.
Eagle Rock: A Royal National Park Classic
From Curracurrang Cove, the boardwalk ascends towards higher ground as you approach Curracurrong Creek. Before arriving at the creek, you’ll notice a faint and unmarked trail to your left. This trail leads directly to the top of Eagle Rock, where you can enjoy your first views of Curracurrong Falls. After decent rainfall, you may also be able to see another waterfall in the distance – Curra Brook Waterfall. The seasonal waterfall also incredibly drops straight into the ocean!
Also, if you want that famous photo shot on top of Eagle Rock (see below), you’ll follow this unmarked trail and wait while your kind photography friend continues the walk around the bend in the cliff to photograph you from the Undercliff Lookout. Bear in mind, that Eagle Rock is inherently unstable and unfenced. So, extreme caution is required if you head to the top of the rock.
To reach the Undercliff Lookout to enjoy the best views of both Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock, you’ll need to continue along the Royal Coastal Track, crossing Curracurrong Creek via some stepping stones.
At this point of the walk, it’s also possible to explore more of Curracurrong Creek, where you can approach the top of the waterfall. From near the top of the falls, you’ll enjoy one of the most unique views of the Royal National Park’s iconic Eagle Rock. Again, care must be taken as you explore off-trail, while there is no need to get too close to the cliff’s edge to see the rock formation.
Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock Undercliff Lookout
Otherwise, you can continue along the Royal Coastal Track to reach the Undercliff Lookout. Once you ascend from the creek, the trail briefly heads towards the ocean, before it bends to the right to follow along the coastline. It’s not very obvious, but at this bend of the boardwalk, you’ll find loose rock, coastal heathland and a series of rock platforms creating natural steps, to your left.
By climbing down these rock platforms, you’ll soon arrive at an incredible undercliff lookout, where you’ll enjoy unparalleled views of Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock. Once again, this lookout isn’t part of the official Royal Coastal Track. Extreme caution must be taken at this lookout as it’s close to the cliff’s edge.
After enjoying views of the breathtaking Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock, you’ll retrace your steps back to Wattamolla to complete this classic Royal National Park walk.
How to Get to Wattamolla
The easiest and most convenient way to get to Wattamolla is to drive. If you don’t have a car, we recommend hiring one for your trip to the Royal National Park. Especially if you want to explore other attractions or do other walks in the national park, it’s best to have your own vehicle.
To get to Wattamolla, you’ll turn onto Wattamolla Road from Sir Bertram Stevens Drive. There is a huge car park at Wattamolla with several parking areas. Bear in mind, that along Wattamolla Road, you’ll pass the Wattamolla Entry Station, where you’ll pay $12 per vehicle. That’s unless you have a NSW National Parks Annual Pass. In this case, parking is free.
Car Hire
If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.
It’s also possible to use public transport to get to Wattamolla. The Royal National Park uses Park Connections to run a shuttle service from Sutherland Station to Wattamolla. But, this shuttle service only runs on the weekend (usually two daily departures on Saturday and Sunday) and on public holidays (excluding Christmas Day). Given the limited service, we recommend driving for ultimate freedom and flexibility with your trip.
Other Walks in Royal National Park
Of course, there are plenty of other great walks in the Royal National Park other than just Wattamolla to Eagle Rock. Below, we’ve listed some of the other most popular walks in the Royal National Park.
- Jibbon Head Beach Loop Track
- Bundeena to Wedding Cake Rock
- Bundeena to Garie Beach Walk
- Garie Beach to South and North Era Beaches
- Wattamolla to Marley Beach
- Palm Jungle Loop Track
- Otford to the Figure 8 Pools
- Couranga Track
- Karloo Pools, Olympic Pool and Ullola Falls
- Forest Path
- Palona Cave
- Uloola Track
- Werrong Beach Track
- Winifred Falls, South West Arm Pool and Anice Falls
Hiking Essentials For Curracurrong Falls
Here are our hiking gear essentials for the Wattamolla to Eagle Rock Walk in the Royal National Park.
Osprey Skarab 30
The Osprey Skarab 30 is our go-to hiking backpack for day hikes. This well-designed unisex backpack is comfortable and spacious, so you’ll have plenty of space to pack everything without feeling the strain on your upper back.
Osprey Ultralight Raincover
A waterproof backpack cover is an absolute must when you’re adventuring outdoors. The Osprey Ultralight Raincover Medium is a high-quality waterproof cover that’ll keep your backpack bone dry.
GRAYL Reusable Water Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress is the best water filter bottle that allows you to purify 710mL (12 ounces) of water. This bottle will make water safe to drink wherever you’re hiking.
BUFF Original Ecostretch
The BUFF Original Ecostretch is a great option when it comes to multifunctional headwear. We use the Ecostretch as a neck gaiter to keep the sun off our necks and it helps us keep warm in cooler climates.
Sony Cybershot RX100 VII
Capture epic photos and videos with the Sony Cybershot RX100 VII. This is hands-down the best compact camera. We love using this simple point-and-shoot camera when we’re hiking as it’s lightweight and durable.
To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.
Curracurrong Falls, Royal National Park FAQs
Below, you’ll find the most frequently asked questions about Curracurrong Falls.
How Tall Is Curracurrong Falls?
It’s around 80 metres tall.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Curracurrong Falls?
It’s best to visit the waterfall after a decent bout of rain so that you can enjoy a more powerful-looking waterfall. In times of drought, the waterfall can run dry. Also, if possible, it’s best to do this walk during the week to avoid the crowded trails on the weekend and during the summer holidays.
Where to Find the Best View of Curracurrong Falls and Eagle Rock?
Perhaps, the best view of both the waterfall and the iconic rock is from the Undercliff Lookout.
To discover other great waterfalls in NSW national parks, make sure to head to the Greater Blue Mountains.
We acknowledge and respect the First Nations people as the Traditional Custodians of the land/water that we visited and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.
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