Experience the wonders of Sydney’s vast blue ocean views with this unbelievably scenic coastal and jungle hike at the Royal National Park.

The Burning Palms is one of the most beloved hikes at Sydney’s Royal National Park. It includes a coastal walk along Garie Beach, a jungle loop through the Burning Palms, and a spectacular ocean view at Werrong lookout. There are several routes to take, each with differing durations and difficulty levels, but I opted for the full experience, including all the above-mentioned landmarks, for a total duration of 3 hours.

Unbelievable Cliffside Views

As a suburban resident of Sydney, I often forget how close the vast blue Pacific Ocean is given our proximity to Australia’s eastern coast. However, a mere 45-minute drive from my town of Georges Hall to the Royal National Park in Lilyvale, and suddenly the natural world opens up! What is revealed is a spectacular display of vast blue ocean, mountainous cliff edges, and thick green forests alongside sandy beaches and tropical palm trees.

The ACTUAL Burning Palms

While the highlight of the Burning Palms hike for me is the ocean views and mountain ranges, those aren’t what gave it its name. As you cross through Gary Beach, you’ll be heading into what looks like the Amazon jungle! Dense cabbage tree palms that look straight out of Madagascar have their leaves appear semi-burnt, albeit a combined result of the area’s history of bushfires and weather conditions.

Werrong Lookout

Toward the halfway point or the point at which the loop back to the carpark begins, you’ll go past Werrong lookout, arguably the best spot on the entire 3-hour hike! Here, you get mesmerizing views of the ocean and the sandy beaches below from the perspective of the thick green eucalyptus forests. While this hike doesn’t have any man-made seats (likely for their strong stance on nature preservation), there are plenty of spots to sit on the smooth rocky surface at Werrong lookout, so feel free to have a nice lunch with a view!