Garie Beach

You’ll love this quick holiday fix just an hour or so from Sydney. So pack a picnic, herd up the clan and get down there nice and early to grab a great spot at Garie Beach, in the southern end of Royal National Park.

Head to the beach for a spot of whale watching in the winter or for the feel of warm salt water on your skin, surf the waves in the warmer months. If you’re feeling lucky, try your hand at some beach fishing. It’s an ideal spot for birdwatching, so bring the binoculars for a chance to glimpse an albatross, sea eagle, and the rarer peregrine falcon as they cruise on the updraft from coastal breezes.

After lunch, explore the rainforest gullies around the beach where cabbage tree palms and ferns provide a shady spot. Be sure to take in the view from Governor Game lookout before leaving.