This walk is an enjoyable way of exploring Jibbon Head and its beaches. From the township on Bundeena, walk through the streets and then along the beautiful Jibbon Beach. At the northern end of Jibbon Beach, a track leads through the bush to an Aboriginal engraving site, then to the point of Jibbon Head. You will enjoy many grand water vistas across Port Hacking along this stretch. From the point, the walk heads along the eastern coastline to Shelley Beach before leading you back through the bush to Jibbon Beach, and then retracing your steps back to Bundeena.
(open in app)
There are closures in Royal National Park Today's Fire rating LOW MODERATE (No fire ban)
Cross sectional view of the Jibbon Loop Track bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Jibbon Loop Track bushwalking track
Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length
5km
Time
1 hr 45 mins
.
Grade 3/6
Track: Moderate
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Signs
Clearly signposted (1/6)
Experience Required
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing
Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk. Gradient
3.4km of this walk is flat with no steps and another 1.1km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (570m) has short steep hills.
Quality of track
2.3km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.9km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (930m) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
This whole walk, 5km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 4km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.1km requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 5km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 4.3km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 730m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Catch the ferry to Bundeena
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for upto date running time info Use these links to plan your Ferry (and train) trip to the end of this walk.
Bundeena is a small township at the northern end of Royal National Park and the southern side of the entrance to Port Hacking. The town can be accessed by car or ferry. There are a few B&B's and other accommodation options and a number of cafes to choose from. Bundeena has a mixed atmosphere, partly a beach holiday community but also home to some permanent residents. There are two main beaches - Hordens Beach to the west and Jibbon Beach to the east. Both are nice beaches inside Port Hacking. More info
(0 km)
Bundeena Ferry Wharf
to
Corner of Loftus and Neil Streets Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road
Length = 935 m
Time = 18 mins
Climb = 29 m
Descent = -18 m
From the Bundeena Wharf at the end of Brighton St, this walk follows the road up the hill to the intersection at the car park. The walk turns left onto Loftus Street and heads up the hill, past Tom Jones Way and Beach St. Following Loftus St, the road bends right and then turns left (passing the 'no entry' traffic signs), walking against the flow of traffic on this one-way section of Loftus St. The walk comes to a footpath at the intersection with Neil Street.
(0.94 km)
Corner of Loftus and Neil Streets
to
Northern end of Jibbon Beach Walk: Easy - beach
Length = 754 m
Time = 12 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = -14 m
Continue straight: From the corner of Neil and Loftus Streets, this walk heads down the footpath between the houses and onto the end of Jibbon Beach. From here, the walk follows the beach past the large 'Royal National Park' sign and, after several hundred metres, comes to an intersection and a large green sign saying 'Jibbon Loop Track'[1], approximately 90m from the end of the beach.
Jibbon Beach
Alt = 3 m
Jibbon Beach is in the Royal National Park, just east of Bundeena. The yellow sand, crescent-shaped beach is about 800m long and looks north across the entrance to Port Hacking. The beach is in a bay that forms part of a popular harbour for sailing boats. There is a rock shelf at either end of the beach. From the north-eastern end of the beach, there is a track leading to the Jibbon Head Aboriginal engravings site and Little Jibbon Beach. There are no patrols or other facilities at this beach.
(1.69 km)
Northern end of Jibbon Beach
to
Little Jibbon Beach intersection Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 491 m
Time = 9 mins
Climb = 9 m
Descent = -6 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Jibbon Head' sign[2] about 100m to the end of the beach (keeping the water to the left). The track then steps up a few rocks and turns right (away from the water), heading through a grassy clearing and then through a tunnel formed by the thick vegetation. The track soon emerges on an unfenced rock platform with great views across the water to Cronulla. Here, the walk heads back into the bush to cross a gully (with an informal track leading left to Little Jibbon Beach). The track then climbs out of the gully to a smaller rock platform and intersection marked with a green metal pole.
Little Jibbon Beach
Alt = 3 m
Little Jibbon Beach is found just north of Jibbon Beach in the Royal National Park. The small beach can be accessed via the Jibbon Head track. This north-facing beach has great views across Port Hacking towards Cronulla. This is not a nudest beach (as some believe) - If you see nudest bathers, they can be reported by calling Crime Stoppers on 131 444.
(2.18 km)
Little Jibbon Beach intersection
to
Jibbon Head Aboriginal Engravings Optional sidetrip: Walk: Easy - bushtrack
Length = 43 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = -1 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads directly away from the water and cliff edge, following the track into the thick bush. The track soon leads to a large clearing and rock platform with several Aboriginal engravings - please take care not to step on or near the engravings. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then veer right to continue along this walk.)
Jibbon Head Aboriginal Engravings
Alt = 8 m
These Aboriginal engravings are found on the western side of Jibbon Head, just above little Jibbon Beach. The large rock shelf has a number of large engraving of both marine and land animals. Most are in good condition - the whale is particularly large, so you will need to stand right back to see it. Take care not to walk on the engravings - lets preserve this site for many generations to come.
(2.18 km)
Little Jibbon Beach intersection
to
Jibbon Head Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 239 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -8 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the track along the top of the cliff, keeping the water to the left (and ahead). The track soon heads away from the cliff (and water view), passing through the dense bush for about 150m, and then emerges on a long rock platform with views across the water to Cronulla and north to Botany Bay National Park. Here, the walk turns right to follows a track back into the bush, marked with a green post. The track leads up some steps to a large rocky area and a 'Jibbon Head' signpost[3].
Jibbon Head
Alt = 2 m
Jibbon Head is in Royal National Park, and is the southern headland forming the entrance to Port Hacking. The headland is home to the Jibbon Aboriginal engravings site. The view from Jibbon Head looks across the port to Cronulla Beach and Botany Bay National Park.
(2.42 km)
Jibbon Head
to
Shelley Beach Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 566 m
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 14 m
Descent = -10 m
Continue straight: From Jibbon Head, this walk follows the 'Shelley Beach' sign[4] , keeping the water to the left. The track weaves in and out of the scrub as it follows the coastline until heading down to the grassy area at the top of Shelley Beach (marked with a green pole).
Shelley Beach
Alt = 7 m
Shelley Beach is a sandy and rocky beach, south on the east side of Jibbon Headland, near Bundeena. The beach is in a small bay looking east. There is sand at the upper section of the beach and a rock platform leading onto the water. The dense heath is in clumps at the top of the beach, providing some shade. There is no life saving service or any other facilities at this beach.
(2.99 km)
Shelley Beach
to
Int of Jibbon Loop and Coastal Walk tracks Walk: Easy - bushtrack
Length = 23 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = 0 m
Turn right: From Shelley Beach, this walk heads up the hill away from the water to the green signpost, visible up the hill. The signpost is found in a grassy clearing and has a number of signs including one pointing back to 'Shelley Beach'[5].
(3.01 km)
Shelley Beach Int
to
Bundeena Ferry Wharf Track: Moderate - bushtrack,beach,road
Length = 2.05 km
Time = 36 mins
Climb = 33 m
Descent = -38 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Bundeena Via Jibbon Beach' sign[6] away from the beach and into the bush. The walk soon leaves the grassy clearing and follows a narrow track into the wooded forest. The track winds over the gentle hill and follows the sandy track down to an intersection on Jibbon Beach and a 'Shelley Beach' sign[7] pointing back along the track. Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the beach, keeping the ocean to the right. At the end of the beach, the walk meets a bush track, following this as it joins a footpath after approximately 20m. This footpath heads up between the houses for a short distance before coming to the corner of Neil and Loftus Streets. Continue straight: From the corner of Neil and Loftus Streets, this walk follows Loftus Street (leaving Neil St on the right). Loftus St turns right (at the corner of Eric St) then soon bends to the left, then continues along until coming down a hill to the beach, with a car park on the corner. The walk turns right and follows Brighton Street to the Bundeena Ferry Wharf.
Catch the ferry from Bundeena
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for upto date running time info Use these links to plan your Ferry (and train) trip from the end of this walk.
Fire Danger This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a LOW MODERATE rating and No fire ban in place. (Tomorrow the Fire Danger Rating is LOW MODERATE, No fire ban.) (Downloaded 7 years ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.
Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park feesCampingFacilities Current Park Closure information for Royal National Park Closure information last downloaded Sunday 27th of September 2015 07:00 AM Closed areas: The Coast track upgrade The Coast track will be undergoing construction works between Beachcomber Ave and Marley Beach over a 9 month period. Works include resurfacing, installation of raised board walk and stairs and will be undertaken between October 2015 and May 2016. During the works it will be necessary, at times, to close the Coast Track for visitor safety. Please be aware that during closures the full coast track walk will not be possible and you may need to plan your route to start and finish at a different location. The Royal National Park alerts page will be updated regularly so please check it before you leave home. Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact Royal National Park area office on (02) 9542 0632 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.
Closed areas: Wedding Cake Rock Access to Wedding Cake Rock is prohibited. National Parks and Wildlife Service has undertaken a geotechnical assessment of the rock, which found that there is high chance that it could collapse at any time. Safety fencing has been erected to protect the public while a more permanent solution is developed. This is a really beautiful location and a spectacular rock formation to look at, but the key is doing it at a safe distance from the edge.
Safety alerts: Audley precinct in wet weather Access across the Audley Weir may be closed due to river flooding during times of wet weather. During wet weather, NPWS advise park visitors to visit Live Traffic NSW to ascertain the status of the Weir crossing before commencing their travel to the park. During times of closure, access to Bundeena, Maianbar residential areas, Royal National Park Visitor Centre, including the Audley Dance hall and cafe, is via McKell Ave Waterfall.
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Moderate
1 km
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for upto date running time info
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.
not too much longer now :)