It’s the gritty interface between modern life, industry, natural beauty and ancient cultures. A truly unique walk dishing up surprises around each corner. Tie your shoelaces well for one of Randwick City’s most interesting walking experiences.
Getting started
You can start and finish this walk at any point, but a great place to start with plenty of car parking is near the Yarra Bay Sailing Club. It’s also a convenient place to grab a meal and refreshments when you finish.
mullet run
0km
Follow the Coastal Walkway northwest towards Bumbora Point. The path is well used by locals and the 5km Kamay Park Run is held each Saturday morning. Stunning views of Yarra Bay abound and in the right season you may see local Aboriginal people continuing their ancient tradition of hauling in fresh mullet.
The Sucko
1km
Continue through Bicentennial Park car park and briefly onto the footpath of Military / Simblist Road before following Prince of Wales Drive out to Molineaux Point. Consider a short detour to check out what locals call the ‘Sucko’. Concrete arms extending into the water provide a unique vantage point. At high tide it’s deep enough to jump off.
Bunnerong power station
A calm sandy beach lies where water was once sucked into an inlet tunnel to cool the coal-burning condensers of the nearby Bunnerong Power Station that operated from 1929 to 1975. It was demolished in 1987.
2km
Take a moment to ponder the fact the 2km stretch of land along Prince of Wales Drive is man-made. Opened in 1977, the project involved reclamation of 607 hectares of land, and dredging a 21-metre-deep channel for the new port. The reclaimed sand from Botany Bay was used to create Sir Joseph Banks Park foreshore reserve.
3km
At the end of Prince of Wales Drive is Molineaux Point Lookout. Before looping back, take a seat and listen. You may hear the growling barks and yelps of a seal colony that has taken up residence here. If you’re lucky you could also see a container ship coming into dock. The sheer size of these ships stacked tall with multi-coloured containers is a sight to behold. It gives meaning to grandma’s saying ‘she’s filled to the plimsoll line’.
5km
Trace your steps back, but when you see a sandy track leading to the cemetery, take this road instead.
5.5km
Don’t be startled by the statue of Arthur Stace on your left. Known as ‘Mr Eternity’ Stace is estimated to have written the word ‘eternity’ in beautiful copperplate style on Sydney’s streets more than half a million times over 35 years. He died in 1967 and is buried nearby.
Arthur Stace.
6km
Neatly planted rows of vegetables and herbs mark the heritage listed Chinese Market Gardens. Nestled in sandy soil between the beach and cemetery, these gardens have been in continuous use by European and then Chinese settlers for more than 150 years.
7km
Exit the cemetery and follow the shared walking/cycling path along Bunnerong Rd.
8km
Historic La Perouse is a breath-taking sight to take in. A quick detour to Bare Island or the iconic La Perouse Museum is definitely worth the trip if you have time. Before continuing the walk grab something to eat at a local shop – there’s pizza, Thai, burgers, and the award-winning Boatshed provides waterfront dining.
Bare Island.
9km
Continue up Endeavour Avenue and back onto the Yarra Bay Walking Trail. The concrete path disappears and you enter the Guriwal Bush Tucker Track. Thick bushland envelopes you and it’s easy to feel a connection with the land and its stories. Thoughts turn to the traditional owners whose ancestors probably walked this same path thousands of years ago.
10km
Return to Yarra Bay and relax, you’ve earnt it!
Local tip
La Perouse is one of the few places in Sydney you can watch the sun rise and set over water. Park your car rear to kerb at the Loop, throw some pillows and blankets in the boot and watch the show.
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2023–2024 issue of Randwick Scene Magazine.
