National park · Australia
Kamay Botany Bay National Park
Entry is free; the only cost is A$8 per vehicle per day at Kurnell (north La Perouse is free). Pick one section, not both: La Perouse for the coastal walk and Bare Island, Kurnell for the Cook landing site and Cape Solander. Go on a weekday before 10:00.Entry is free; the only cost is A$8 per vehicle per day at Kurnell (north La Perouse is free). Pick one section, not both: La Perouse for the coastal walk and Bare Island, Kurnell for the Cook landing site and Cape Solander. Go on a weekday before 10:00 AM.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
5 km² (2 sq mi)2 sq mi (5 km²)
approximate
Established
1984
Best months
Mar–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 5 km² (2 sq mi)2 sq mi (5 km²)
- Roughly 4.5 km² across the two sections (check).
- Established
- 1984
- Best months
- Mar–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Sydney
Kamay Botany Bay National Park is two separate pieces of coast on opposite sides of Botany Bay, about 20 km apart by road with no public transport between them. The northern section at La Perouse is a headland of heath and cliffs with the 1880s Bare Island Fort, the Lapérouse monument and museum, and a coastal walk out to Henry Head. The southern section at Kurnell is where James Cook's Endeavour landed in 1770, with the memorial obelisk, a meeting place for the Gweagal and Bidjigal people, and the whale-watching platform at Cape Solander. Both are day-trip scale, both are free to walk into, and neither has accommodation. The name Kamay is the Dharawal word for Botany Bay.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1984.
Size and age
5 km² (2 sq mi)2 sq mi (5 km²) · national park since 1984
Roughly 4.5 km² across the two sections (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Sydney.
Why go
- Two headlands of Sydney coast that most visitors never reach, 30–40 minutes from the CBD.
- The 1770 landing site at Kurnell and the 1788 Lapérouse camp at La Perouse sit on the same bay — the two European arrivals in one view.
- Bare Island Fort is an intact 1880s coastal defence battery reached by a footbridge.
- Cape Solander is one of the best land-based whale-watching points in Sydney in winter.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanHot; start early, little shade
- FebWarm; afternoon sea breeze
- MarMild, settled, fewer people
- AprClear, comfortable walking
- MayCool and dry; whales start
- JunWhale season at Cape Solander
- JulWhale peak; cold wind on the cliffs
- AugWhales still passing; westerlies
- SepMild, wildflowers on the heath
- OctWarm; weekend crowds build
- NovWarm; snakes active on trails
- DecHot and busy; beaches packed
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humpback whales from Cape SolanderMay–Aug · June–July is the peak of the northern migration. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Coastal heath wildflowersAug–Oct | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Eastern water dragons and skinks on the tracksSep–Apr | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Red-bellied black snakes on warm trailsOct–Mar · Give them room; they avoid people. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Sydney CBD to La Perouse
Bus 394 from Central Station, or the L94 express from Circular Quay, to the Anzac Parade terminus; walk 5 min to the headland.
45–60 min
Open the page →
From Sydney CBD to Kurnell
Train to Cronulla, then bus 987 toward Kurnell and a 20 min walk; or drive via the Captain Cook Bridge.
1.5–2 h by public transport, 45 min by car
Open the page →
From Between the two sections
No public transport across the bay. Drive around via the M5 and Captain Cook Bridge, or take two separate trips.
30–40 min by car
From Sydney Airport
Taxi or rideshare to La Perouse or Kurnell.
20–30 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| La Perouse headland (north) | Bare Island Fort, the Lapérouse monument and museum, Congwong and Frenchmans beaches, the coastal walk to Henry Head. | Open on foot; free. |
| Kurnell peninsula (south) | Captain Cook's landing place, the memorial obelisk, the visitor centre and Cape Solander whale platform. | Open; vehicle fee at the gate. |
| Cape Solander and the cliffs | The southern tip of the Kurnell section, with the whale-watching platform and heath trails. | Open; short walk from the car park. |
Sketch map
- 1La Perouse (north section) · Town≈-33.989, 151.232Map ↗
- 2Bare Island Fort · Cave≈-33.992, 151.232Map ↗
- 3Henry Head · Viewpoint≈-33.998, 151.238Map ↗
- 4Kurnell entrance (south section) · Gate≈-34.006, 151.217Map ↗
- 5Captain Cook Memorial Obelisk · Headquarters≈-34.005, 151.217Map ↗
- 6Cape Solander · Viewpoint≈-34.018, 151.227Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for the two sections and their main stops; the sections are about 20 km apart by road.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (both sections, walk-in) | Free | person | No entry fee for pedestrians or cyclists. |
| Vehicle entry, Kurnell section | AUD 8 (≈ US$6) | vehicle per day | 2026 estimate; paid at the Kurnell entrance. La Perouse has no vehicle charge. |
| Bare Island Fort guided tour | Free | person | Tours run on set days and are free, but must be booked; check the current schedule (check). |
| La Perouse Museum | Free | person | Free entry; limited opening days (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Bare Island Fort tour permit or guide
Commercial filming or drone use permit or guide
Park rules
- Dogs
- Not allowed in either section of the park, including on the beaches.
- Bare Island
- Access only on a booked guided tour; the footbridge is otherwise gated.
- Fishing
- Allowed from some shore spots but not in the sanctuary zones around the headlands; check the signs at the entrance.
- Fires and camping
- No camping and no fires anywhere in the park.
- Aboriginal sites
- Rock engravings, middens and burial sites are protected; do not touch, move or photograph them without guidance.
Where to stay
Near the park
Maroubra or Malabar
Closest beds to the La Perouse section, 10–15 min by car.
Near the park
Cronulla
Closest base for Kurnell, with trains back to the city.
Near the park
Sydney CBD
Doable as a day trip by bus to La Perouse; Kurnell is easier with a car.
Safety
Cliff edges and rock platforms high
Heat and no shade medium
Swimming at unpatrolled beaches medium
Snakes on warm days low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Kurnell visitor centre, the landing place and the Cape Solander platform have paved paths and parking close by.
- The La Perouse museum and the start of the coastal walk are step-free; the Henry Head track is rough and not suitable for wheels.
- Bus 394 and the L94 stop at the La Perouse terminus, a short flat walk from the headland.
Visiting lightly
- Take all rubbish out; bins are limited in the Kurnell section.
- Stay on marked tracks — the heath and the cliff edges are fragile and eroded.
- Keep 100 m from whales and never approach them from a boat or drone.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Kamay Botany Bay National Park?
Nothing for walkers and cyclists. Vehicles pay about A$8 per day at the Kurnell section; the La Perouse section has no vehicle charge. The Bare Island Fort tour and the La Perouse Museum are free, but the fort tour must be booked.
What are the best hikes in Kamay Botany Bay National Park?
The La Perouse coastal walk to Henry Head (2–3 h return) is the best half-day walk, following the cliffs past Browns Rock. At Kurnell, the short tracks from the visitor centre to the landing place and out to Cape Solander are easy and mostly flat.
When is the best time to visit Kamay Botany Bay National Park?
March to May and September for mild, clear walking weather. June to August is the reason many people come to Cape Solander, for the humpback migration. December to February is hot, exposed and busy at the beaches.
Can I visit both sections in one day?
You can, but it means 30–40 minutes of driving around the bay between them, and there is no public transport link. Most people pick one section per trip.
Is there public transport to the park?
Yes to La Perouse: bus 394 from Central or the L94 from Circular Quay. No to Kurnell — buses stop at Cronulla, so the southern section is easiest by car.
Can I camp or stay inside the park?
No. There is no accommodation and no camping in either section. The nearest beds are in Maroubra and Malabar for La Perouse, and Cronulla or Kurnell for the southern section.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go