National park · Australia

Malabar Headland National Park

Go for a 1–2 hour clifftop walk from Maroubra's Arthur Byrne Reserve: entry is free, the Boora Point track is the pick, and the eastern section shuts whenever the ANZAC Rifle Range is live — check the park alerts before you set out.

Not field-verifiedSome areas permit-onlyChecked Sep 2026

Map to the park

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Directions

From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Area

2 km²1 sq mi

approximate

Established

2011

Best months

Mar–May, Sep–Oct

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: 2 km²1 sq mi; About 1.77 km², the smallest national park in New South Wales (check).
Established: 2011
Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Oct
Permits: For some areas
Base: Sydney

Malabar Headland National Park is the smallest national park in New South Wales, about 1.77 km² of sandstone cliffs, heath and banksia on the coast between Malabar and Maroubra in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Entry is free and there is no gate: you walk in from a council car park at either end. The eastern section around Boora Point shuts whenever the ANZAC Rifle Range is firing, so the park alerts page decides whether your walk happens. Two easy tracks cover it — Boora Point from Arthur Byrne Reserve, and the Western Escarpment from the Malabar side — and both double as clifftop whale-watching points from May to November. There are no facilities, no camping and no shade, so it is a half-day at most, paired with a swim at Maroubra or Malabar beach.

Decide

Why go, which months, and what lives here when

At a glance

Status

No UNESCO listing; national park since 2011.

Size and age

2 km²1 sq mi · national park since 2011

About 1.77 km², the smallest national park in New South Wales (check).

This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Sydney.

Why go

The last stretch of original coastal bush in Sydney's eastern suburbs, kept as banksia and heath rather than housing.
Boora Point is a headland lookout over the ocean, 20–30 minutes on foot from the Maroubra car park.
Whale season from May to November: humpbacks pass close enough to see from the clifftop without a boat.
Free, no booking, and reachable by city bus from the CBD in under an hour.

When to go

12-month verdict

JanGo
FebGo
MarBest
AprBest
MayBest
JunGo
JulGo
AugGo
SepBest
OctBest
NovGo
DecCaution

JanHot; swim at Maroubra after the walk
FebWarm; go early
MarMild, settled, fewer people
AprClear, comfortable walking
MayWhale season opens
JunWhales; bring a windproof layer
JulPeak whale weeks; cold wind on the cliffs
AugWhales still moving north
SepBanksia flowering; birds and whales
OctSpring colour, mild days
NovWarm; swimming starts; whales heading south
DecHoliday crowds and heat; walk before 9:00Holiday crowds and heat; walk before 9:00 AM

Wildlife and nature calendar

Seasons shift by weeks each year

Wildlife and nature calendar for Malabar Headland National Park
What	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Humpback whales on migrationMay–Nov · Northbound May–Aug, southbound Sep–Nov; seen from the clifftops.	no	no	no	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
Banksia flowering and the birds it drawsSep–Nov · The eastern suburbs banksia scrub is a listed endangered community.	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	yes	yes	yes	no
Coastal birds and raptorsAll year	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Snakes basking on warm pathsOct–Mar · Stay on the track and watch where you step.	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

How to get there

From Sydney CBD

Bus along Anzac Parade to Maroubra, then walk to Arthur Byrne Reserve at the south end of Maroubra Beach.

45–60 min

Open the page →

From Sydney eastern suburbs

Local bus or a short drive to Pioneers Park (Malabar side) or Arthur Byrne Reserve (Maroubra side).

10–20 min

From Sydney Airport

Taxi or rideshare around the coast via Malabar; buses need a change in the city or at Maroubra.

20–30 min

Zones and sectors

Zones of Malabar Headland National Park
Zone	What is there	Access
Western section	Bush and clifftop between Pioneers Park in Malabar and the headland, with the Western Escarpment walking track.	Open on foot; enter from the north end of the Pioneers Park car park.
Eastern section	The ocean side around Boora Point, reached from Arthur Byrne Reserve at Maroubra Beach.	Open except when the ANZAC Rifle Range is in use; no vehicle access.
ANZAC Rifle Range	An active military and sporting shooting range occupying part of the headland.	Closed to visitors; do not cross fences or warning signs.

Sketch map

Approximate — not for navigation

Approximate positions across the headland, for orientation only.

1Arthur Byrne Reserve car park · Gate≈-33.950, 151.257Main entry to the eastern section, at the south end of Maroubra Beach.Map ↗
2Pioneers Park car park · Gate≈-33.962, 151.245Entry to the western section from Malabar.Map ↗
3Boora Point · Viewpoint≈-33.968, 151.265Southern tip of the headland; whale watching.Map ↗
4Western Escarpment track · Trail≈-33.957, 151.251Map ↗
5Maroubra Beach · Beach≈-33.950, 151.259Map ↗
6Malabar Beach · Beach≈-33.963, 151.247Map ↗

See & do

Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking

Top experiences

TrailsEasy1–1.5 h returnBoora Point walking trackClifftop path from Arthur Byrne Reserve to the headland lookout; the best short walk here and the main whale-watching spot.

TrailsEasy20–30 min one wayWestern Escarpment walking trackAbout 1 km of heath and banksia from the Malabar side; birdlife most of the way.

WildlifeEasy30–60 minWhale watching from the cliffsMay to November; bring binoculars, the animals pass well offshore.

BeachesEasy1–2 hSwim at Maroubra or Malabar beachBoth beaches sit at the park edges; patrolled sections in summer (check).

Practical

Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong

Entry fees and permits

AUD ranges · check

Fees for Malabar Headland National Park
Item	Range	Per	Note
Park entry	Free	person	No entry fee for this park; no NSW park pass needed for walking (check).
Parking at Arthur Byrne Reserve or Pioneers Park	Free	vehicle	Council car parks; time limits and paid meters apply in summer (check).
Bus from Sydney CBD (Anzac Parade corridor)	AUD 3–6	person one way	2026 estimate on an Opal fare; tap on and off.

Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.

Park entry no permit

None. Walk in from the Maroubra or Malabar side during opening hours.

Eastern section access no permit

No permit, but the eastern section is closed to the public whenever the ANZAC Rifle Range is firing; check the park alerts page the same day.

Drone flight permit or guide

Not allowed in NSW national parks without a permit from the park service (check).

Park rules

Drones, guides, camping and more

Stay out of the rifle range: The ANZAC Rifle Range is live; never pass closed gates, flags or warning signs, and expect the eastern section to be shut on firing days.
Dogs: Not allowed in the national park; keep them to the council reserves and beaches outside the boundary (check).
Drones: Not permitted without a park service permit (check).check
Fires and camping: No camping and no fires anywhere in the park; it closes at night.
Stay on formed tracks: Cliff edges are undercut and the heath is fragile; do not cut across the scrub.

Where to stay

Near the park

Maroubra

Apartments and motels a few minutes from Arthur Byrne Reserve; the closest base.

Near the park

Malabar

Quiet suburb next to the western section, with a handful of places to stay.

Near the park

Sydney CBD

Any city hotel works if you accept a 45–60 minute bus ride each way.

Safety

Cliff edges and loose sandstone medium

Keep back from the edge, especially with children; rock can be undercut and crumbly.

Snakes on the tracks medium

Wear shoes, watch your step in warm months, and back away slowly if you see one.

Rifle range activity high

Check park alerts before going and obey every closure sign; do not enter the range area.

Heat and no shade medium

There is little cover on the headland; carry water and walk before 10:00 in summer.

Accessibility

The Arthur Byrne Reserve car park and the first stretch of the Boora Point track are firm and gently graded.
The clifftop sections are sandy, uneven and narrow in places; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers beyond the reserve.
No toilets or water inside the park; use the facilities at Maroubra Beach or Pioneers Park.

Visiting lightly

Keep to the formed track so the endangered banksia scrub is not trampled.
Take all rubbish out; there are no bins in the park.
Give whales and birds distance, and never fly a drone over them.
Use the Anzac Parade buses instead of driving; parking near the beaches fills early in summer.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Malabar Headland National Park?

Nothing. There is no entry fee and no pass needed to walk in; you only pay for transport, and for parking if the council meters are charging (check).

What are the best hikes in Malabar Headland National Park?

The Boora Point walking track from Arthur Byrne Reserve, 1–1.5 hours return to the headland lookout, and the Western Escarpment walking track, about 1 km one way from the Malabar side. Both are easy and unshaded.

When is the best time to visit Malabar Headland National Park?

March to May and September to November for mild weather. May to November is whale season from the cliffs, September to November brings the banksia flowering, and December to February is hot and busy, so walk before 9:00.

Is the park always open?

No. The eastern section closes whenever the ANZAC Rifle Range is firing, and the park shuts at night. Check the park alerts page on the day you go.

Can I get there without a car?

Yes. Buses run along Anzac Parade from the Sydney CBD to Maroubra in about 45–60 minutes, and the park entrances are a short walk from the beach.

Are there toilets or cafes in the park?

No. There are no facilities inside the boundary; use the ones at Maroubra Beach or Pioneers Park, and eat in Maroubra or Malabar.

Deep dive

Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go