Welcome to Bundeena Community Guide and Business Directory in the Area of the Sutherland Shire and located in Greater Sydney NSW Australia

Bundeena Community Guide and Business Directory

Location

Bundeena is a village on the outskirts of southern Sydney, located 29km south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the Sutherland Shire.

Bundeena is adjacent to the village of Maianbar and lies on the southern side of Port Hacking, opposite the suburbs of Cronulla and Burraneer. The village is surrounded by the Royal National Park.

The beaches at Bundeena are Jibbon Beach, Bonnievale Beach, Gunyah Beach and Horderns Beach. Cabbage Tree Creek and 'The Basin' separate Bundeena from Maianbar. A bush track and footbridge link the two villages.

Transport

Bundeena may be accessed by passenger ferry from Cronulla or by road through the Royal National Park from Sutherland or Waterfall. Cronulla and National Park Ferry Cruises provides regular ferry services between Cronulla and Bundeena. The wharf at Cronulla is located on Gunnamatta, near Cronulla railway station.

Bundeena to Marley Beach, Royal National Park

The ferry to Bundeena is old-world, and the ferry ride, village and national park all have plenty of atmosphere and charm. For those who opt to save time and drive, swimming in the lagoon after the walk across huge, rolling sandhills is still wonderfully rewarding.

Things to do: Spectacular coastal scenery, heathlands and swimming holes make this walk richly rewarding. The ocean beach is not patrolled and can have dangerous rips and currents, so beach swimming isn't recommended but Deep Pool, a freshwater pool 1.5km west of the beach is fabulous for swimming, wading and playing. Make sure you have a map if you want to find it. Rock platforms are a feature at both ends of the beach. Birdwatchers know the area as one of the main haunts of the tawny-crowned honeyeater, so bring binoculars if you'd like to catch a glimpse.

Distance/grade/time required:
If arriving by car – 6.5km return; medium; 3 hours.
If arriving by public transport – 8.5km return; medium; 4 hours. The track passes close to cliff edges in places, so would be suitable only for older children under strict supervision.

Getting there:
By car (from Sydney) – Turn left off the Princes Highway at Farnell Avenue, just south of Loftus, then left onto Bundeena Drive. The trip takes about 20 minutes.

By car (from Wollongong) – Join Lawrence Hargrave Drive at Stanwell Tops for 5.5km, then bear right onto Lady Wakehurst Drive for 13km. This then becomes Sir Bertram Stevens Drive. Turn right into Bundeena Drive 10km along.

By public transport – Catch a train to Cronulla, then a ferry to Bundeena from the wharf in Tonkin Street near the station (leaves every hour on the half hour on weekends). At Bundeena, walk south on Brighton Street, before entering the park and joining the Marley Head Trail. Continue south to the steep descent at the east end of Marley Beach.

… and getting away:
By car or public transport – Simply follow the directions above in the reverse order.

Costs: Cars entering the park need a vehicle day pass, which costs $11. The ferry costs $5 one-way (adults) and $13 for families (up to 4 children).

History

Bundeena is an Aboriginal word meaning 'noise like thunder'. Aboriginal rock engravings made by Dharawal people can be found at Jibbon Head.

In 1815 there were reports of criminals in the Cabbage Tree Creek region who were producing sly grog. They used the caves along the foreshore for storage. The first land grants were made to Owen Byrne and George Simpson. William Simpson built a hotel at what is now known as Bonnie Vale.

W.A. Hodgkinson conducted a launch service from Gunnamatta Bay in 1908. Captain R.R. Ryall commenced the Cronulla to Bundeena ferry service in 1915. Bundeena Public School opened on 14 September 1948.