This is a regularLBUG ride in August. Distance: about 50 km Waterfall to Bundeena.
Note that from Bundeena we catch the ferry to Cronulla across Port Hacking, with the option of riding back to Leichhardt (another 25 km) or catching a train from Cronulla. The ride is classified as a Moderate grade although there are a few good hills and the difficulty depends a lot on the weather and wind. A southwesterly will make the last leg easy. It is sheltered down in the Park but exposed on the tops.
We took the train from Sydenham at 9.28 am on Sundays to Waterfall, arriving 10.15 am. Or there is an earlier 840 am from Central.
From Waterfall Station follow Sir Bertram Stevens Drive into the Park to the bottom of the hill (a fast 4 km downhill run), and turn right onto Lady Wakehurst Drive. Follow along through impressive rain forest for about 10 km to the park boundary at Otford. Great views of the ocean and Illawarra coast to Wollongong and beyond as you emerge from the Park. About 500 m further on is the Otford Pie Shop, where the food and coffee is reasonable, and there is space indoors or outdoors for some hungry cyclists, also a toilet round the back.
After a rest it is retrace your steps along Lady Wakehurst. Ignore the turn off to Waterfall and keep going ahead up a steep little climb ( this is Sir Bertram Stevens Drive again). If you are wondering why all the Sirs and Ladies, it is Royal National Park after all, dating from Victorian times. You will see the entrance to the walking track to Audley shortly after, Lady Carrington Drive. Cyclists can use this track and it is worth a second trip to take this option. From Audley there is a steep 2 km climb out to Sutherland. However, on this route we keep going up a 3 to 4 km climb on Sir Bertram Stevens to the top near the turn-off to Garie Beach. You could explore Garie Beach, and Wattamolla Beach a bit further on, but it is a steep climb out from these beaches so we keep on along the open tops through coastal heath (often burnt out by bushfires) for 5 or 6 kilometres of undulating road until the turn-off to Bundeena.
There is a short steep uphill section about 2 km from the turn-off that may catch you by surprise, but after that it is a great 6 km or so downhill to Bundeena. Just watch the speed at the very end as there is a sharp left into Bundeena. Also the road surface is bumpy in places, particularly near the shoulder, so beware.
At Bundeena there are a few cafes for another break before catching the ferry, which runs on the hour, across to Cronulla. This a very pleasant way to go, but you do have to pay an extra half fare for your bike (total $8.10 in August 2008) and the ferry hands seem to think cyclists should give way to other passengers, so if the group is too big you might have to split up and wait for the next ferry. The ferry is sometimes cancelled if the wind or waves are too big. Ring Cronulla Ferries before hand.
From the Cronulla ferry wharf it is a short walk to Cronulla Station or you can ride back to Leichhardt (another 25 km) via Captain Cook Bridge and Brighton (see the Cronulla/Kurnell ride description).
