Wattamolla Beach

Less than an hour from the city, the Royal National Park’s native bushland, dramatic cliffs, and waterfalls make it a great spot for hiking and nature photography. There’s potential for action shots as well—Wattamolla Beach is popular for swimming and attracts adrenaline junkies who come for the cliff-jumping opportunities, straight into the water. Make sure you bring food and plenty of drinking water, especially if you’re planning a longer hike. There’s parking at Wattamolla, making it a good place to begin a trek, but arrive early as there are a limited number of spaces and they fill up fast. Bring a trail map too—phone reception can be patchy.