Kurnell Foreshore Walk
On Gweagal Country in Botany Bay
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An easy foreshore walk in Kurnell combining coastal views over Botany Bay with some of Sydney’s most significant shared Aboriginal and European history.
Distance: 7.5 km Time: 1–2 hours
Steps: c12,000
Level of Difficulty: Easy -
Burrawang Walk interpretive trail
Eyes of the Land and the Sea, Whales and Canoes sculptures
Captain Cook’s Landing Place & Meeting Place precinct
Silver Beach shoreline walking
Bonna Point Reserve playground & picnic areas
Botany Bay views
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Mostly flat, paved and suitable for prams and wheelchairs (except beach sections)
Free street parking along Prince Charles Parade; NPWS parking fees apply inside Kamay Botany Bay National Park
Dogs permitted on-leash along Prince Charles Parade and parts of Silver Beach; prohibited in sanctuary areas around Bonna Point
Toilets and picnic facilities at Bonna Point Reserve and Commemoration Flat
This easy out-and-back walk follows the Kurnell foreshore between Kamay Botany Bay National Park and Bonna Point Reserve. It combines sweeping views across Botany Bay with layers of shared history.
Beginning at the Burrawang Walk in the national park, the route traces the site of the first recorded encounter between the Gweagal people and the crew of the HMB Endeavour in 1770. It then continues along the foreshore beside Silver Beach to Bonna Point.
WALKING THE TRAIL
Burrawang Walk (Kamay Botany Bay National Park)
The walk begins in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, which spans both sides of Botany Bay from Kurnell to La Perouse.
The Burrawang Walk traces the story of the first meeting between the local Aboriginal people and the crew of the HMB Endeavour in April 1770. For many years this headland held monuments reflecting only Australia’s European history. More recently, the site has been reframed to acknowledge Gweagal (Dharawal) custodianship and the shared, and contested, histories of the place.
Interpretive signage along the path explores both Aboriginal and European perspectives, pre and post-settlement. A plaque along the walk reads:
“Celebrated as the birthplace of modern Australia, mourned as the site of original dispossession of the Aboriginal people … this is a meeting place of histories, cultures and people.”
The walk incorporates the Monument Track, passing the Meeting Place, Banks’ Memorial and Captain Cook’s Landing Place.
To mark the 250th anniversary of the first encounter between Europeans and Aboriginal Australians, three large bronze sculptures were installed along the foreshore. The sculptures are striking and prominent additions to the landscape here.
The Eyes of the Land and the Sea was created by Aboriginal artist Alison Page and Nik Lachacjzak. It “brings together different perspectives on our shared history – the bones of a whale and the ribs of a ship.” (Alison Page)
The Whales and Nuwi Canoes are the work of artists Theresa Ardler and Julie Squires. The first speaks to the dreaming of the Dharawal people and their connection to the sea and the second, to their fishing history. The woven net that sits alongside the whale figures was cast from a net created by master weaver Aunty Phyllis Stewart.
Eyes of the Land and Sea by Alison Page and Nik Lachacjzak
Silver Beach to Bonna Point Reserve
Leaving the national park you’ll begin the two km or so walk along Prince Charles Parade to Bonna Point Reserve. The footpath runs parallel to Silver Beach so you might prefer to take to the sand for at least part of the way.
Silver Beach is frequented by locals and those escaping the crowds of beaches in the area. The eastern end of the beach is a good entry point for snorkelling to the Landing Place, while the western end near the boat ramp includes an off-leash dog area.
Bonna Point Reserve opens into a broad foreshore park with picnic lawns, barbecues and facilities. The standout feature, particularly for families, is the large playground with elevated rope walkways, a 4.5-metre slide, flying fox and skate area, plus a separate play area for younger children.
Parts of Bonna Point Reserve - including the mangroves in Quibray Bay - are designated wildlife and nature sanctuaries. Migratory shorebirds inhabit the beaches around Bonna Point, and dogs are prohibited in these protected areas.
Return to Kurnell
Retrace your steps along the footpath or beach to return to the start.
If you’re hungry or thirsty, there are a couple of cafes at the end of the road near the National Park. In the park itself, Commemoration Flat picnic area offers a number of shady picnic spots with tables and barbecues.
If you’d like to explore the area further and enjoy some fabulous clifftop views, try the Cape Baily Track on the other side of the headland in the national park. Alternatively, the start of the Cronulla Loop Track is just ten minutes drive away. This walk winds around the Cronulla Peninsula, passing several local beaches and waterside parks.