Sydney’s Royal National Park expands its footprint

Australia's oldest national park, Royal National Park - situated in Sydney’s south - has expanded after unformed road reserves near Bundeena were formally added to the park.

This 5-hectare addition protects intact vegetation comprising forested wetland, heathland and dry sclerophyll forest.

The additions mean Royal National Park now protects 15,094 hectares of land.

Royal National Park, which also boasts being the second oldest national park in the world behind Yellowstone in the United States, protects a range of significant conservation values involving cultural and natural heritage.

It features many different ecosystems and provides important habitat for many threatened species.

Sydney’s Royal National Park provides plenty of opportunities for recreation including for picnics and barbecues, fishing, bushwalking birdwatching and whale watching.

Bundeena Progress Association has been advocating for the addition of this land to the national park to ensure the bushland is protected and it is secured from any future development. Sutherland Shire Council agreed to the road reserves being incorporated into the national park.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) implements an ongoing program of land acquisition to reserve land. The NSW national park estate now covers over 7.634 million hectares or 9.52% of the state.