We can’t imagine a better way for cyclist to arrive in Sydney.  We started the day in Stanwell Park.  It was a bit of a shock to the system as the hill rose straight out of Stanwell Park. It was also nice knowing this was the steepest hill of the day which was over within 30 minutes.  The day’s riding was through the 2^nd oldest national park in the world, Royal National Park.  Almost 95% of the park was burnt during the 1994 bushfires but from the road we couldn’t see any evidence due to the Australian flora’s ability to regenerate.  We cycled through tall trees with very little traffic.  We saw many lycra-clad road cyclists and chatted to them as they overtook us.

By noon we arrived in the pretty harbourside village of Bundeena which is surrounded by the national park.  Although Bundeena is the end of the road and a considerable distance from Sydney by road, it is only a short ferry ride from Cronulla.  We had a two hour wait for the ferry and so we sat on a park bench with a great beach view and ate lunch then chilled.  The ferry was quiet busy with a large Probus group who were very chatty.  The small ferry delivered us to Cronulla with great views of the harbourside homes of the rich and famous.  Our accommodation was then only a few hundred meters from the ferry.

Cycling into a big city is always daunting and usually involves suburbs, industrial and commercial areas and busy roads.  We got to arrive in Sydney by cycling a quiet forest road in a national park to a beautiful beach then a quaint ferry ride.  An amazing way to arrive in Sydney for cyclists!!

Highlight of the day: A national park then ferry ride arrival into Sydney.

Cycling through Royal National Park

Chilling in Bundeena

Bundeena foreshore

Jen on the ferry

Will’s bike on the ferry

Arriving in Cronulla, Sydney

Cronulla Beach