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The James Cook Heritage Trail

Garie North Head

Grade 3: A striking 80m high white cliff in Royal National Park. This area is much as it was when Cook observed it. Superb views of this unspoiled coast close to Sydney from the top of Garie North Head.

Situation: North of Garie Beach, north of Otford in Royal National Park. Access from Southern Freeway at Waterfall. Walking track from Garie Beach.

Coordinates (decimal): 34.17 S 151.07 E

Endeavour Journal, 26 April 1770:

At Noon it fell little wind and Veerd to NEbN, we being than in the Latitude of 34.10 and Longitude 208.27 W and about 5 Leags from the land… In this Latitude are some white cliffs which rise perpendicularly from the sea to a moderate height.

The latitude corresponds with today’s Garie North Head, a striking 80m high white cliff in Royal National Park, south of Sydney, which would have been visible from Cook’s position five leagues (27 km) offshore.

Video of the white cliff at Garie North Head: Click to watch the video!