Royal National Park: coast walk: water

[Summitview]

Hi there

We will be doing the Royal National Park coast walk this weekend, staying at North Era, starting at Otford. I understand that there can be flowing, drinkable water at North Era, but it is unreliable. Is anyone able to report whether the freshwater part of the creek flowing at the moment (or recently)? If so, is the water readily accessible from the campsite? thanks

[michael_p]

I walked through North Era in April. From memory there was not much water in the creek near the campground. Good chance it would be dry by now.

I think it would be worth taking some extra water for the overnight camp. The next day you can get water just over the point at Garie Beach.

[FionaShedden]

Last time I was in there was over a year ago and there was water but if you walked upstream you would have spotted two things that would make me think you may get very sick if you drank the water:
1. Plenty of loo paper hidden behind bushes (even though there are the 2 drop pits), and;
2. The creek had a dead and decaying deer in it.

I personally don't rely on clean water anywhere in RNP even if it is flowing... way too many inexperienced walkers and deer around in RNP!

[rustyjus]

You can get water 1.5 litre bottled water from the Kiosk at Garie Beach.
If you have a bottle he will refill it if you buy some chips or a cheese toastie something.
Otherwise there a taps in the change rooms at the surf club - but Im unsure where it comes from.

[michael_p]

deer

Yes. I forgot to mention that we did see Deer grazing in the srcub near the campground.

[wildwanderer]

Was there mid April didn't look like there was much of anything. Though we have had some rain since so you might get a few pools.

All the streams I saw south of garie were dry.

Dead deer and poop paper near water is of course disgusting but with proper chemical treatment or 0.1 micron filter it shouldn't harm you.

[DavidB]

There is tap water in the loos behind Garie Beach. NPWS sign saying its unfit for drinking. I assume its from a rainwater tank. If you're unsure treat it first.

[Summitview]

Many thanks for all your help. Cheers

[Summitview]

A further question. We will be coming up on the train to do the walk. Does anyone know if there is a handy tap at or near Otford Station with potable water?

[Warin]

OSM shows drinking water https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/- ... /151.00595 surveyed 5 years ago. Could stil be there.
The transport info says there is a toilet there..
There is a community hall and fire brigade, those may have access able water.

And a cafe at the top of the hill, 'Otford Pantry', if your out of luck elsewhere.

[johnw]

OSM shows drinking water https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/- ... /151.00595 surveyed 5 years ago. Could stil be there.
The transport info says there is a toilet there..

Otford station is tiny and has always been unmanned when I've been there. Toilets etc locked. I can't recall if there is an accessible tap on the platform.

[DavidB]

Otford Station is not staffed on the weekends so the loos are locked. Can't recall if there is a tap on the platform.

[Warin]

The train service on the weekends is ~half that of a weekday. Your also more likely to have crowds on the weekends too. If possible do the walk on a week day.

[Summitview]

thanks for your further comments. Looks like it will be best to bring water from home.

[Summitview]

Just back from the walk, which we really enjoyed.

For the record, we found quite a lot of water on the walk, much of which looked like it would be perennial. There is the question of pollution upstream. I nearly always treat water I collect in the bush, using Micropur tablets. You cannot be sure that there are no pathogens in the water. I do, however, recommend looking on the map at the catchment to see whether there might be toxic chemicals issuing upstream (which treatment will generally not remove), particularly in the broader Sydney regions. In this case, it looked to me that water sources in Royal National Park would generally not be affected in that way.

There is very helpfully a tap, even signed as drinking water, at the southern end of the Otford railway station eastside platform. A creek had a little bit of water about 3km along from the railway station, and a couple of creeks before North Era had a little water which should have been okay with treatment.

If the Garie Beach surf life-saving club wasn't accessible, then a creek not much further along the beach should have been okay. Then there were several streams with good flows in the Curra Moors area, as well as at Wattamolla and the Water Run.

Lots of deer were evident around North Era, but not so further along in the uncleared heathy country to the north and east, which I suspect is less suitable deer habitat.

[michael_p]

Thank you for reporting back. Good to know there is a tap at Otford station.

[kjbeath]

They are currently culling deer.