La Perouse Historical Walk (2km)

The La Perouse Historical Walk is a 2 kilometre, grade 2 circuit in Kamay Botany Bay National Park in New South Wales. Allow around an hour to complete it at a relaxed pace. It is an easy, mostly sealed walk with a short bridge crossing, making it suitable for families and anyone looking for a gentle coastal outing with plenty of history along the way.

The walk begins at the southern end of Cann Park on Anzac Parade at La Perouse, near the Congwong Beach sign. From here, follow the footpath towards the water and the distinctive stone tower ahead. After a short stretch, cross Anzac Parade and pass through the timber posts marked by a Botany Bay National Park sign. A brief walk across open grass brings you to the Barrack Tower, a solid stone structure that hints at the area’s layered military past.

From the tower, the track heads gently downhill over grass towards the shoreline. Steps lead down to Anzac Parade again, where you will find seating at the top of the Bare Island Trail beside another park sign. This is a natural pause point before continuing downhill along the moderately steep driveway that leads towards Bare Island. The concrete gives way to asphalt as you approach the 100 metre timber bridge. The bridge is wide and sturdy, and the views back towards the headland and across Botany Bay are worth slowing down for.

At the far end of the bridge, a large metal gate marks the entrance to Bare Island Fort. The island is generally locked, but guided tours operate on Sunday afternoons. Built in 1885 to protect the colony’s water supply and defend against potential foreign invasion, the fort later served as a retirement home for veterans of the Crimea, Sudan and China campaigns. It closed in 1963 and eventually came under the care of the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service as a museum and historic site. Tours involve many steps and are not wheelchair accessible. The surrounding waters are popular with scuba divers, and a steep set of timber steps near the gate leads down to a rock platform that is only safe to access at low tide and in calm seas.

After exploring the bridge and island entrance, retrace your steps to the main junction and turn left. A gravel track runs for about 80 metres with the road on your right and the water on your left, leading to a roadside car park. Cross the road and continue across the grass towards the large brick building that houses the La Perouse Museum.

The museum occupies the former cable station and contains an impressive collection of artefacts linked to the French expedition led by Jean François de Galaup, known as La Perouse. Inside, you will find relics from shipwrecks, historic maps and scientific instruments dating back to the sixteenth century. One of the highlights is a complete atlas of the Voyage of La Perouse, featuring seventy two coloured drawings and maps from the expedition between 1785 and 1788. The museum is open Thursday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm and is closed on Christmas Day. Access is via a steep staircase.

Nearby stands the tomb of Père Laurent Receveur, a priest and botanist who died in February 1788 from injuries sustained earlier in the voyage. His grave is recognised as the first known European burial site on Australian soil. A short distance away, near Cape Banks, a monument commemorates La Perouse himself. His ships, the Astrolabe and the Boussole, disappeared not long after leaving Australia, making Botany Bay the last confirmed point of contact with the expedition.

Frenchmans Bay Beach sits on the northern side of Botany Bay and offers a sheltered stretch of sand. There is a playground for children, electric barbecues and several nearby cafes and restaurants, making it an easy place to extend your visit. From the Boatshed Cafe, follow the footpath gently uphill for about 240 metres, passing Danny’s Seafood Restaurant and crossing sealed roads. This brings you back to the southern end of Cann Park and the Congwong Beach sign, completing the loop.

This short walk combines open coastal scenery with significant colonial and maritime history. It is an easy outing, but one that rewards anyone who takes the time to read the signs, visit the museum and look closely at the details that shaped this part of Sydney’s coastline.