Cronulla: Esplanade and Sand Dunes Run

Cronulla, a suburb in southern Sydney known for its numerous surf beaches and swimming spots, is also a treat for runners! There are two scenic running options in Cronulla that can be combined: The Esplanade path along the beach, and paths through a series of sand dunes in Cronulla State Park. Our thanks to Tamika B. for this route suggestion!  

The Esplanade. This is a scenic 4 km run on a paved waterfront promenade. There are great beach and water views the whole way, impressive waterfront homes, and lots of people! The north end starts as Smitty’s Walk at Elouera Beach, and runs south to Hungry Point Reserve. Also known as the Cronulla Beach walk, the beachside path runs along North Cronulla Beach, South Cronulla Beach, Shelly Beach, Oak Park Beach, Bass and FIanders Point, and Salmon Hall Preserve.

Sand Dunes Run. This is a unique opportunity to run through the heritage sand dunes at Cronulla State Park. Starting at Wanda Beach, there’s a series of paths along and through the sand dunes, where walking/running is permitted. The dunes paths start at Wanda Beach. The easier path is the firmer surfaced path indicated on the route map. There’s also a path more through the dunes — but the soft sand makes for a challenging run!

• To combine the dunes & esplanade routes, head north from North Cronulla Beach to Wanda Beach for 1 km along Mitchell Rd., which has a wide sidewalk with nice water views.
• Note: the beaches in the area tend to have soft sand, but can be runnable near the water.

Pro Tip: Take a post-run dip in the sea or the one of the rock pools at Cronulla Beach.