The Sapphire Coast is surrounded by some of the most spectacular National Parks & walking tracks Australia has to offer.

Enjoy walks thru rainforests & bush teeming with wildlife to the coast & prisitine beaches to sit & watch the whales pass by or just enjoy the history & rich colours this incredable area has to offer.

There are so many walks to do you may need to extend your holiday.  

START WITH THE BASICS

MERIMBULA BOARDWALK

3.4kms RETURN      Time: 2 hours  Grade: EASY
Entrance next to main bridge on Market street, Merimbula
 Meander around the north edge of Merimbula Lake along a timber boardwalk & watch the sun rise & set.

PAMBULA RIVER WALKING TRACK

(Ben Boyd National Park) 
1.2kms RETURN  Time: 30mins     Grade: EASY W/ SOME                 STEPS
Entrance on Coraki Drive, west along Pambula River.
This bush track winds through coastal forest with an abundance of wildlife. Lookouts have views over the river to sandy beaches, ancient aboriginal middens and dense forests

BOURNDA LAGOON TO NORTH TURA BEACH  (Bournda National Park) 

2kms RETURN  Time:30mins Grade: EASY
Entrance right of Sapphire Coast Dr, North of Merimbula
Walk through beautiful health land with spectacular views of the coastline with whales & dolphins. Walk around the lagoon to Bournda Island.

THE PINNACLES  (Ben Boyd National Park) 

1km RETURN           Time: 30 mins        Grade: EASY
Princess Highway South of Pambula
Stroll through amazing forest, woodland, heath and a moist gully to the Pinnacles, an erosion formation of colourful gravels and clays creating a spectacular sight. Access to Long Beach is available from here.

LAKE CURALO (Eden)

3kms RETURN            Time: 40mins Grade: EASY
Princess highway Eden
Lake Curalo Walkway is a fantastic, accessible location for bird watching. If you follow the boardwalk to the east there is access to Aslings Beach or you may wish to follow the Maritime Heritage Walk where depictions of Eden’s historical links with the sea have been etched into the footpath.

SIX MILE CREEK (South East Forest National Park) 

600metres RETURN Time: 15mins Grade: EASY
Entrance off Tantawangalo Mountain Rd, West of Candelo across the road from the picnic area
A fantastic easy stroll to stretch your legs through a eucalypt forest up to a viewing platform which overlooks cascading waters on their way to meet the Tantawangalo creek.

HOBART BEACH TO BOURNDA LAGOON

(Bournda National Park)
5kms RETURN      Time: 2 hours  Grade: EASY
Off Sapphire Coast Drive North of Merimbula
Stroll thru low coastal heath and eucalypt forest to see the tranquillity of the Bournda Lagoon.

HOBART BEACH CAMPGROUND TO BONDI LAKE(Bournda National Park)

2kms RETURN  Time: 1hour Grade: EASY
Off Sapphire Coast Drive North of Merimbula
Hidden just behind the coastal dunes discover Bondi lake, a fresh water lake filled with waterbirds for the nature lover.
NUNNOCKS (South East Forest National Park) 
VARIES    Time: 30mins TO A FULL DAY    Grade: EASY
Tantawangalo Mountain Rd, New Line Rd from Cathcart or Packers Swamp Rd from Bemboka
Visit Alexanders Hut, an historic timber hut occupied until the 1980s. Native grasslands, woodlands and swamps, each with their special landscape charm, can be explored via a network of walking tracks including the Nunnocks Swamp walking track.

BERMAGUI FOREST PICNIC AREA

450m - 1.3kms Time: 30 mins to 1hour Grade: EASY TO
          MODERATE
Entrance Bermagui Scenic forest drive, north of Cobargo/Bermagui drive
A stroll thru a fantastic picnic area with an abundance of wild life & listen to the magical calls of the native birds.
MAIN RIDGE TRACK (Tathra forest wildlife reserve)
4kms RETURN    Time: 2hrs    Grade: MODERATE/STEEP
Thompsons Road Tathra
Along the Main Ridge Track  of coastal rainforest, this walk is a shady haven in summer. A secluded wetland area has an abundance of waterbirds including great egrets and white-faced herons as well as frogs and eastern water dragons. A wildlife lovers heaven.

PHEASANTS PEAK  (South East Forest National Park)

4kms RETURN  Time: 2 hours Grade: MEDIUM
Coolangubra Forest Way from Cathcart or the Imlay road, south of Eden
Set amongst granite boulder country, Pheasants Peak has a dramatic walking track. Follow the rough fire trail to the peak where you can look across the Monaro towards the Snowy Mountains and down the south coast escarpment. A walk that’s well worth the trip.

MYAMBA GORGE (South East Forest National Park)


4kms RETURN  Time: 2 hours Grade: MEDIUM
Bucky Springs Road from Bombala, Coolungubra Forest Way from Cathcart or from Imlay Rd Eden
Myamba Gorge has walks suitable for people of all abilities, some areas with wheelchair access. For a more adventurous walk head up to a viewing platform where Myamba Creek cascades over a massive granite formation with views deep into Myamba Gorge and the Towamba Valley. A photographers heaven.

WOLUMLA PEAK 

1km RETURN  Time: 40mins Grade: MEDIUM
Entrance Tantawangalo Mountain, Chalkhills Rd off Mount Darrah Rd
Wolumla Peak Picnic Area is peaceful & serene spot to stop for lunch. Take the track to the top of Wolumla Peak for incredible views. The more adventurous can walk down the Wolumla Peak Fire Trail
 
GOODENIA RAINFOREST

(South East Forest National Park) 
1.2kms RETURN  Time: 50mins Grade: MEDIUM
Entrance Chalkhills Rd off Mount Darrah Rd
Goodenia Rainforest has an easy return track that descends into a warm, temperate rainforest gully with an abundance of wildlife.

MYRTLE MOUNTAIN (South East forests national park) 

4kms RETURN          Time: 2 hours         Grade: MEDIUM 
Chalkhills Rd off Mount Darragh Rd west of Merimbula
Myrtle Mountain is a sacred Aboriginal place. Please show respect as you ascend through the lush, wet, ferny forest to the summit where the lookout offers panoramic views to the coast.

TURINGAL HEAD TO GAMES BAY

(Bournda National Park) 
5kms RETURN        Time: 2 hours            Grade: MEDIUM
Off Sapphire Coast Drive North of Merimbula
Secluded in a once old dairy farm area, enjoy the coastal views along the way from an especially scenic part of Kangarutha Track heading along to Games Bay.

MAXWELLS RAINFOREST WALK

(Maxwells Flora Reserve) 
1.2kms LOOP       Time: 45 mins             Grade: MEDIUM
Maxwells Road, Wallagaraugh Forest Drive
There are places to rest and enjoy the ambience and signs informing the visitors of the values of this amazing forests plant life.
The damp, earthy smell invades the senses on this exquisite walk as it descends through a pristine pinkwood forest with a lush understorey of tree ferns. Mosses, lichens and ferns cling to massive fallen trees and rocks.

BOURNDA LAGOON WALK

(Bournda National Park) 
6kms LOOP Time: 6 hours       Grade: DIFFICULT
Entrance right off Sapphire Coast Drive, into the Bournda lagoon car park North of Merimbula
The walk follows the edge of the lagoon to Bournda Island before heading inland and back along Sandy Creek. It passes through exquisite coastal habitats including pockets of rainforest. It is a great location for bird watching, and dolphins are often seen off Bournda and North Tura beaches. A park-use fee is applicable.

Full Day & Overnight Walks for the adventurous

LIGHT TO LIGHT (Ben Boyd National Park) 

30kms ONE WAY       Time: 2-4 DAYS Grade: MEDIUM
Boyd's Tower & Green Cape Lightstation off Edrom Road
A walk for the more adventurous, the Light to Light Walking Track runs from Boyd's Tower to Green Cape Lightstation passing through spectacular coastal scenery. It is dotted with vestiges of European efforts to tame this isolated coast and harvest the wild seas. The entire walk takes 3-4 days, or you may choose sections from numerous points along the way. Whales tend to come in close here to stop & feed their young while they gather energy before they do the dash south during their annual migration in spring and Green Cape is one of the best vantage points.
A park-use fee is applicable.

KANGARUTHA TRACK      (Bournda National Park) 

9kms ONE WAY    Time: FULL DAY      Grade: MODERATE /                 DIFFICULT
Mid way access for half walk at White Rock, Kianinny Bay or Turingal Head for full walk.
The Kangarutha Track follows the coastline from Kianinny Bay to Turingal Head through Bournda National Park. This challenging walk has ocean vistas, sandy and pebbly beaches and a variety of coastal vegetation. It is best to organise a car shuffle at either end or midway at White Rock for a shorter walk. There is a park-use fee if you leave a vehicle at Turingal Head.

INFORMATION ON THESE WALKS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY NATIONAL PARKS & WILDLIFE & OTHER INDEPENDENT COMPANIES PLEASE ASK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service - Merimbula If you're planning a visit to the parks of south-east NSW, make the Merimbula National Parks and Wildlife Office your first stop. You'll find maps and guides and staff have extensive knowledge of the places you want to visit. If roads or walking tracks have become unsafe due to bad weather, or if there's a total fire ban in the park, they'll be able to tell you. You can also make campsite bookings and find out about Discovery activities during holiday periods. Hours: 8.30 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday. Open seven days during peak periods.

02 6495 5000