The South Coast of New South Wales is home to a multitude of spectacular coastal walks. On this 7 day pack-free journey, we will explore some of the highlights of the South Coast including the Royal National Park Coast Track, Coomies Walk, Currarong in Jervis Bay, Kangarutha Track in Bournda National Park, Tathra and the Light to Light walk in Eden. We start with the award-winning 2 day Royal National Park Walk on the spectacular Coast Track that is the jewel in the crown of the Royal National Park in Sydney. The 26km Coast Track runs along sheer sandstone cliffs with panoramic views stretching miles in all directions. Experience picturesque freshwater lagoons, the unusual milky white cliff faces sculpted by the sea, ancient Aboriginal carvings and the tranquil Palm Jungle rainforest plus much more. Then we go on Coomies Walk, which takes us around Currarong Headland in Jervis Bay, which is known for its white sand beaches and brilliant turquoise waters, which are among the safest and most beautiful in the world. Following this we embark on the Kangarutha walking track, in Bournda National Park, a beautiful hiking route with scenic coastal views. We end with one of New South Wales’ best-kept secrets, the amazing Light to Light Walk that is situated on the Sapphire Coast near Eden. This scenic guided Pack Free 30km walk winds its way from the historic Lighthouse at Boyds Tower to the charming 1883 Lighthouse at Green Cape. This dramatic landscape is a kaleidoscope of contrasts from the striking 320 million years old red rocky outcrops to coastal forests. Far from clinging to the coast, the walk meanders across the invisible boundaries that separate one set of plant habitats from another. As if stepping through a door, heathland gives away to tall open forests. Thick groves of tea tree or paperbark trees emerge into open coastal banksia woodlands or imposing forests of Woolly Butt.
Walk with as little as your water and lunch
Our Pack Free walk has been designed so you can avoid carrying your clothes and gear in a heavy pack. Walk each day with as little as your camera and water and spend your time enjoy the delights of this wonderful area.
including local wines
In the evenings we dine in at the hotel/camps a la carte restaurants. There is no better way to finish the day. All dinners include fine wine to enjoy with your meal.
Dining in the Gunyah at Paperbark Camp with its wonderful food and specially selected regional wines served amongst the treetops, is without a doubt a one of highlights of the sty here, elevating the concept of bush tucker to new heights.
at Austimer Beach
We stay at the superb Headlands at Austinmer Beach. This accommodation is ideally located on the waterfront offering stunning panoramic views over the ocean. This hotel features a restaurant and bar and is the perfect place to relax after a day’s walk. Guests will stay in Deluxe Studio rooms with king bed or two king single beds with generous sized balcony.
a tented bush camp in Jervis Bay
Paperbark Camp is a secluded bush retreat in gorgeous Jervis Bay (just 2hrs south of Sydney), offering 12 tented safari-style accommodation, delicious meals, and warm hospitality.
Stay in a Deluxe Safari Tent Each tent with its own private showers and freestanding bath and enjoy the fresh sea breezes owing to raised wooden decks and wraparound verandas. All 12 canvas-clad tents offer laid-back luxury surrounded by soaring eucalyptus and paperbark trees.
4 star hotel
After a day’s hiking experience, there’s nothing better than returning to wonderful accommodation where you can rest and recharge your batteries. Our accommodation for two night is the luxurious Seahorse boutique hotel located on the shores of pretty Twofold Bay commanding stunning views to Eden. This accommodation offers modern luxury with the ambience of old-world charm. Relax and unwind in the Cocktail Lounge before dinner taking in the beautiful views. The accommodation has a choice of king or twin beds.
Maximum of 10 walkers
Our tours are designed for a maximum of 10 walkers, however, if you have a bigger group, please contact us to see if we can accommodate you.
Explore the marine life of Eden
To make your journey extra special we have included a special cruise on day 6. See the stunning and colourful coastline by boat as well as an array of birdlife. If we are lucky we will encounter marine life such as dolphins and seals and in November we may even spot a migrating whale.
Chief Experience Officer
Our guide which we refer to as our Chief Experience Officer is passionate about this area’s flora, fauna and history. They will ensure your walking holiday is everything you hoped it would be and bring the group together as well as sharing their love of the environment in which you will travel.
including Australia's best Adventure Tourism Company
Life’s an Adventure have won 21 Tourism Awards of Excellence including the Qantas Australian Tourism Award for Australia’s Best Adventure Company. Awards are great, but our biggest accolade which we value even more, is that our clients come back and travel with us time and time again.
We provide a genuinely all-inclusive experience. When you travel with us you won’t need to keep putting your hand in your pocket to pay for additional items not included in your tour, such as meals, wine and activities. Often these are hidden costs which can add up considerably when purchasing higher priced items.
NO Credit Cards Fees!
Cancel for any reason option
FlexiWalk is a new optional Add-On that allows passengers to cancel their tour last minute and not be penalised. Exclusively designed by Life’s An Adventure, this product gives our guests certainty in a time of uncertainty. Click here to find out more details
Your 7-day walking holiday includes:
HOW TO GET TO YOUR WALK:
Whether you live in NSW or visiting from elsewhere we give you a number of options to meet us to join your walk.
MEET TIME BUNDEENA: 9.00am
TRANSFER TIMES: Morning: 15-minute transfer from Bundeena to start of the trail. Afternoon: 15 minute transfer from the end of the walk to accommodation.
WALK DETAILS: Approximately 15.5kms. Easier Option 10kms. 6.5 hours walking with breaks. Medium grade.
TERRAIN: Clear track with a firm base, occasional steps and some short steep ascents and descents.
FLEXIBLE WALKING: For those wanting a shorter walk your support guide can meet you on the track near South Era beach and walk you out to our support vehicle. From here we will transfer you to our accommodation to relax for the remainder of the afternoon.
ITINERARY: Today we transfer to the trail by vehicle. Our walk today takes us from the pretty beach of Wattamolla to Otford close to our accommodation where we will spend the night. From Wattamolla we walk to Curracurrang, there is a rock shelter where evidence has been found of Aboriginal occupation dating back 7500 years. We cross the Curra moors which are beautiful in springtime with wildflowers and honeyeaters. The Royal’s heathlands contain over 500 species of flowering plants. From July to November, many of these wildflowers are in full bloom, and you can walk amidst a riot of colour of hakea and kunzea. We continue to Curracurrong where two creeks drop as waterfalls directly into the ocean and spectacular Eagle Rock juts from the cliffs a massive block of sandstone with a tip shaped like the beak of an eagle. We continue through the Curra Moors until reaching the Garie North Head where the views are one of the finest in the park with vistas south to Port Kembla. Large aboriginal midden can be seen from this site near the beach where harvested shells, bones, and tools have been discarded. We pass the historic shacks of South Era, classified by the National Trust as a historic community. The cabins were built and used during the early 1920s through to the depression years of the 1930s. Out of work men supported their families catching fish, rabbits and growing vegetables. Along the way enjoy a delicious lunch. We head down to Burning Palms, the lovely beach is backed by Cabbage Tree Palms, Lilly p\Pillys and other rainforest plants. We cross open grassland before entering the rainforest. Enroute to Palm Jungle we travel through an exposed hillside of lomandra. Both the fleshy white base and the flowers of lomandra were food sources for the local Dharawal people. The Palm Jungle is a rare patch of coastal rainforest dominated by Cabbage Tree Palms. The canopy is closed and the track is cool and shaded. Moss and ferns cover the ground and rocks. Bangalay eucalypts emerge from the canopy and large figs are scattered along the steep slopes. We continue to Otford where our vehicle meets us for the short transfer to our accommodation tonight at the superb Headlands hotel at Austinmer Beach. Relax and enjoy a swim at the beach or just simply soak up the stunning views. Tonight we dine in the hotel’s restaurant where you will enjoy an a la carte dinner accompanied with Australian wines.
TRANSFER TIMES: Morning: 24 minute transfer from accommodation to start of the trail. Afternoon: walk into Bundeena
WALK DETAILS: Approximately 12kms. 5 – 5.5 hours walking with breaks. Medium grade.
TERRAIN: Clear track with a firm base, occasional steps and some short steep ascents and descents.
ITINERARY: We start our walk beautiful Wattamolla, one of the most popular beaches in the park. Sand across the picturesque inlet at Wattamolla forms a small beach trapping the waters of Wattamolla Creek to form a large lagoon. Known after its aboriginal title, Watta-Mowlee meaning “place near running water”, referring to the waterfall that runs into the lagoon, the name was first recorded by the explorer Mathew Flinders who stopped here on the evening of 29 March 1796 looking for shelter. We make our way along the coast and along the shoreline to just above the rocks to the pleasant cove of Little Marley. Little Marley is an arc of yellow sand backed by grassy flats dominated by she-oaks. We then walk to beautiful Marley Beach. There are few untouched and totally natural beaches left in Sydney, but Marley Beach is one of them. A large freshwater lagoon behind the dunes teems with bird life and is a favourite haunt of deer. From here the track runs close to the cliff edge where great blocks of sandstone have fallen from the cliff face and constant weathering has opened up long, deep cracks in the flat rock. The beautiful colours and patterns in the bare sandstone are caused by iron and other minerals seeping into the white quartz sand. The views from here are stunning. We then head on to Jibbons Head, the relict cliff-top dunes we will explore between Marley Beach and Jibbob were formed during the sea-level rise roughly 10,000 years ago and are the most extensive and best-preserved examples in New South Wales. Once we reach Jibbons Head , we discover on a large flat expanse of sandstone, the Aboriginal inhabitants of this area the Dharawal people engraved a number of subjects into the rock. Some are distinct, but you should be able to make out three large whales or sharks, a stingray, a jellyfish, a male figure with six fingers assumed to be a lawmaker, a wallaby, a shield and a tortoise. (The sandstone is very sensitive to visitor’s walking boots. Please ensure to walk with great care while accessing this site). From Jibbons Head we follow the track through coastal heathland to Bundeena what where our walking journey ends. We finish at approximately 5.00pm depending on the pace of the group. From here we’ll drive to Jervis Bay where we’ll be staying at Paperbark Camp for two nights in an a deluxe safari tent. The drive will take approximately 2hr 15mins (160km). After checking in and freshening up we’ll enjoy a delicious meal onsite at The Gunyah Restaurant.
TRANSFER TIMES: Morning: 40mins (40km) transfer from accommodation to start of the trail. Afternoon: 40mins (40km) transfer back to Paperbark Camp.
WALK DETAILS: Approximately 11.5kms. 4 – 5 hours walking with breaks. Medium grade.
TERRAIN: The terrain varies from native woodland to low scrub.
ITINERARY: This morning enjoy a hearty home cooked breakfast at The Gunyah restaurant before setting out for the day. This walk starts at Abrahams Bosom east end car park and is one of the most popular among adventurers. It takes you to some of the most secluded beaches and provides unrivalled access to the iconic sea cliffs. It includes the “Wreck Walk” by heading initially north to the wreck of the 1928 shipwreck SS Merimbula then following the shore towards Wilson’s Beach. Here we’ll have morning tea and maybe a swim. Next stop is Lobster Bay, then returning to the main track towards Mermaids Inlet but not before a visit to Gosangs Tunnel. Here there is a narrow 20m long gap through the rock emerging at sea cliffs. The final stretch of Coomies Walk we’ll see an aboriginal rock shelter adjoining the track as we finish this lovely loop walk that offers breathtaking ocean and cliff-top views. Once back at Paperbark Camp enjoy the peaceful beauty that surrounds you in this bush retreat. Enjoy a delicious meal at The Gunyah Restaurant (Aboriginal meaning for meeting place) with specially chosen regional wines.
TRANSFER TIMES: Morning: 3hr 45mins (275km) transfer to the start of our walk in Tathra. Afternoon: 1hr (60km) transfer to our accommodation in Boydtown, Eden.
WALK DETAILS: Approximately 9kms. 4 hours walking with breaks. Medium grade.
TERRAIN: This sometimes rocky and variable walk takes in lookouts, pebbly bays, sheltered gullies and clifftop coastal walking through the Bournda National Park.
ITINERARY: This morning enjoy another wonderful breakfast at The Gunyah restaurant before leaving Jervis Bay for our walk in Bournda National Park near Tathra. The national park covers 2648 ha of coastal land with ocean beaches, creeks, lagoons and the expansive waters of Wallagoot Lake all on offer. We’ll have a quick prepared lunch at Kianinny Bay adjoining Tathra before enjoying the 9km Kangarutha Track from Turingal Head to Kianinny Bay, a quiet but spectacular track through to Wallagoot Lake. There are plenty of steps, but a good surface and lots of nice coastal features makes for pleasant walking in the afternoon. The wetlands around Wallagoot Lake’s mouth provide important habitat. During most summer seasons, endangered tiny terns breed on the northern side of Wallagoot Lake. To keep the birds safe, the area has been gated. The National Parks and Wildlife Service enlists the help of a group of shorebird volunteers to monitor and safeguard the birds. Afternoon tea at Games Bay will be well deserved and after a look at Wallagoot Gap, where there is a small beach down many timber steps. After our walk, we’ll drive to the charming waterfront Seahorse Inn Hotel in Eden on the Sapphire Coast, which will be our hotel for the next 3 nights. Tonight enjoy dinner in the restaurant featuring fine dining served with wine.
TRANSFER TIMES: Morning: 20mins (20km) to Boyd’s Tower and start of the Light to Light walk.
TRAIL NOTES: 13.2km. 4.5 hours walking with breaks. Medium grade. Undulating terrain with short steep hills.
TERRAIN: There are several short steep ascents and descents. The track is well-formed with a firm surface and some rough, narrow sections where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
WALK ITINERARY: Meet your guide in the foyer of the Seahorse Inn after breakfast for our transfer to the start of our walk. We begin our coastal trek at the northern end overlooking Twofold Bay from Boyds Tower and admire this historic sandstone building originally intended to be a lighthouse. Boyd’s Tower was constructed in the late 1840s as part of an ambitious plan by Benjamin Boyd to establish Eden as a major commercial port. He was however denied official approval to use the tower as a lighthouse and the main use for this tower came from shore-based whales of the coastline. We pass open grassy areas such as between Mowarry Point and Leather Jacket Bay, you may see eastern grey kangaroos grazing. Between the gently curving rocky landscapes of Leatherjacket Bay and Mowarry Point, we hike through coastal forests and heath and across red-rocked platforms. Marvel how Mowarry point has a direct line of sight to both Boyds Tower and Green Cape. See if you can pick out other headlands along the way from where you might be able to see a lighthouse. We follow the trail and look out for seals and seabirds year-round, or migrating whales in season, particularly between September and November. Finally, we head to the pristine Saltwater Creek Beach to cool down with a swim or surf. After our walk, we transfer to the charming waterfront Seahorse Inn Hotel for our next 2 nights accommodation. Tonight enjoy dinner in the restaurant featuring fine dining served with wine.
TRAIL NOTES: 9kms. 3 hours one way journey with breaks. Medium Grade.
TERRAIN: Sections of coastal forest, heath and rock platforms. Some steep hills and gentle hills, occasional steps and some rough, rocky where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. The track has a firm surface; some sand.
WALK ITINERARY: After breakfast at the hotel, we head out for the day’s adventure. Today we start our walk at Saltwater Creek. We will be taking in stunning and ever-changing views passing banksia woodlands, sheltered coves and red-rock platforms. Stop for a dip at the small and scenic Bittangabee Beach in Bittangabee Bay, then on to the nearby Bittangabee Bay Ruins and explore the remnants of incomplete structures dating back to the 1840s. In the 1840s, the Imlay Brothers used Bittangabee Bay as a base for some of the early shore-based whaling operations undertaken in and around Twofold Bay. We also pass vital ecosystems such as heathlands which are home to a remarkable diversity of plant and animal species, many of which occur only in this habitat. In spring and early summer, heathland areas come alive with an array of honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds. After our walk, we will head to our cruise boat for a stunning cruise of the pristine and colourful coastline. Encounter birdlife and if we are lucky seals and dolphins (in November you may even spot a migrating whale). Afterwards, transfer back to the Seahorse Inn Hotel for a wonderful dinner in the restaurant featuring fine wine.
TRAIL NOTES: 8.5kms Medium Grade. 3 hours.
TERRAIN: A combination of gentle hills with occasional steps, short steep hills, and flat areas.
WALK ITINERARY: After a leisurely breakfast, we set out on our final day towards Green Cape Light station our final destination. Follow a trail that was traditionally travelled by lightkeepers taking supplies that were off-loaded at Bittangabee Bay; look closely for remnants of the old horse-drawn tram track. You’ll find a walkway to the lookout at the tip of Green Cape where you can stop to look for dolphins and take in stunning views across Disaster Bay. Stroll down to the end of the rocky cape and with plenty of good vantage points looking out to the sea, the walk offers an ideal chance to look for whales migrating along the coastline – especially during autumn and spring. Watch out also for seals or seabirds plunging into the ocean waters for a feed of fish. If you’re lucky you may also spot a sea eagle riding the thermal air currents in slow majestic circles, or hovering low over the water before dropping down to catch fish or waterfowl. The Green Cape lighthouse commenced operations in 1883 as part of a plan by Francis Hixson to ‘light the coast like a street with lamps’. This was an especially important development in an age when coastal shipping offered the main communication and supply line between isolated coastal communities and ports such as Sydney and Melbourne. At 29m tall, it was the largest mass concrete structure built in NSW up until that time. Today the light’s operation is fully automated and the NPWS manages the site. Afterwards, our guides will drop you at Merimbula airport at 2.45 pm for your return flight to Sydney.
PRIVATE GROUP TOUR ONLY:
This tour is only available for private groups only of 10 or more.
Date of your choice is available for groups of 10 people. Subject to availability.
Please contact us for more details on (02) 9975 4553 or email: groups@lifesanadventure.com.au
Private Group Prices
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PRIVATE GROUPS Departure date of your choice AUG 2023 – MAY 2024 Spot Special prices available on specific departures when you book and pay in full at time of booking. Normal price requires a $300 deposit, then final payments due 8 weeks prior to departure. Departure date of your choice is subjective to availability. A minimum group size of 8 required. Prices are equal to Past Travellers’ discounted rates. Additional Past Traveller’s’ discount not available for groups. Based on twin share – see details about Single Supplement and upgrade extras. |
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The following extras can be purchased with your tour: SOLO TRAVELLERS SOLO TRAVELLERS ______________ FlexiWalk Add-On – Cancel for Any Reason: |
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For terms and conditions on our special COVID-19 Booking Guarantee click here.
Click here for full conditions on our FlexiWalk Option
PAST PASSENGER DISCOUNT: Those who have travelled with Life’s An Adventure previously, receive a past passenger discount of $100. This discount will automatically be deducted from future bookings when you book online using the same email address used for past bookings.
EARLYBIRD & SPOT SPECIAL CANCELLATIONS: Refunds or cancellations are not permitted for Earlybird Deals or Spot Specials, however, transfers to another date are permitted 8 weeks or more prior to departure. We advise taking out travel insurance, in case unexpected circumstances prior to the trip, prevent you from joining this tour. Early bird or Spot Special discounts cannot be used in conjunction with another offer. To receive these special discounts, full payment must be made at the time of initial booking. Flexiwalk Add-On option not available on these tickets.
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