How to hike the Murramarang South Coast Walk

• Visiting quiet bays most people don’t see
• Traversing striking rock platforms
• Hiking through rare coastal spotted gum forest
• Having a dip at Calm Corner
• The tent platforms at Oaky Beach
• Clifftop views of the ocean
• Spotting native wildlife including kangaroos, whales, white-breasted sea eagles, echidnas, and lace monitors 

The Murramarang South Coast Walk (or MSCW for short) runs from Pretty Beach at the northern end to Maloney’s Beach in the south. It’s been created using new and existing trails, some of which have been significantly refreshed with new signage, sandstone steps, and small sections of boardwalk.

There are also brand new tent platforms at Oaky Beach, nestled among some of the tallest trees on the walk, as well as existing national park shack and cabin accommodation at Pretty Beach, Pebbly Beach, and Depot Beach.

The walk itself is free, so how you hike it is up to you! There are camping or cabin packages available on the NSW National Parks website with different costs and inclusions (like a welcome tour and transfer back to the start of the walk), depending on when and how you hike.

If you’d like to book other accommodation or even walk it in sections that’s totally fine. Just remember that you’ll have to sort out your own transport options if you hike it this way. You’re never more than 50 kilometres from Bateman’s Bay, so you can likely get a taxi or similar.

What’s hiking and camping along the Murramarang South Coast Walk actually like? I’m going to have to pull out all stops for this one to try and capture the majesty of one of the best multi-day walks I’ve ever done. Let’s go.

Camping out before your hike begins is underrated. Whether it gives you time to soak up the vibes at the campground or drive down after work, it really takes the stress out of things so you can start your walk on the right… foot. Pretty Beach Campground is a particularly gorgeous place to begin. You’ll catch views of the ocean from camp unless a kangaroo or lyrebird blocks the view. There’s also a shower block and a BBQ area to cook up a big pre-hike dinner!

Be sure to drop in and introduce yourself at the campground office, the National Parks staff will have the most up-to-date information on the trail, weather, and tides for your next few days on the Murramarang South Coast Walk. If you arrive after hours there will be details on the notice board, so make sure you visit before you start walking.

Distance: 10km  |  Time suggested: 3 to 6 hrs  | Toilets:  Pretty Beach, Pebbly Beach, and Depot Beach

Take your first steps on the Murramarang South Coast Walk by walking down to the sand of Pretty Beach and heading south. If navigation isn’t your strongest skill, just remember that the ocean will always be on your left. 

You’ll quickly encounter a rough rock platform with eye-catching honeycomb formations. Just make sure you watch your step and keep an eye on the waves, especially if the tide is high or there’s a large swell. Next, stroll across Island Beach (look for the island!) before heading onto the cliffs.

Singing Stones beach is the next highlight, it’s a tiny inlet filled with large, rounded stones that crackle and pop as waves pummel the shore. From here the walk traces the cliff line whilst a mountain range rises on your right – the highpoint is known as Durras Mountain.

These mountains by the sea create all kinds of microclimates, meaning you’ll alternate between palm-filled gullies with towering gums and exposed heathy clifftops where only shrubs survive. The bays are filled with stones and pebbles that range through reds, oranges, and yellows, particularly Snake Bay, which in addition to being possibly the most beautiful, is well-protected and a safe spot to swim if you’re confident in the water.

You’re nearly at Pebbly Beach. Before you pass through the headland at Clear Point make sure you turn around and look north up the coast to see how far you’ve come. At Pebbly Beach you can use the toilet, refill your water (remember to treat tank water), or go for a swim. Make sure you say g’day to the resident kangaroos and lyrebirds too, from a distance of course.

We used the BBQs to toast our cheese and salami wraps here. It’s a great place to recharge before the final stint, the 1hr walk across the rock platform to Depot Beach.

This is probably the most challenging part of the day as your tired legs will have to negotiate beaches filled with large pebbles and a rock platform with smooth surfaces that can become incredibly slippery. Take your time and use walking poles if you have them. You’ll be rewarded with a walk alongside a bright red layered cliff line and across a very flat rock platform with exciting swirls and dead straight cracks in the volcanic surface.

Walk across Depot Beach and up the stairs to Depot Beach Campground to finish your first day on the MSCW. Like Pretty Beach Campground there are hot showers, BBQs, and even cabins here, so put your feet up or get a campfire going!

Distance: 16km | Time suggested: 6 to 8hrs

Toilets: South Durras, NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort, and Oaky Beach

Today starts by climbing through some of the most exquisite coastal forest I’ve ever seen. The spotted gums are mottled with creams and greys that contrast with the burrawangs, dark green palm-like cycad trees that arch over the trail. It’s the largest forest of its kind in NSW and it’s particularly special to walk through as the sun rises.

Take a moment to detour out to Point Upright Lookout to gaze down the coast all the way to South Durras, you’ve got a few kilometres of beach walking ahead of you today! This is also a great vantage point to view Durras Lake, which you’ll cross later.

When you arrive at the beach you’ll be at Calm Corner, the safest and most gorgeous place to swim until you reach the far southern end of the beach, so choose wisely. Otherwise, you’ll follow the firm sand near the water, cross the lake, and continue to the headland. You’ll likely see ocean fishers and surfers as you walk along this stunning stretch of beach. 

Before you farewell civilisation, you’ll enter NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort, where you’ll fill your water bottles with enough water for the afternoon, cooking tonight, and the rest of the hike tomorrow (about 4 litres per person). Remember to treat all water in Murramarang National Park. You can also buy fish & chips, a latte, or a pack of chippies if you feel like you deserve it (you do). Just make sure you leave before 2pm in the winter months so you arrive at Oaky Beach campground before dark.

The walk to Oaky Beach campground winds along the cliffs and ducks down to small beaches, each different to the last. Dark Beach with its charcoal grey sand, Emily Miller Beach with its sea eagles soaring over volcanic stone, Myrtle Beach with its ‘enchanted forest’. The headlands are linked by more spotted gum forest and well-crafted trails that let you focus on the ocean views.

Oaky Beach campground is set beneath towering gums, easily the tallest of the walk, which offer protection from coastal winds and weather. The tent platforms and campsites are dotted amongst the trees, tastefully spread out to give you a sense of privacy. This isn’t your typical patch of grass – it feels like you’re floating in the understory of the forest. But we could see the ocean from our tent. Keep an eye out for possums, sugar gliders, and pademelons (we saw one watching the sunset) then fall asleep to the crash of the ocean.

Distance: 8km | Time suggested: 2.5 to 3.5 hrs | Toilets: North Head campground and Yellow Rock Beach

Wake up and smell the salt air! Your final day on the Murramarang South Coast Walk is a cruisy one so take your time to enjoy sunrise filtering through the trees to your tent platform or campsite. Or stroll along the beach and feel the sand between your toes, or sleep in – I’m not your boss!

Once you’ve packed up, checked for rubbish, and made use of the toilets it’s time to wander. The scenery begins similar to the end of Day 3 but with a distinctly clifflike flavour as you wind toward Honeysuckle Beach. The cliffs here are steep and angular, they’re noticeably different because, around the time you walked past Myrtle Beach, you began to leave a geological region known as the ‘Sydney Basin’ and its familiar sandstone cliffs.

Check out the dark pebbles on the beach before you begin your climb up to North Head Lookout for a sprawling coastal view to the north. It’s time to begin your stroll west into Batemans Bay.

Stay in view of the ocean as you walk around North Head to avoid ending up in the campground (unless you need the toilet, of course) and soon you’ll be walking along the deep yellow sands of North Head Beach, which is covered in shells.

Your next stop is Yellow Rock Beach where NSW National Parks have two bookable accommodations, Judges House and Yellow Rock Beach House. Trip finale anyone? Seriously though you can use the public bathrooms here and you’re absolutely going to want to rip your shoes and socks off for another swim here. We persevered, crossing one more small headland to swim at the northern end of the beach. The water was so clear I reckon I could see underwater.

The final kilometre is a real last hurrah for the Murramarang South Coast Walk. The winding spotted gum forest and Burrawangs are your friends now and if you look closely, they’ll wave. This is also the place where we saw an echidna snacking away on some tasty ants, so keep your eyes peeled.

Finally, walk down the large staircase to Maloneys Beach, give your mates a crisp high five, and call your transport option of choice, in that order. You’ve done it! Hiking some of the best and most unique coastline in New South Wales, not bad for a few days’ work.