Beautiful beaches, historical landmarks, wildlife, coastal walks and secluded campsites are all part of the fun in Beowa National Park. If you are visiting the far south coast of New South Wales near Eden or Merimbula it is a great place to spend some time.
In this quick guide to Beowa (former Ben Boyd National Park), we run through some of the must see attractions. We’ll also start with a few practical tips so you can plan your visit.
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Contents
Things to know Before going to Beowa National Park
- Beowa National Park has two sections. The Pambula Haycock Point area is between Eden and Merimbula. The Green Cape Area is south of Eden.
- National Park fees only apply to the Green Cape section of the park. These can be purchased online or there is a self-serve permit machine at Boyd’s Tower.
- There are dirt roads throughout both sections of the park. They get a bit dusty, and we rumbled across some minor corrugations but most of the tracks are suitable for 2wd. One track we found that was not suitable for 2wd was the steep City Rock Road on your way to the Green Cape Lighthouse.
- Distance between sites is further than it looks on the map so give yourself time to drive around. Allow as much as a day to look around each part of the park.
- Phone reception is ok in the Pambula – Haycock Point Area but intermittent in the Green Cape Area.
- There are toilets and picnic facilities at different locations around the park, but you will need to bring food and water with you
Things to do in Beowa National Park
Here is a quick run down on some of the best attractions in both sections of the park. We didn’t do every walk in the park – there are lots of them – and a couple of attractions were closed, but you should still get a taste of what to expect as you look around.
Green Cape Section
This section of Beowa National Park is characterised by rugged coastline, links to Eden’s whaling history, campgrounds and is home to the Light to Light walk.
Green Cape Lighthouse
We were staying in Eden for a week and for that exact week, access to the Green Cape Lighthouse was closed. So annoying! However, you will enjoy better roads now that this area has re-opened, and it is (apparently) worth a look.
From the car park there is a 400m walk past the old telegraph station and light station keeper’s cottage which now both serve as accommodation. Continue past the old and new lighthouses to a lookout with 360 degree views. It is a great place for whale watching too.
Hopefully we will get back here to take it all in.
Boyd’s Tower
Boyd’s Tower is a must see when you come to Eden, its place in Eden’s history is as prominent as its position on the southern entrance to Twofold Bay. There is a large carpark, an information stand, and it is the start of the multi day Light to Light walk.
There is a short walk along a dirt path and boardwalk to the tower. You can go inside the tower but not up it. The tower was used to spot whales entering the bay and alert the whalers that the hunt was on.
The accessible boardwalk continues just beyond the tower to a lookout which is also a good spot to look for whales from May to September.
Davidson Whaling Station
Only a short drive from Boyd’s Tower, Davidson Whaling Station is another cornerstone site in Eden’s history. It is the home of the longest operating shore-based whaling station in Australia running for 60 years until the late 1920s.
We were too early for the ranger guided tours of the old homestead, but we still walked down to Brierly Point Beach where you can see the remains of the processing area. There is interpretive signage describing how the station operated.
Bittangabee Bay
There is a campground here but the main attraction for us was the idyllic bay. It is about a 5 minute walk from the day use car park down a bit of a slope. We had hoped to go snorkelling here, but the weather was not on our side.
The bay still looked a picture, and we also did the short walk to the old storehouse which had seen better days. If it is a nice day, you won’t find a prettier spot to enjoy the picnic area and swim in the sheltered bay.
Saltwater Creek
This is another campground with a day use picnic area. We jumped out of the car and nearly stood on a lyre bird that was foraging near us. Then we noticed a swamp wallaby watching us watch the lyrebird – so it’s a good place to see wildlife!
There is a sweeping beach ideal for long walks or fishing. Pick your days to go for a swim as the waves were quite big when we visited. A really pretty spot and worth a look if you want somewhere for lunch.
Pulpit Rock
With the road closure, this was as close as we could get to Green Cape Lighthouse, but it was well worth the stop. A wooden staircase takes you down to the rocky platform for amazing views of the local geology.
A popular rock fishing spot, it is a spectacular sight with enormous shelves of different coloured rock creating a natural amphitheatre. There are some great views along the coast. Don’t get to close to the edge if the sea is up! Well worth a look on your way to the lighthouse.
Disaster Bay Lookout
Parking for this lookout is right on the main road going out to Green Cape. No steps or paths here. You can just hop out of your car and walk on to the platform for views over Disaster Bay. Nice views of the bay, but this will be a quick stop.
Pambula Haycock Area
Located between Merimbula and Eden, this section of Beowa is known for its beautiful beaches, striking coloured rocks, the stunning Pambula River and wildlife walks. You do not need a park pass for this section of the park.
Pinnacle Loop Walk
If you are after a short walk through the coastal bush, you can get that done here. The highlight is the Pinnacles – a section of white and orange cliff face you can see from a lookout.
It’s not a bad spot, but if you are pressed for time, we think there is better eye candy elsewhere in the park. We did spot some sea eagles on the walk which was very cool. We have a separate guide to the Pinnacles Walk if you are after more information.
Barmouth Beach
This is one of those spots that has a bit more of a wow factor than the Pinnacle Walk. It is a short walk down to the beach from the car park, but they bay is bookended by maroon coloured rocks on one side and the sparkling Pambula River mouth on the other.
When the sun is out, and it tried hard to make an appearance when we were there, the place is stunning. Swim, snorkel, relax, walk, paddle…whatever you enjoy doing, you’ll be doing it in a truly beautiful spot.
Haycock Point Beach
This, in our opinion, is another spot that has The Pinnacles beat when it comes to impressive views. The beach is pretty good, but the highlight is the short walk to Haycock Point. On the grassy track look out for kangaroos, wallabies and goannas.
When you get to Haycock Point you can walk down onto the maroon coloured point and explore the rockpools and take in the views. There are picnic tables at the carpark, and this is a nice spot to stop for lunch.
If you have time, from here you can also do the next thing – our favourite activity when we visited Beowa…
Haycock Point to Barmouth Walk
If you have a couple of hours, we really recommend the walk between Haycock Point and Barmouth Beach. Yes, you can drive to each place, but the walk between them is full of great views and wildlife.
Sea eagles, kangaroos, echidnas, goannas, smaller lizards and lots of other birds all got ticked off our checklist. The 5km return walk is mostly easy and winds its way along the coast and through bushland.
We walked from Haycock Point in the second half of the afternoon and saw lots of animals. While there are many walks you can do in Beowa, this is a good family walk that won’t take hours and there is lots to see. For more info read our full guide to the Haycock Point Barmouth Beach walk.
Pambula River Kayak Tour
This is something else we have on our to do list when we come back to see the Green Cape Lighthouse. The weather was against us for most of our trip to Eden, but if you want to immerse yourself in the beauty and wildlife of Beowa this paddle along the clear water of the Pambula River looks like a beauty. Worth checking out if you are in the area.
To whet your appetite, do the 1km Pambula River Walking Track on the north side of the river, opposite Barmouth Beach. There are great views of this unnaturally blue body of water, and it is sure to make you want to grab a paddle.
More Beaches
And if you like the feel of sand between your toes, you have a few more options in this section of Beowa National Park.
From the Pinnacles you can walk down to Pinnacles Beach or drive a bit further south to Terrace Beach. Both are good for long walks or relaxing on the sand but be careful of the water conditions.
For a quiet spot on the Pambula River try Severs Beach, you will see the turn off on Haycock Road. From the carpark it is a 300m walk to a small beach ideal for swimming fishing and walks.
Quondola Point is not far from the Haycock Pont Picnic Area. This long stretch of beach is great for fishing and walks. It is perfect if you are looking for a bit of beach solitude.
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