The Bundian Way Story Trail in Eden has some great views of Twofold Bay, and you learn about the Bundian Way – a track that has long connected coastal and high country Aboriginal communities.
The walk goes between Quarantine Bay and Cocora Beach. If you haven’t been to Eden before, the track has a couple of quirks so we put together this short guide to help you navigate the trail.
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Contents
History of the Bundian Way
The full Bundian Way is a 365km trail travelled by aboriginals between Eden and Mount Kosciuszko. For centuries, the trail was used for trade and ceremony.
When Europeans arrived, shared knowledge from the Bundian communities allowed them to use the route to find farmland.
Eden’s Bundian Way Story Trail gives both an insight into the stories behind the longer trail and introduces you to some of Eden’s most prominent European settlers like Benjamin Boyd and Oswald Brierly.
About the Bundian Way Story Trail
The Bundian Way Story Trail is a fun walk. Apart from one section with 120 steps, it is a fairly easy undulating walk with plenty of lookouts to keep children entertained.
- Location – the trail runs along Two Fold Bay between Quarantine Bay and Cocora Beach
- Length – 1.9km one way
- Time – about 40 minutes each way
- Level – easy to Moderate
- Start – Either Cocora Beach near the playground or Quarantine Bay behind the Fishing Club building.
- Highlights – learning more about the 365km Bundian Way, several fantastic views over Twofold Bay, looking for dolphins and stingrays in the water and birds on the land.
Starting from Cocora Beach
We started the walk from the Cocora Beach end of the Trail. Cocora beach is a beautiful spot. If you want a family-friendly swimming spot, this is it. There are toilets, BBQ facilities and a small playground too.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t beach weather for our walk. A couple of times we had to shelter from passing showers. So, while the views from the lookouts was good, we can only imagine how much nicer everything would have looked under sunny skies. Maybe next time!
The walk starts at the playground end of the beach. There is a signboard there with information about the Bundian Way and a couple of wooden posts at the start of the trail. About 200m on you come to a circular Ceremonial Performance Place.
- Book an Eden Nature Highlights Tour – 5hrs Discover the history, ecology & culture
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How to Follow the Bundian Way Story Trail
Shortly after the Ceremonial Performance Place you get to a Bundian Way Story Trail sign with arrows going off in opposite directions. If you are the kind of person who likes to get onto a trail and just follow it, this is where things could get slightly confusing.
Throughout the trail, there are options to bypass the lookouts. This might be the way to go on the second half of the return walk. But if you are doing the walk for the first time, follow the signs that take you to the lookouts. You’ll get the best views and the most information.
The alternate routes tend to take you away from the coast. Not that the trail was busy when we did it (the threat of rain will do that), but the lookout bypass track is also probably a bit quieter.
Budginbro Lookout
From Cocora Beach, the first lookout is only 350m from the start of the walk. Even on an overcast day the views from Budginbro Lookout across Twofold Bay were impressive. There are a couple of viewing areas.
On a dull day the water looked crystal clear, if only there was a bit of sun it would have looked spectacular. Here, and at all the lookouts, are storyboards that recount the interactions between Oswald Brierly and Budginbro, his Aboriginal guide.
Sealers Lookout
Beyond Budginbro Lookout you get another sign pointing in two directions – pick the route closest to the coast.
The path winds its way through a eucalypt forest, a constant chorus of bellbirds fills the air throughout the walk. This is the section of the walk that has a set of 120 steps down to Sealers Lookout. You can avoid them if you take the alternate route which takes you along a ridge line and behind the beach.
The view from the lookout is slightly obscured by trees, but the trail goes down onto the beach.
Bungo Beach
From Sealers Lookout the path takes across a creek and down to Bungo Beach. We stopped on the bridge and saw a huge egret perched on a tree that had fallen across the creek which was an impressive sight.
There are great views across the water from the beach which you take in as you walk along it to continue the trail. About 50m from the end of the beach, you will see the dirt trail on your right going into the forest between a couple of big rocks.
The dirt track goes up a gentle slope. Follow the signs to Brierly Lookout.
Brierly Lookout
From the start of the walk at Cocora Beach, Brierly Lookout is about 1.1km into the walk. There is another good viewing area here with views across the Twofold Bay and Rixons Beach.
The weather really came in for our stop here. Thankfully there was another sign board for us to shelter under as we watched the shape of Mt Imlay get greyed out by low cloud and misty rain.
Again, the signage and trail get a bit confusing here, but you want to follow the signs to Bilgalera Lookout which at the other end of Rixons Beach just 150m away. On a nicer day, the sheltered Rixons beach looks like a fun place for a snorkel.
Bilgalera Lookout
Overlooking the other end of Rixons Beach and Murrumbulga Point, Bilgalera Lookout is right around the corner from Quarantine Bay.
If you happen to arrive at Quarantine Bay when fishing boats are coming in, head down to the ramp and you are a good chance of seeing some huge smooth rays that pop by looking for a few fish scraps.
From the lookout, the trail takes you down to Quarantine Bay.
Starting the Trail at Quarantine Bay
There are a couple of starting lines for the Bundian Way Story Trail if you begin at Quarantine Bay.
The official starting point seems to be up behind the Eden Fishing Club – look for the building with the seats out the front. But if you go from here, you could miss the Bilgalera Lookout.
The other starting point is down closer to the boat ramp where you will see a couple of tall wooden posts with a trail between them – this takes you to the Bilgalera Lookout.
In Summary
This easy trail has some great scenery with plenty of views of Twofold Bay. If you like your history, you will also enjoy learning more about the Bundian Way.
If you are doing this as a family walk, Cocora Beach is has more facilities than Quarantine Bay. If you are having someone meet you at one end, maybe finish at Cocora Beach, it is a great spot or the kids to play.
If you enjoyed this story you might also like:
Eden Wildlife Cruise | Things to do in Jervis Bay | Kayaking in Jervis Bay
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