Pretty Beach to Pebbly Beach walking track

Murramarang National Park

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Overview

Pretty Beach to Pebbly Beach walking track follows the coast along rock platforms, isolated beaches and through coastal forest.

Accessibility
No wheelchair access
Distance
8km one-way
Time suggested
3 - 5hrs
Grade
Grade 4
Trip Intention Form

It's a good idea to let someone know where you're going. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your trip to your emergency contact.

Entry fees
Park entry fees apply
What to
bring
Drinking water, food supplies, sturdy shoes, clothes for all weather conditions, sunscreen, hat

If you're well prepared, Pretty Beach to Pebbly Beach walking track is an adventurous full day hike that traces the rocky coastline and beaches of northern Murramarang National Park.

Heading south from Pretty Beach, follow the coast across potentially slippery rock shelfs, which are at times underwater, and along remote pebble beaches. Make sure to check tides, swells and weather conditions before you set out as the journey requires extreme caution and is inaccessible from mid to high tide. It should not be attempted during poor weather or big ocean swells.

At Snake Bay, cool off with a swim in the clear ocean before tucking into a beachside picnic.

The walk from Snake Bay is through coastal forest with spectacular views of the ocean through the trees and with views back to Pretty Beach. The track remains on the headland with undulating hills and glimpses of the sea through spotted gum forest until you reach Pebbly Beach.

Take a virtual tour of Pretty Beach to Pebbly Beach walking track captured with Google Street View Trekker.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


Map


Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/pretty-beach-to-pebbly-beach-walking-track/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Pretty Beach to Pebbly Beach walking track.

Track grading

Features of this track

Distance

8km one-way

Time

3 - 5hrs

Quality of markings

Clearly sign posted

Experience required

Experienced bushwalkers

Gradient

Gentle hills

Steps

Occasional steps

Quality of path

Rough track, many obstacles

Getting there and parking

Pretty Beach to Pebbly Beach walking track is in the northern part of Murramarang National Park. To get there:

  • Enter the park off the Princes Highway at Termeil
  • Take the Bawley Point/Kioloa turn off
  • Drive past Kioloa and follow the signs to Pretty Beach

Road quality

  • Mixture of sealed and unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available at Pretty Beach picnic area.

Facilities

This walk is in an isolated location. There are toilet and picnic facilities at the start and end of the walk at Pretty Beach picnic area and Pebbly Beach picnic area.

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Pretty Beach to Pebbly Beach walking track requires extreme caution. Access along the northern section of this walk is only safe at low tide, and when surf conditions are calm and flat. The track is indistinct, difficult to follow, or unmarked in places. Please take extreme caution when approaching rock platforms and remember to never turn your back on the ocean.

There's no lifeguard service in this area. Make sure you check the height of the tide and waves and check for dangerous surf conditions before you go. Visit the Bureau of Meteorology website before planning your trip.

Beach safety

Bushwalking safety

Mobile safety

Accessibility

Disability access level - no wheelchair access

Prohibited

Fishing

Pets

Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

Learn more

Pretty Beach to Pebbly Beach walking track is in Murramarang National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Bird watching

Murramarang National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

Birdwatchers are in for a treat; the park boasts more than 90 species of birdlife including three owl species, peregrine falcons, sea eagles, gannets, shearwaters, white-faced storm petrels, sooty oystercatchers, eastern yellow robins, satin bowerbirds, the rufous fantail and even a penguin colony. Look for the sea eagles and peregrine falcons soaring above the park’s cliffs and headlands and the rufous fantails and eastern yellow robins in rainforest gullies around Durras Mountain. You’re most likely to see sooty oystercatchers wading around the edges of lake areas.

Native animals

Australian King-parrot (Alisterus scapularis), Murramarang National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

There’s an abundance of wildlife living in Murramarang National Park, but by far one of the highlights is seeing eastern grey kangaroos that spend their days dozing near the beaches and by campgrounds until dusk when they gather to feed. In the moist forests of the park you might see lyrebirds fossicking in leaf litter. Look for the stately, strutting wonga pigeon with its pastel blue-grey back feathers and black dotted stomach. If you don’t see it, you may well hear its repetitive, deep ‘whoop, whoop’ call that carries through the forest.

  • Burrawang walking track Burrawang walking track, across Depot Beach Headland, features scenic coastal views, forests and birdwatching in Murramarang National Park, near Batemans Bay.
  • Richmond Beach Richmond Beach is one of Murramarang’s hidden treasures. Just 50m from the carpark on an easy walking track you can enjoy picnicking, swimming, snorkelling, fishing and paddling.

Native vegetation

Dark Beach walking track, Murramarang National Park. Photo:Michael Van Ewijk

One of the really special things in Murramarang is the forest of majestic spotted gums; it’s one of the biggest continuous stands in NSW. With an understorey of burrawang palms, the forest stretches right down to the ocean and is truly a sight to see. You’ll easily recognise the spotted gums – they have a smooth, dimpled bark which is shed in summer to produce a mottled cream and grey ‘spotted’ appearance.

  • Dark Beach walking track Dark Beach walking track leads to a secluded beach with unique rock formations in Murramarang National Park. Ideal for fishing, swimming and snorkelling.
  • Depot Beach Rainforest walk Depot Beach marks the start and end of this easy walk through lush littoral rainforest. Go for a swim, surf, snorkel or paddle in the clear waters when you return.
  • Rock Platform walk - Depot Beach Rock Platform walk near Depot Beach is a short walk to fascinating rockpools offering excellent birdwatching and scenic ocean views of the South Coast, just north of Batemans Bay.

Rich Aboriginal cultural heritage

Pebbly Beach, Murramarang National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

Aboriginal people have a long connection with the Country of Murramarang National Park, and this continues to the present day. The south coast headlands have long been a focus for economic life, giving easy access to the food resources of both the sea and the land, and plants within the park provided medicines and shelter. There is much evidence of the past today, including shell middens, tool manufacturing sites and indications of a specialised industry producing bone points and fishing hooks. Take a walk around Murramarang Aboriginal Area, near Bawley Point - there's a complex of middens that are of great cultural value.

  • Then and now: Aboriginal culture Aboriginal culture then and now is a Stage 2 (Years 3-4) school excursion in Murramarang National Park, focusing on Geography and History. Through story and creative expression, the life and culture of the local people are shared.
  • Then and now: Aboriginal culture Then and now: Aboriginal culture is a Stage 4 (Years 7-8) school excursion in Murramarang National Park, focused on History. Through story and creative expression, the life and culture of the local people are shared.
  • Then and now: Aboriginal culture This excursion experience has been updated and is now being delivered in line with the new NSW Department of Education Curriculum. We will be revising this excursion's name and information online soon. Contact your local national parks office for more information about the updated excursion.
  • Wasp Head walk This short walk leads to a spectacular view of Wasp Island and passes through historic Aboriginal sites of the area.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • A male satin bowerbird with black plumage and blue eyes stands in a bower made of brown twigs. Photo: Peter Sherratt © Peter Sherratt

    Satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)

    With vibrant blue-violet eyes and curious antics, the satin bowerbird is a favourite for bird watching and easy to spot as it forages for food in open forest. Relatively common across eastern Australia, in NSW they’re found in coastal rainforests and adjacent woodlands and mountain ranges.

Plants

  • Blueberry ash. Photo: Jaime Plaza

    Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)

    The blueberry ash is a rainforest shrub which produces blue olive-shaped berries and spectacular bell-shaped flowers, which often appear on the plant together. It is a tall slender shrub or small tree found in rainforest, tall eucalypt forest and coastal bushland in eastern NSW, south-east Queensland and Victoria.

  •  Black sheoak. Photo: Barry Collier

    Black sheoak (Allocasuarina littoralis)

    The black sheoak is one of a number of casuarina species found across the east coast of Australia and nearby tablelands. Growing to a height of 5-15m, these hardy Australian native plants can survive in poor or sandy soils. The barrel-shaped cone of the black sheoak grows to 10-30mm long.

  • Cabbage tree palm in Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

    Cabbage palm (Livistona australis)

    With glossy green leaves spanning 3-4m in length and a trunk reaching a height of up to 30m, the cabbage tree palm, or fan palm, is one of the tallest Australian native plants. Thriving in rainforest margins along the east coast of NSW, in summer this giant palm produces striking spikes of cream flowers which resemble cabbages.

  • Wonga Wonga vine. Photo: Barry Collier

    Wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)

    The wonga wonga vine is a widespread vigorous climber usually found along eastern Australia. A variation of the plant occurs in the central desert, where it resembles a sprawling shrub. One of the more common Australian native plants, the wonga wonga vine produces bell-shaped white or yellow flowers in the spring, followed by a large oblong-shaped seed pod.

Environments in this park

Education resources (1)

School excursions (3)