Monument Beach picnic area
Conjola National Park
Overview
Set in a forest behind the beach, Monument Beach picnic area is a quiet base from which to take a short walk and learn about the history of the area.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Where
- Conjola National Park in South Coast
- Opening times
Monument Beach picnic area is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
- What to
bring - Hat, sunscreen, drinking water
- Please note
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch.
One of the most serene areas of Conjola is Monument Beach picnic area. Set behind the beach, this is the ultimate spot for families. You can walk along the isolated beach, clamber over the small headlands, throw in a fishing line, go for a paddle or surf, take a short bushwalk, or head to the monument that remembers the lives lost when the Walter Hood sank in 1870.
As you drive in, stop to admire the beautiful flowering natives, including waratahs, wattles and bush peas. And don’t be surprised if the only other living creatures around are the resident kangaroos and wallabies.
Set out along Nerindillah Lagoon walking track after lunch, and while you’re walking along the beach, look for sooty oystercatchers, sea eagles and the hooded plover, which is only found on the NSW south coast.
Map
Map legend
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/picnic-areas/monument-beach-picnic-area/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Conjola National Park in the South Coast region
Conjola National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about the Monument Beach picnic area.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Monument Beach picnic area is near Bendalong in Conjola National Park. To get there:
- Turn east onto Bendalong Road from the Princes Highway then left into Cedar Road
- Follow the signs along Cedar Road and Walter Hood Access Road, which ends at a short access road to the picnic area.
- There is 7km of unsealed road before you reach the picnic area
Road quality
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- Dry weather only
Parking
Parking is available at Monument Beach picnic area.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Conjola National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
As the temperature cools slightly, this a great time to get active in the park with some bushwalking and mountain biking.
Spring
The wildflowers – waratahs and wattle among them – are in full bloom, bringing with them large numbers of birds. You might even be lucky enough to spot the rare Scalet Honeyeater or Little Lorikeet.
Summer
Hot weather means plenty of time for the beach and water. Keep an eye open for the endangered hooded plover and other shorebirds foraging on the sand.
Winter
The light is clear and beautiful and the beaches and trails very quiet – just the thing if you prefer exploring with few other people around.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
19°C and 24°C
Highest recorded
40.6°C
Winter temperature
Average
10°C and 18°C
Lowest recorded
-3.2°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
May
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
316.7mm
Facilities
You'll need to bring your own drinking water.
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Picnic tables
Carpark
Drinking water
Tank Water. Please boil before drinking
Maps and downloads
Permitted
Fishing
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Prohibited
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
Monument Beach picnic area is in Conjola National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal influence
The land around Conjola National Park has been home for the Budawang and Yuin people for about 6000 years. There are many Aboriginal sites in the area, including middens, campsites and rock shelters. At Fishermans Rock, the midden contains fragments of mussels and mud oysters that were once meals for the local Aboriginal people. You'll also see some axe-grinding grooves in the sandstone.
- Berrara Creek Popular with families, Berrara Creek becomes a beautiful lagoon that leads to the beach. Put your canoe in and paddle upstream, go swimming or fishing.
Animal planet
With open forests and scrubland, there are plenty of places to find Conjola's wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for eastern grey kangaroos, wombats, echidnas, brushtail possums and gliders, along with a huge range of cockatoos and parrots, black swans and herons. As well as providing the perfect place for swimming, canoeing, fishing and water sports, the three lakes adjacent to the park - Conjola, Berringer and Swan - are a significant habitat for many birds, such as little terns, the endangered hooded plover and pied oystercatchers.
- Berrara Creek Popular with families, Berrara Creek becomes a beautiful lagoon that leads to the beach. Put your canoe in and paddle upstream, go swimming or fishing.
- Heath Circuit Get close to nature on Heath Circuit, a 24km loop bike ride along signposted trails.
Driving force
You can easily explore Conjola from the comfort of your car. Some of the tracks and trails that take you through forests, past the lakes and to the ocean are even accessible for 2WD vehicles in dry weather. One of the most popular drives is from Cudmirrah to Monument Beach picnic ground, following Goonawarra Drive, Blackbutt Road and Cedar Road. Just take care as you're driving along, because you'll be sharing the trails with cyclists, walkers and horse-riders as well as wildlife, which also cross the tracks mainly in the early morning and late afternoon.
- Berrara Creek Popular with families, Berrara Creek becomes a beautiful lagoon that leads to the beach. Put your canoe in and paddle upstream, go swimming or fishing.
- Monument Beach picnic area Set in a forest behind the beach, Monument Beach picnic area is a quiet base from which to take a short walk and learn about the history of the area.
Maritime monument
In 1870, 12 men lost their lives when the clipper Walter Hood struck rocks off the coast between Bendalong and Berrara. A monument, erected in 1927, marks the burial site of the drowned captain and crew. it is a short walk from the Monument Beach picnic area.
- Monument Beach picnic area Set in a forest behind the beach, Monument Beach picnic area is a quiet base from which to take a short walk and learn about the history of the area.
- Nerindillah Lagoon walking track The short and easy Nerindillah Lagoon walking track takes in Monument Beach, historic heritage including the Walter Hood monument, and is great for birdwatching.