Bittangabee Bay
Green Cape area in Ben Boyd National Park
Overview
Bittangabee Bay, in Ben Boyd National Park, is a rocky enclosed bay with a small beach, offering secluded fishing, swimming, kayaking, birdwatching and whale watching.
- Where
- Green Cape area in Ben Boyd National Park
- Price
- Free
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- What to
bring - Hat, sunscreen, drinking water
- Please note
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go birdwatching or whale watching
- If you’re bushwalking in this park, it’s a good idea to bring a topographic map and compass, or a GPS.
- There's limited mobile reception in this park
A rocky enclosed bay with a small, scenic beach, Bittangabee Bay is an appealing spot to kick back and soak up spectacular coastline views. Remote without being inaccessible, it offers secluded swimming and fishing in a pristine natural environment. Bring a picnic lunch and a pair of binoculars for a spot of birdwatching and whale watching during the migration season.
Bittangabee Bay is easily accessible from Bittangabee campground, and walkers will want to try Bittangabee Bay to Green Cape walk, part of the iconic Light to Light walk. There are even nearby ruins for history buffs, and an abundance of local wildlife for the naturalists. Long-nosed bandicoots, wombats, brush-tailed possums, and lace monitors all live in the area.
For a real adventure, visit Bittangabee Bay as part of Light to Light walk, or carry in a sea kayak and paddle the clear waters.
Take a virtual tour of Bittangabee Bay captured with Google Street View Trekker.
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/swimming-spots/bittangabee-bay/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 the Green Cape area of Ben Boyd National Park in the South Coast region
The Green Cape area of Ben Boyd National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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$8 per vehicle per day in the Green Cape area of the park (south of Eden).
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Bittangabee Bay.
Getting there and parking
Bittangabee Bay is in the southern precinct of Ben Boyd National Park. To get there:
- Travel south of Eden for 18km along Princes Highway
- Turn left on Edrom Road and follow it for 6km
- Turn right onto the unsealed Green Cape Road, and follow it for 15km until you reach Bittangabee Access Road.
- Turn left and follow the road for about 3km, to the end.
Road quality
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available at Bittangabee Bay. Please note, there’s a fee to use this park and a valid sticker should be visible on any vehicle inside the park boundaries.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Ben Boyd National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Camp at Bittangabee Beach campground and see lyrebirds performing their characteristic dance and tail display.
Spring
Visit Green Cape Lighthouse or Boyds Tower to spot whales migrating south to their Antarctic feeding grounds - you might even see females with young calves.
Summer
Plan a camping trip to Saltwater Creek - to enjoy the lagoons and beautiful surf beach.
Winter
Take the Light to Light walk when it's nice and cool and the banksias are in bloom.
Facilities
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
- Fire rings (bring your own firewood)
Carpark
Maps and downloads
Permitted
Fishing
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Prohibited
Please note that netting and spear fishing are not permitted in the park, and you're not allowed to collect crustaceans and marine animals from the rocks.
Gathering firewood
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.
Nearby towns
Eden (19 km)
Eden is a historic whaling town, ideal for a whale-watch tour. It's built around a promontory that juts into Twofold Bay.
Merimbula (34 km)
The main coastal towns of the Sapphire Coast include Bermagui, Tathra, Merimbula and Eden. This stunning coastline has sparkling beaches and bays, lakes and national parks, all accessible via excellent walking tracks and coastal drives. You'll find beaches just perfect for surfing, swimming and walks.
Pambula (32 km)
Pambula is a historic river village in majestic rural surroundings. The town is at the mouth of the Pambula River among forests and lakes.
Learn more
Bittangabee Bay is in Green Cape area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal culture
The Yuin People are the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Ben Boyd National Park and they have a long and complex relationship with the coastal environment. At Twofold Bay, the Yuin People had a special relationship with the orca whales. The orcas drove humpback whales into shore, the people used spears to kill them and the orcas and people shared the meat. Aboriginal people later taught European settlers to work with orca whales during the shore-based whaling days of Twofold Bay.
Giants of the deep
Enjoy some of Australia’s best whale watching here between September and November when hundreds of whales and their calves move in to Twofold Bay to frolic and feed before migrating south to Antarctica. You can get a good view of Twofold Bay from the viewing platform at Boyds Tower. At the southern tip of the park, see if you can spot whales near Green Cape Lightstation or Disaster Bay lookout.
- Green Cape lookout Green Cape lookout in Ben Boyd National Park is one of the best places to enjoy whale watching in NSW.
Rocks tell a story
Ben Boyd’s stunning rock formations, inlets and headlands are the result of extensive geological folding. Most of the park lies on red, brown and green shales, sandstones, siltstones and quartzites. They were formed in the Devonian period around 360 million years ago—before dinosaurs roamed the earth. You can see these rock types exposed along the cliffs and headlands. The Devonian period is known as The Age of Fishes and internationally-significant fish fossils have been found in several places along the park’s coastline.
- Guided 3-day Light to Light walks Join the experienced local guides of Light2Light Coastal Walks and make the most of one of the best treks on the Far South Coast, in Ben Boyd National Park near Eden.
- Light to Light walk Begin this multi-day walk at Boyds Tower down the far south coast, and end at Green Cape Lighthouse. Stop for a swim and the opportunity to spot seals, seabirds and whales.
Vulnerable species
The heathland in the Green Cape area of the park provides significant habitat for vulnerable species like the eastern ground parrot and striated fieldwren. It’s also a stronghold for NSW’s population of the endangered southern brown bandicoot. Around 50 native mammals and nearly 150 species of birds have been recorded in Ben Boyd National Park, including 1 critically endangered bird, 4 endangered animal species and 25 vulnerable species.
- Guided 3-day Light to Light walks Join the experienced local guides of Light2Light Coastal Walks and make the most of one of the best treks on the Far South Coast, in Ben Boyd National Park near Eden.
- Light to Light walk Begin this multi-day walk at Boyds Tower down the far south coast, and end at Green Cape Lighthouse. Stop for a swim and the opportunity to spot seals, seabirds and whales.
Fascinating coastal heritage
The first shore-based whaling station on mainland Australia was set up at Twofold Bay in 1828. Benjamin Boyd established a competing business and built a private lighthouse, Boyd's Tower, and a township, Boydtown, before being declared bankrupt. The coast was the site of many shipwrecks. Green Cape Lighthstation started operation in 1883 but shipwrecks continued, including the Ly-ee-moon that sank in 1886. You can pay your respects to some of the 76 victims at a graveyard a short walk from the lighthouse. There are also regular guided tours of the lighthouse.
- Davidson Whaling Station Take a guided tour at historic Davidson Whaling Station – discover how killer whales helped the Davidson family. And when you're done, finish the day with a picnic at the nearby beach.
Plants and animals you may see
Animals
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Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.
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White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.
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Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)
With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.
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Lace monitor (Varanus varius)
One of Australia’s largest lizards, the carnivorous tree-dwelling lace monitor, or tree goanna, can grow to 2m in length and is found in forests and coastal tablelands across eastern Australia. These Australian animals are typically dark blue in colour with whitish spots or blotches.
Plants
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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.
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Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina)
Grey mangrove is the most common and widespread mangrove found within intertidal zones across Australia, and throughout the world. Growing to a height of 3-10m, they thrive best in estuaries with a mix of fresh and salt water. They excrete excess salt through their long thick leaves, and absorb oxygen through their aerial root system.
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Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)
Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.
