Light to Light walk

Green Cape area in Beowa National Park

Affected by closures, check current alerts 

Overview

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.

Distance
30km one-way
Time suggested
2 - 3 days
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.

Personal Locator Beacon

Hire a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for free at the Merimbula office.

Entry fees
Park entry fees apply
What to
bring
Drinking water, hat, sturdy shoes, suitable clothing, sunscreen
Please note
  • Take appropriate weatherproof clothing, insect repellant and sufficient food and water (you’ll need around 6 litres per person per day).
  • If you choose to walk the track in sections, consider car pooling ahead of time.
  • While the track offers easy walking along a well-marked route, it does cover some remote country – it’s a good idea to bring a topographic map and compass, or a GPS
  • Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch and whale watch along the way

Light to Light walk hugs the coastline between historic Boyds Tower and Green Cape Lightstation. It’s one of the best walks on the far south coast of NSW.The views are stunning and ever-changing – from heathland to forest, tea tree groves to banksia woodlands, and sheltered coves to towering red-rock platforms. Plus, with so many seafront vantage points, you can spot seals, seabirds and whales.

Enjoy a small section of the walk – most sections of this walk are easy – or embark on a self-guided, multi-day hike, stop overnight and have a swim at the beach campgrounds.

Rest your head and have a hot shower at Telegraph Station bunkhouse near Green Cape Lighthouse – a great short stay accommodation option for Light to Light walkers.

Take a virtual tour of Light to Light walk captured with Google Street View Trekker.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Nearby

  • Distant view of Green Cape Lighthouse and outbuildings set on rugged coastal terrain with rocky reefs. Photo: John Spencer © DPIE

    Green Cape Lighthouse

    Green Cape Lighthouse, around 45min south of Eden, is the southernmost lighthouse in NSW. Towering above Green Cape Lightstation Keepers’ Cottages, soak up the maritime heritage and spot migrating whales.

  • Boyds Tower with missing section where it was struck by lightning, Beowa National Park near Eden. Photo: John Spencer, © DCCEEW

    Boyds Tower

    Boyds Tower is the starting point of the Light to Light walk. Near Eden, this accessible landmark tells the story of Benjamin Boyd who built the tower in 1847. Visit for some of the best whale watching on the NSW south coast.

  • Aerial view of coastline showing beaches, bushland and rocky shores in Ben Boyd National Park. Photo © Sapphire Coast Guiding Co

    Guided 3-day Light to Light walks

    Join the experienced local guides of Sapphire Coast Guiding Co and make the most of one of the best treks on the Far South Coast, in Beowa National Park near Eden.

     

Map


Map


Map


Map legend

Map legend

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/light-to-light-walk/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Light to Light walk.

Track grading

Features of this track

Distance

30km one-way

Time

2 - 3 days

Quality of markings

Sign posted

Experience required

Experienced bushwalkers

Gradient

Short steep hills

Steps

Many steps

Quality of path

Rough track, many obstacles

Getting there and parking

Get driving directions

Get directions

    Boyd’s Tower is in the southern section of Beowa National Park. To get there:

    • Travel south from Eden on the Princes Highway for 18km
    • Turn off at Edrom Road and follow it to the turn off near the end of the road

    Green Cape Lightstation is also in the southern section of Beowa National Park. To get there:

    • Travel south from Eden on The Princes Highway for 18km
    • Turn off at Edrom Road and follow it for 6km
    • Turn right onto unsealed Green Cape Road and follow it for 21km

    Road quality

    Check the condition before setting out as some of the roads within the park can become boggy when it rains.

    Parking

    Parking is available at Green Cape Lightstation and Boyds Tower walking track. Parking is available at a number of points along the track, including Saltwater Creek and Bittangabee campgrounds and at Boyds Tower.

    Best times to visit

    There are lots of great things waiting for you in Beowa 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

    The campgrounds along the walk are equipped with picnic tables, barbecues, and toilet facilities.

    Maps and downloads

    Safety messages

    This multi-day walk covers some remote country. It's a good idea to take a first aid kit and let someone know about your itinerary so that they can alert authorities if you're overdue.

    Beach safety

    Beaches in this park are not patrolled and can have strong rip currents. These beach safety tips will help you and your family stay safe in the water.

    Bushwalking safety

    If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

    Mobile safety

    Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

    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

    Light to Light walk is in Green Cape area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    Aboriginal culture

    Aerial view of Ben Boyd National Park coastline. Photo: John Spencer/DPIE

    The Yuin People are the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Beowa 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.

    • Boyds Tower walking track Take an easy walk to historic Boyds Tower near Eden, find out about local history and marine animals, and enjoy whale watching from the lookouts.

    Giants of the deep

    Humpback whale breaching. Photo: Jonas Liebschner/DPIE

    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 Beowa National Park is one of the best places to enjoy whale watching in NSW.

    Rocks tell a story

    People whale watching from a rock shelf near Bittangabee Bay. Photo: John Spencer/DPIE

    Beowa’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 Sapphire Coast Guiding Co and make the most of one of the best treks on the Far South Coast, in Beowa 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

    An eastern ground parrot blends into grassland. Photo: Lachlan Hall/DPIE

    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 Beowa National Park, including 1 critically endangered bird, 4 endangered animal species and 25 vulnerable species.

    • Boyds Tower Boyds Tower is the starting point of the Light to Light walk. Near Eden, this accessible landmark tells the story of Benjamin Boyd who built the tower in 1847. Visit for some of the best whale watching on the NSW south coast.
    • Boyds Tower walking track Take an easy walk to historic Boyds Tower near Eden, find out about local history and marine animals, and enjoy whale watching from the lookouts.
    • Guided 3-day Light to Light walks Join the experienced local guides of Sapphire Coast Guiding Co and make the most of one of the best treks on the Far South Coast, in Beowa 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

    Visitors a the Bittangabee Bay ruins. Photo: John Spencer/DPIE

    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.

    • Boyds Tower Boyds Tower is the starting point of the Light to Light walk. Near Eden, this accessible landmark tells the story of Benjamin Boyd who built the tower in 1847. Visit for some of the best whale watching on the NSW south coast.
    • Boyds Tower walking track Take an easy walk to historic Boyds Tower near Eden, find out about local history and marine animals, and enjoy whale watching from the lookouts.
    • Green Cape Lighthouse guided tour Uncover the history of Green Cape Lighthouse on this guided tour in Beowa National Park, near Eden. Hear stories of disaster and survival and enjoy shore-based whale watching and breathtaking views.

    Plants and animals protected in this park

    Animals

    • Yellow-tailed black cockatoo. Photo: Peter Sherratt

      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.

    • White-bellied sea eagle. Photo: John Turbill

      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.

    •  Superb lyrebird, Minnamurra Rainforest, Budderoo National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

      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.

    • An eastern ground parrot bird's green and yellow colouring camouflages it amongst grassland. Photo: Lachlan Hall © Lachlan Hall

      Eastern ground parrot (Pezoporus wallicus wallicus)

      The eastern ground parrot is a beautiful, ground-dwelling native bird that lives in low heathland habitat along the NSW North and South coasts and escarpments. It’s listed as a vulnerable species in NSW.

    • Lace monitor, Daleys Point walking track, Bouddi National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

      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

    •  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.

    •  Grey mangrove, Towra Point Nature Reserve. Photo: John Spencer

      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.

    • Old man banksia, Moreton National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

      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.

    Environments in this area