The Wasp Head walking track is a short, scenic walk in Murramarang National Park, south of Durras Lake on the New South Wales south coast. Rated at grade 3, it is unpaved but was very well maintained during our visit. NSW National Parks and Wildlife are responsible for the area and there is an entrance fee. As a National Park, no dogs are allowed.
Getting There
We drove from Batemans Bay, only 20 minutes away. Although the last section of the drive on Wasp Head Road is gravel it was in good condition when we went. A warning sign at the start of the trail warns of unstable sea cliffs and to only stay on the designated tracks.
The Track
Sloping gently uphill on the outward walk, we found it very easy and at only 1km very short. Most of the track is through casuarina forest, although there is a cleared area towards the end. The views over the ocean and out towards Wasp Island are beautiful and even more so as we arrived just after sunrise.
This was a nice, easy walk to start the day with great ocean views.
Wasp Head Walking TrackCoastal casuarina forestLooking over Wasp Head and out to Wasp IslandLooking over Wasp Head and out to Wasp IslandCasuarina forest
Nestled in the Mogo State Forest adjacent to the Deep Creek Dam, the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden covers a 42-hectare site. Established in 1988 when Forests NSW provided the site to the local council, it has a visitor centre, display gardens and walking tracks. The display gardens cover 10ha of land cleared to provide material for the dam wall, effectively repurposing a bare landscape. The remaining 32ha has walking tracks that provide access to the local bushland.
Bushfires in 1994 and 2019/20 caused significant damage some of which is still visible as fire damaged trees.
Getting There
Located only 5 minutes’ drive from the NSW coastal town of Batemans Bay and just of the Princes Highway, it’s easy to find with plenty of car parking space. Entry is free which is a great bonus.
The Gardens
The display gardens exhibit plants from the surrounding area, with sea-level to sub-alpine plant species on display. This area is well paved, generally flat and its 2km are wheelchair friendly. The plants were flowering when we visited adding colour to the gardens. There are also several ponds here and if you are lucky you will see some native species. We only saw some purple swamp hens and ducks, but there are others that call the area home.
Kangaroo sculpturesWalking path through banksiasBanksia in bloomPurple Coral-pea (Hardenbergia violacea)Sculpture using the trunk of a coastal grey box that was killed during the 2019/20 firesPond near the eucalypt lawnEucalyptus treesPurple swamp hen
Forest Track
After walking through the display gardens, we headed to the Forest Track which took us through the native bushland of the area. This track is well defined but rough with several steep sections. However, it’s only 2km long with plenty of places to stop and enjoy the local bush. This track passes the dam, where a viewing platform lets you see over the dam wall and over Deep Creek Dam. With no trees on the wall or near the water, it looked very bare and no birdlife was present. This may change in the future, but we found it uninteresting (2024).
The trail through the Forest Track
What Did We Think
We loved the walk through the display gardens and native bush areas. The visitor centre has a cafe where you can relax after your walk with a coffee and snacks.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Horsehead Rock Wallaga Lake New South Wales Australia
As one of Australia’s most distinctive coastal rock formations, Horsehead Rock at Wallaga Lake is a must see if in the area. As a bonus, there are several other interesting rock formations on the same stretch of the coast.
Getting There
Located 240 km from Canberra on the New South Wales south coast, Horsehead Rock can be accessed from the Camel Rock carpark. We left out car here and walked the short distance to the beach.
Safety
There are two ways to view Horsehead Rock, either from the beach or the cliff top. It is important to only walk to Horsehead Rock from the beach at low tide, otherwise you may get stranded on the far side. Check the tide times be here.
When taking the cliff top track, be aware that it is not fenced. With soft edges and steep cliffs make it important to stay back while keeping any children well supervised.
Camel Rock and Haywards Beach
One track from the carpark takes you down to Haywards Beach. This is a beautiful sandy beach, where several people were surfing during our visit. As you step onto the beach, there is a large rock formation to your left. This is Camel Rock. We walked around it and then a little further around the headland where there are some other interesting formations. Horsehead rock can be accessed from here, but only at low tide. Unfortunately the tide was coming in, so we couldn’t get to it.
Haywards BeachCamel RockHaywards Beach viewed from the carpark
Cliff Top Track
Walking back from the beach to the carpark, we took the cliff top track. Several spots along the track provide great views over the beach. From here you can see why it’s called Horsehead Rock because it looks like one that is drinking with its head in the water.
Also from the cliff top, if you look left there is another formation. Called Dragon Tail rock, it looks like the tail of a huge mythical monster.
Cliff top trailLooking at Horsehead rock from the rear towards Pebbly BeachHorsehead RockHorsehead RockDragons Tail Rock
