Mowarry Bay to Red Cliffs

Download & Print Map and Notes

3 hrs 30 mins

8.8 km Return

232 m

Hard track

The walk from Mowarry Point to Red Cliffs is an interesting trip through quite a few distinct vegetation types, with a few money shots of the coast line. The grass, heaths, and melaleuca along the way break up the walk to Red Cliffs, which are absolutely stunning. Spend time at the Red Cliffs to see all the different rock formations and inlets that have been created by erosion. Be mindful to keep a safe distance from the edge. The road to the start of this walk is 4wd track only.

Light to Light walk through the thick bush

Fallen branches next to Light to Light walk

(0km) Mowarry Bay car park → Mowarry Creek Sth bank

80 m

1 mins

-2m Hard track

From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to 'Mowarry Point 500m', down the hill. The track leaves the car park through the gap in the logs and tends right, heading down the hillside to an intersection (with a track marker present), above a creek.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the track marker down the stairs and upstream of the creek, to turn left across the rocky creek bed. The walk heads up the stairs, leading to a service trail.

(0km) Mowarry Creek Sth bank → Mowarry lookout

1.8 km

34 mins

56m

-47m Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign up the hill, tending left. The track soon meets a flatter area where this walk comes into sight of a beach, below on the left. The walk passes two access tracks on the left which lead down to the beach. The track continues to a small clearing at an intersection, marked by an arrow.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, keeping the ocean below on the left. The track winds up the hillside to a large signpost 'Mowarry Point'. This walk follows the arrow to 'Saltwater Creek 5.4km' into an open grassland, following numerous track markers through the open grass area and patches of heath. The walk soon turns right, up the hill, keeping the ocean well below to the left of the track. The track then enters and winds through an area of heath. Many trees cover the tracks and trodden paths in this part of the walk. The track passes through these trees to a clearing with views towards Boyd Tower and waves crashing below.

Mowarry Point lookout

Mowarry Point lookout is an informal vantage on Mowarry Point in Ben Boyd National Park. There is no signage or other infrastructure. The lookout provides a unobstructed view to the north and north-east, along the coast of Ben Boyd National Park. The view extends up to Eden, into Twofold Bay and out over the South Pacific Ocean. There are some Melaleuca trees that offer limited shade.

(2km) Mowarry Lookout → Red rocks

2.6 km

48 mins

60m

-66m Hard track

Veer right: From the intersection, the walk winds through the heath, keeping the ocean to your left. The track heads through sections of low and tall heath and eucalypt bush. The walk begins to wind down the hill, and passes a clearing with a fire place, leading onto the rocky beach where there is an arrow marker standing in the pebbles of the beach.
Veer right: From the signpost, the walk heads towards the next arrow sign within sight, keeping the ocean on the left. The walk crosses the pebbly beach to the arrow marker, where another can be seen further along the coast on the red rock shelf. The walk meanders across the rock shelf to the track marker, which points into the bush. The walk follows this arrow away from the coast and up the stairs into the heath, where the track winds for quite some time through the heath and then bush. The track then heads back through the bush, down onto a red rock platform above the sea. The walk continues down the rock platform following the arrow signs, with the sea on the left of the track, coming to be opposite a set of stairs (on the right of the track).

Red Cliffs

Red Cliffs - These fantastic red coastal cliffs are found about 1km north of saltwater creek in Ben Boyd National Park. The cliffs are made of a red siltstone. As the name suggests, this rock is made from deposited silt, making it much finer grain than sandstone. The red silt came from nearby volcanic eruptions long ago, and is clearly different from the other brown siltstone and sandstone in the region. The cliff is unfenced and provides views out to sea and into a few surrounding bays. More info.

Maps for the Mowarry Bay to Red Cliffs walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Kiah	1:25 000 Map Series	88231S KIAH	NSW-88231S
Green Cape	1:100 000 Map Series	8923 GREEN CAPE	8923
Eden	1:100 000 Map Series	8823 EDEN	8823

Cross sectional view of the Mowarry Bay to Red Cliffs bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Mowarry Bay to Red Cliffs

Altitude analysis for Mowarry Bay to Red Cliffs

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

		Length	8.8 km
		Time	3 hrs 30 mins
		.
Grade 4/6 Hard track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
		Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
		Signs	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
		Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
		Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

Around 4.3km of this walk has short steep hills, whilst the remaining 130m is very steep.

Quality of track

Around 2.6km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely, whilst the remaining 1.8km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 4.2km of this walk has minimal directional signs, whilst the remaining 190m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 4.4km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 4.4km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 15m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

Around 4.4km of this walk has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged), whilst the remaining 60m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Mowarry Bay to Red Cliffs walk.

Saltwater Creek campsite to Mowarry Point

8.5 km Return, 3 hrs

This walk is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon out from Saltwater Creek camping area. The walk passes the red cliffs that create a dramatic contrast against the intense blue of the sea and green of the heath. The walk also passes through a bay with a large red rock platform which is a grea

Total climbing: 193m

Hard track

Saltwater Creek to Mowarry Point

8.5 km Return, 3 hrs

This walk starts from the Saltwater Creek camping area, passing through some varied vegetation groups on its way to Mowarry Point Lookout. The walk passes the great view from the red cliffs before heading into a red platform bay, with an opportunity to see the rock formations up close. This great wa

Total climbing: 193m

Hard track

Boyd Tower to Saltwater Creek

13.4 km One way, 5 hrs

This is the first of the three main sections that form the Light to Light walk. You can start the walk with an optional sidetrip to the historic and interesting Boyd Tower. From here, the walk starts its southward journey to Saltwater Creek. The walk explores a number of picturesque bays with bri

Total climbing: 382m

Hard track

Boyd Tower to Mowarry Point Lookout

18.3 km Return, 7 hrs

This longer day walk starts near Boyd Tower and heads to Mowarry Point, meandering down the coast of Ben Boyd National Park. On the way there are plenty of picturesque coastline views, with the stark red rock forming a great contrast. Views of Boyd Tower and of the coastal rocks are common along th

Total climbing: 601m

Hard track

Light to Light Walk 2 days

30.9 km One way, 2 Days

Over two days, this classic walk explores the coast from Boyd Tower to the Green Cape Lighthouse in the south. Hegartys Bay Camp is over halfway and is the quietest campsite in the park (alternative camp at Saltwater creek). The walk explores many of the scenic and historic highlights of Ben Boyd Na

Total climbing: 794m

Hard track

Light to Light Walk 3 days

30.9 km One way, 3 Days

This classic walk explores the coast from Boyd Tower to the Green Cape Lighthouse in the south, with overnight stops at the well established Saltwater Creek and Bittangabee Bay campsites (bookings required). The walk explores many of the scenic and historic highlights of Ben Boyd National Park. It

Total climbing: 794m

Hard track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Mowarry Bay to Red Cliffs walk.

Saltwater Beach to Red Cliffs

3.3 km Return, 1 hr 30 mins

This walk starts from Saltwater Creek camping area and heads north around the bay to the red cliffs. The walk gives an opportunity to explore the end of Saltwater Creek, the beach and the varied bushland on it's journey to the bald rock platform. From the rock platform, there are awesome views and

Total climbing: 67m

Moderate track

Saltwater Creek to Bittangabee Bay

9.1 km One way, 3 hrs 30 mins

This walk follows the second main section of the Light to Light walk. The walk joins the two main camping areas of Ben Boyd National Park, by walking along the coast from Saltwater Creek to Bittangabee Bay. The walk explores a few bays, beaches and stunning rock formations on its journey. About hal

Total climbing: 223m

Hard track

Saltwater Creek to Hegartys Bay

9.8 km Return, 3 hrs 30 mins

This return walk, from Saltwater Creek camping area, heads south along the coast and around the headlands to Hegartys Bay. The walk passes over a large expanse of low heath along the headland between the bays, providing great panoramic views of the coast. There is a small campsite at Hegartys Bay w

Total climbing: 213m

Hard track

Boyd Tower

582 m Return, 15 mins

This walk in Ben Boyd National Park is a magnificent way to explore the heritage of Boyd Tower. There are plenty of information signs that enrich the story of the stunning structure and history of the area. Boyd Tower is the centre piece of this walk and is well worth a visit. The bottom of the tow

Total climbing: 15m

Very easy

Twofold Bay Lookout via Boyd Tower

764 m Return, 20 mins

This walk is a fantastic way to see some of Ben Boyd National Park's heritage and spectacular coastline. The walk passes the iconic sandstone Boyd Tower and continues on to the wide views from the lookout over Twofold Bay. The side trip to Red Point lookout is well worth it to see the dramatic rock

Total climbing: 25m

Very easy

Boyd Tower to Leather Jacket Bay

9.3 km Return, 3 hrs 30 mins

Leather Jacket Bay is a rocky and wonderful bay. The walk through Ben Boyd National Park starts at Boyd Tower car park and passes through Red Sands bay with its stunning contrast of colour. The walk not only passes some beautiful coast line to Leather Jacket Bay but some superb examples of geologica

Total climbing: 274m

Hard track

Boyd Tower to Red sands Bay

4.9 km Return, 2 hrs

Starting near Boyd Tower, this walk follows the Light to Light walk to a bay with a fine red gravel beach. The walk passes scenic views of Boyd Tower, through the scrub, as it continues past awesome examples of geological rock folding in the cliffs of the bays. Red Sands bay itself is something qui

Total climbing: 170m

Hard track

Bittangabee Bay picnic area to the storehouse

715 m Circuit, 20 mins

The walk to the old storehouse is an opportunity to explore some history of the region and see some fantastic rock platforms. The storehouse and wharf are perched just above the water, on the red rock of the bay. The view across the bay, with the contrast of the red rock, can be magical on sunny da

Total climbing: 32m

Hard track

Bittangabee Bay to Pulpit Rock

5.3 km One way, 2 hrs

This walk from Bittangabee Bay is a magnificent way to view the coastline of Ben Boyd National Park. The low heath for much of this walk allows great views out across the ocean and across the flora of the park. The walk finishes with a longish section of service trail leading down to Pulpit Rock, wh

Total climbing: 140m

Hard track

Bittangabee Bay to Green Cape Lighthouse

8.5 km One way, 3 hrs

This is the final of the three formal sections of the classic Light to Light track. This walk starts at Bittangabee Bay, where walkers can explore the ruins and and the scenic beach. The walk follows the coast through a variety of environments, mostly in open heath, taking full advantage of the co

Total climbing: 191m

Hard track

Bittangabee Bay to Southern point lookout

954 m Return, 30 mins

The walk from Bittangabee Bay to the southern point of the bay, is a walk to a nice lookout. The walk is well marked, however the informal lookout is not signposted. The lookout is a large gap in the bush along a section of the Light to Light track. The lookout gives a great view across to the black

Total climbing: 36m

Moderate track

Bittangabee Bay Imlay House loop

1.1 km Circuit, 30 mins

This walk takes a look at the historical ruins of the Imlay brothers house. The ruins reveal the outline of what would have been a great house, in a quiet and scenic bay. The walk returns by the coast with views through the trees of the turquoise waters. This is an interesting trip to help understa

Total climbing: 29m

Moderate track

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Mowarry Bay to Red Cliffs walk starts and ends at the Mowarry Bay car park (gps: -37.142540, 149.98513)

Car. A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.<br /> (get details)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the South Coast weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Ben Boyd National Park

Ben Boyd National park is on the NSW South Coast, near Eden. The park was named and established in 1971, in the honour of Benjamin Boyd (1801-1851). Ben Boyd National park protects a wonderful section of coast line from Pambula to Green Cape, split into two distinct sections, one north of Eden and the other south. The park is well known for its contrasting red rocks, whale sighting, Boyd Tower, Green Cape Lighthouse and associated history. Ben Boyd National park offers some great insights into recent European history, Indigenous occupation and natural history. The park provides two campsites some other great recreational experiences.

Comments

Download PDF

Open in App

Short URL: http://wild.tl/mbtrc