Hobart Beach camping area to Bournda Trig loop

Download & Print Map and Notes

Tap again to allow map panning

Time 3 hrs 30 mins
Circuit 8 km Circuit
Climb 251 m
Grade 5 Experienced only
Car
no_pets
The walk from Hobart Beach camping area to Bournda Trig is a long walk, heading up the biggest hill in the area. The view from the top is shrouded by trees, giving visitors water glimpses and views of the ranges to the east. The walk is great exercise and explores a diverse range of environments in the park.

* This walk passes through very remote areas and sections have no visible track. At least one person in your group should have training and experience in off track walking and navigation. Even with these notes and a GPS these extra skills and equipment are required.

(0km) Hobart Beach large shelter → Int. just north of Bournda Rd

distance 360 m time 6 mins climb 6m descent 0m Easy track
From the intersection, this walk follows the path and the sign to the 'Field Study Huts'[1] past the large picnic shelter (on the left). The track soon passes a volleyball court (on the right) and a fire pit (on the left), then follows a track marker through the dense melaleuca. The track soon comes to a three-way intersection marked with several signs, including one pointing back to 'Hobart Beach Camping Area'[2]. From the intersection, the walk continues straight along the track, following the 'Bondi Lake' sign[3] through the melaleuca. The track soon comes to another three-way intersection, marked with another sign pointing back to 'Hobart Beach Camping Area'[4].

(0km) Int. Bournda Rd and Hobart Beach Rd → Bournda Trig Station

distance 3.4 km time 1 hr 16 mins climb 227m descent -35m Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Bournda Trig' sign[5], along the shaded trail which follows roughly parallel to the road (above on the left). The trail winds and undulates a little for about 700m to come to a clear intersection where a 'Hobart Beach camping area' sign[6] points back along the trail.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Bournda Trig' sign[7] up the hill to the road, which is in sight. The walk crosses the road to the gate and signpost.
Continue straight: From the gate, the walk heads up the hill away from the road. The trail tends right before leading up the hill, where it steepens towards an intersection with a trail (leading to a water tank) on the right.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads up the hill, keeping the water tank below on the right. The trail leads up the hill to a signposted intersection.
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the sign to 'Bournda Trig'[8] down the hill. The trail passes a water tank on the right before winding up the hill onto the ridge. The trail then continues along the ridge to a signposted intersection.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Bournda Trig' sign[9] along the flat. The trail continues to wind through the bush to a large pile of logs on the right of the track. From here, the track tends right, up the hill, to climb steeply to a signposted intersection.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Bournda Trig' sign up the hill. The track winds up the hill, around a knoll (to the right) and comes to the Trig Station in a clearing. If you go down hill you have gone too far.

Bournda Trig

Bournda Trig
Bournda Trig is the highest point in Bournda National Park, situated between Tathra and Merimbula. The trig point stands in a small clearing beside the management trail, and does not have great views over the surrounding area. The trig station stands at 207 m.a.s.l. The Bournda Trig can be accessed by the Bournda Trig Fire Trail[10] which off Bournda Rd and Sapphire Coast Dr.

(4km) Bournda Trig Station → Int Bournda Trig and Field Studies Trks

distance 320 m time 9 mins climb 3m descent -36m Moderate track
Turn around: From the intersection, the walk keeps the Trig Station on the left as it heads down the hill. The track tends left around a knoll and then continues down the hill to a signposted intersection.

(4km) Int. Bournda Trig and Field Studies Trks → Field Study Huts

distance 1.7 km time 31 mins climb 4m descent -108m Experienced only
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Field Studies' sign[11] down the hill. The track meanders down along a ridgeline before following the path which is just visible down the hill. The track is covered in sections with fallen trees, many with paths trodden around them. The track continues to descend the ridge for sometime before coming out at a clearing with numerous A-frame shelters. The track continues through these to a campfire setting in front of a homestead-style home.

Field Study Huts

Field Study Huts
The Field Study Huts are located just above Bournda Rd in Bournda National Park, between Tathra and Merimbula. The main hut is a homestead-style wood cottage with a fire pit, BBQ plate, picnic tables and a toilet. Just near the hut, there are four open A-frame shelters. These facilities support a range of education services provided by the Bournda Environmental Education Centre. Parking is available near the road, and walking access from Bournda Lagoon and Trig is also possible. More info.

(6km) Field Study Huts → Field Study Huts Carpark

distance 150 m time 3 mins climb 1m descent -9m Moderate track
Turn left: From the campfire, the walk heads down the hill away from the homestead-style building, keeping the A-frame shelters to the left. The trail tends left down the hill to a gate and a signpost across the road.

(6km) Field Study Huts Car park → Int. just north of Bournda Rd

distance 1.7 km time 33 mins climb 10m descent -58m Experienced only
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads down into the car park. The track continues down the ridge of the hill, passing over a fallen log and following a barely-visible trodden path down the slope. The track winds down the hill to meet a signpost on a more defined bush track.
Veer left: From the intersection, with the 'Field Studies Huts' sign[12] on the left, this walk heads north along the wide track. The track passes along the side of Bondi Lake (not visable on the right) to come to a three way intersection marked with a 'Bondi Lake' sign[13] pointing back along the track (as an old hut is just visible on the right). From the intersection, this walk follows the 'hobart beach camp' sign[14] north passing and old fence and the view to the old hut (on the right). The track winds throught the bush to soon come pass another 'Bondi Lake' sign[15], and head between the timber posts to come to the dirt road.
Continue straight: From intersection with Bournda Rd, this walk crosses the dirt road and follows the 'Hobart Beach camping area 0.5km' sign[16] north along the track. The track winds through the melaleuca for a short time, to a three way intersection marked with a 'Bondi Lake' sign[17] pointing back to the dirt road.

(8km) Int. just north of Bournda Rd → Hobart Beach large shelter

distance 360 m time 6 mins climb 0m descent -6m Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Hobart Beach Camping Area'[18] through the melaleuca, soon coming to another three-way intersection with a 'Bondi Lake' sign[19] pointing back along the track. From the intersection, the walk continues straight follows the 'Hobart Beach Camping Area'[20] through the dense melaleuca, soon coming to a large clearing at the back of the camping area. The walk continues past the volleyball court to the dirt road in front of the large picnic shelter[21].

Hobart Beach campground

Hobart Beach campground
This is a well-established campsite close to the beach and lake. There are garbage and recycling bins. Each camping space is well-defined and there is a large covered common area. The camp surrounds the stone and timber toilet and laundry facility.

Maps for the Hobart Beach camping area to Bournda Trig loop 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.

Wolumla1:25 000 Map Series88242N WOLUMLANSW-88242N
Bega1:100 000 Map Series8824 BEGA8824

Cross sectional view of the Hobart Beach camping area to Bournda Trig loop bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Hobart Beach camping area to Bournda Trig loop

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Hobart Beach camping area to Bournda Trig loop

Altitude analysis for Hobart Beach camping area to Bournda Trig loop

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.

Length8 km
Time3 hrs 30 mins
.




Grade 5/6



Experienced only
AS 2156.1GradientVery steep (4/6)
Quality of trackRough unclear track (5/6)
SignsNo directional signs (5/6)
Experience RequiredSome bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
WeatherWeather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
InfrastructureLimited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

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

Gradient

3km of this walk has short steep hills and another 2.1km is very steep. Whilst another 2.1km is flat with no steps and the remaining 920m has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

3.2km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 2.8km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (2.1km) follows a rough unclear track.

Signs

4.8km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 1.7km Has no directional signs. The remaining (1.5km) is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

Around 6km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.7km requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 8km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 4.6km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 3.4km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Hobart Beach camping area to Bournda Trig loop walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Hobart Beach camping area to Bournda Trig loop walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Hobart Beach camping area to Bournda Trig loop walk starts and ends at the Hobart Beach large shelter (gps: -36.797001, 149.93998)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the South Coast weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Bournda National Park

Comments