The stunning Pink Caves, more commonly known as the Cotton Candy Caves have blown up on social media. The gorgeous hidden spot is located along the Moonee Beach Trail in the Munmorah State Conservation Area and you can find these caves just under two hours from Sydney.
Read on to find out more about the caves and how you can get there.
Pink Caves, Moonee Beach
The caves are popular for their vivid pink colour against the stark contrast of the aquamarine water. Couple this with the dark green and brown hues of the roof and the place looks absolutely ethereal. But, what causes this natural phenomenon?
The bright hues of the surreal grotto are attributed to the brute force with which the saltwater strikes against the rock formation. Eventually, this reveals the bright, underlying colours of the rocks in the area.
How do you get to the Pink Caves?
It’s surprisingly easy, although you might need to prepare yourself for a long walk. You’ll find the tranquil Munmorah State Conservation Area nestled between Budgewoi and Catherine Hill Bay in Lake Macquarie on the Central Coast. You can access the caves via the Moonee Beach Trail which makes for a stunning coastal walk with beautiful vistas and rock pools to boot. The caves are located at the headland at the northern end of Moonee Beach. Once you’re at the beach route, walk directly ahead around the rock ledge till you come across the beach access sign to the mouth of the cave.
It’s hard to miss the caves once down this path. To get back, simply retrace your steps to the beach till you find yourself at the car park.
Things to note before your trip
Please only visit the caves at low tide as it can be extremely dangerous during high tide. You can check for tide times here before planning a trip.
Given the unpredictability of the tides, visitors are also warned to not get too close to the rock formations as the waves can rush through at any moment even during low tide. Getting to the caves from Sydney can take between 1.5 to 2 hours with a 4km return walk along the rocks.
The route is absolutely stunning and worth the trek and its proximity to Sydney makes it an absolutely must-do. Happy adventuring!