Sydney is known for having some pretty amazing hiking trails, from rugged mountain treks to picturesque coastal walks. But if you’re looking for a peaceful escape from the city before summer ends, the Shoalhaven City Council has just unveiled a brand new adventure to add to your list – the Southern Headlands Walk. Stretching between Narrawallee and Burrill Lake, this scenic route is packed with some of the NSW South Coast‘s very best including hidden beaches, small towns, seasonal wildflowers, charming local cafes, and gorgeous coastline views, and it’s perfect for a weekend adventure. Here’s everything you need to know before you hit the trail.
Southern Headlands Walk
The new trail, funded by Restart NSW, combines and upgrades existing paths to create a 20km route. It includes tracks like the Narrawallee Foreshore Walk, South Pacific Walk, Gari Bagan, One Track for All, and Coomee Nulunga Cultural Walk, with some exciting new features and highlights hikers can look forward to.
Aside from seriously stunning views, the walk gives visitors access to some of the region’s best hidden gems. Wander through the Bangalay Sand Forest, an endangered ecological area with coastal sand plains, and eucalyptus trees, discover ancient 270-million-year-old fossils, near Ulladulla Harbour, and keep an eye out for migrating whales and dolphins. Along the way, you’ll also find ten of Shoalhaven’t most pristine beaches including Narrawallee, Jones, Mollymook, and Burrill. The trail weaves together existing tracks like One Track for All, Gari Bagan, Coomee Nulunga Cultural Walk, Narrawallee Foreshore Walk, and the South Pacific Walk.
You can choose to tackle shorter sections of the trail or take on the entire 20km adventure. If you’re keen to extend your journey, there are plenty of accommodation options along the way. Take a break at Ulladulla Holiday Haven, set on a beautiful headland about halfway through, or Burrill Lake Holiday Haven, conveniently located near the start at Blackburn Head. Alternatively, the towns of Mollymook or Ulladulla are perfect to recharge and reset.
How to get there
Kick off your hike at the northern end of the Southern Headlands Walk, starting at Narrawallee Inlet if you’re travelling from Sydney. The drive would take around three hours and you can find free parking along Narrawallee Inlet Road.
Read more about the new walk here.