Beowa walks & beaches
Guide updated · official distances/grades checked 16 Aug 2026 — verify open status on NSW National Parks
Start with a clear easy lookout vs multi-day coast decision. Boyds Tower covers most first visits. Distances, grades and times below are planning ranges — always confirm on NSW National Parks and park alerts. Weather, closures and creek levels change.
Decide before you lace up
- Easy lookout: Boyds Tower — picnic, boardwalk, whale window.
- Northern short: Pinnacles loop — 1.1 km Grade 3, free entry.
- Northern coast: Haycock Point to Barmouth Beach — 3 km one-way, Grade 3.
- Hard day: Green Cape loop — 7 km Grade 4. Skip in surge.
- Multi-day: Light to Light — 32 km, booked platforms, treated water.
A Light to Light day plus another remote loop is usually too much. Use the table to match distance and effort, then open the trail page for how to get there.
Light to Light coast
Dhx1 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Quick comparison (planning only)
| Walk | Grade | Distance | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light to Light (32 km) | Grade 4 · 2–3 days | 32 km one-way | 2–3 days / 2 nights | Fit walkers who will book platforms, treat water and plan a car shuffle |
| Boyds Tower | Grade 1 · accessible | 0.8 km return | 30 min–1 hr (official) | Families, first visits, whale season, visitors who want a view without a multi-day |
| The Pinnacles | Grade 3 · short loop | 1.1 km loop | 20–40 min | First northern visit, geology, families who can handle a short Grade 3 |
| Pambula River | Grade 4 · short | 1 km return | 20–40 min | River views, birdwatching, a short northern add-on |
| Haycock–Barmouth | Grade 3 · one-way coast | 3 km one-way | 1.5–2.5 hrs | A proper northern coastal walk with steps, not a five-minute lookout |
| Green Cape loop | Grade 4 · exposed loop | 7 km loop | 2–3 hrs (official) · some briefs say 3–4 | Fit walkers who want rock platforms and the lighthouse country without an overnight |
Easy
Moderate
The Pinnacles
moderateWhite sand cliffs with a red clay cap in the free-entry northern section. 1.1 km loop, Grade 3, 20–40 minutes. Views to Lennards Island and Haycock Point. Stay on the track — do not climb the formations.
- Grade
- Grade 3 · short loop
- Time
- 20–40 min
- Distance
- 1.1 km loop
View guide →
Pambula River
moderateShort riverbank walk with a lookout over Severs Beach. Official: 1 km return, Grade 4, 20–40 minutes. Middens nearby — stay on the track and leave cultural sites alone.
- Grade
- Grade 4 · short
- Time
- 20–40 min
- Distance
- 1 km return
View guide →
Haycock–Barmouth
moderateCoastal one-way from Haycock Point to Barmouth Beach. 3 km, Grade 3, 1.5–2.5 hours. Steps. Decide a turnaround or a second car before you start — it is not a loop.
- Grade
- Grade 3 · one-way coast
- Time
- 1.5–2.5 hrs
- Distance
- 3 km one-way
View guide →
Hard
Light to Light (32 km)
hardThe park’s flagship: 32 km one-way from Boyds Tower to Green Cape Lightstation / lookout. Grade 4. Two nights on booked platforms. Tide creek wades, limited reception, and a genuine logistics problem — not a long day-trip from Eden.
- Grade
- Grade 4 · 2–3 days
- Time
- 2–3 days / 2 nights
- Distance
- 32 km one-way
View guide →
Green Cape loop
hardSeven-kilometre loop at the southern tip. Grade 4. Official time 2–3 hours (allow longer if you linger). Rock platforms, melaleuca, possible seals and penguins, ground parrot habitat. Skip in strong wind or storm surge.
- Grade
- Grade 4 · exposed loop
- Time
- 2–3 hrs (official) · some briefs say 3–4
- Distance
- 7 km loop
View guide →
FAQ
Tap a question to expand the answer.
What is the best first walk in Beowa?
Boyds Tower walking track — official 0.8 km return, Grade 1, accessible boardwalk. Light to Light is a two- or three-day trip with booked platforms. Always verify track status with NSW National Parks.
Do I need a permit for Light to Light?
Current official baseline: no general walk permit. Book platforms separately. Trip intention recommended. Free PLB hire at Merimbula. [VERIFY] any future change.
Can I walk the whole Light to Light in a day?
Official product is 32 km one-way, 2–3 days. Walk a named day section with a booked finish, or stay on Boyds Tower.
Which walk is hardest?
Light to Light overall (Grade 4, 32 km) and Green Cape loop (7 km Grade 4 on rock platforms). Skip the loop in strong wind or storm surge.
Where is drinking water on a walk day?
Treat all tank water. Carry at least 5 L on Light to Light. Saltwater Creek campers should bring water. Do not assume a tap.