Mimosa Rocks National Park

Where: 20 kilometres south of Bermagui, 4 kilometres north of Tathra

Directions:   Mimosa Rocks is accessed via the Tathra-Bermagui Road (sealed road) with the access roads turning off this to the coastal camping and picnic areas.

Camping: Camping areas are at Middle Beach, Picnic Point, Aragunnu Beach and Gillards Beach (camping fees apply).

To the local Aboriginal people the Mimosa Rocks area has significant mythological and ceremonial significance.   For generations local resources found in the area have provided the Yuin people with food, shelter and raw materials for tools and weapons.   The National Park began with 628 hectares of coast between Picnic Point and Bunga Head in 1973 and has now grown to 5,802 hectares. Mimosa Rocks National Park boasts four NPWS camping grounds and a true Australian beach and bush experience. This rugged coastline, with its many beaches, provides endless fun for snorkelers, surfers, birdwatchers, fishermen, bushwalkers and explorers.   A number of endangered fauna species can be found within the park, such as the sooty owl, the golden tipped bat and the brown pigeon can also be found at the southern limit of its distribution.   

Car-based camping is available at Aragunnu, Picnic Point and Gillards, with only Gillards suitable for caravans. Walk-in camping is at Middle Beach. There are picnic areas at Aragunnu, Bithry Inlet, Middle Beach and Gillards. Carparks for other activities such as walking are at Wajurda Point, Moon Bay, Nelson Beach and Goalen Head.

 

Murrah Beach backs onto Murrah Lagoon and although this beach is a little difficult to reach and is rather isolated it is well worth the effort. There is an abundance of birdlife in and around the lagoon and lots of fish in it. For those who aren’t worried about the walk and who want a secluded place to surf, fish, swim or explore, this is an ideal spot.

Directions: Take Hergenhans Road towards Goalen Head. Follow the road until you see a large round water tank with a big arrow and the word ‘beach’ written on it. Go past the silo and down a long straight track which takes you down a grassy hillside to a small car park overlooking both Bunga Beach North and Murrah Beach.   The two beaches share the same access and you will need to walk at least another kilometre to get to Murrah Beach.

Facilities: None

 

Prominent on this beach are the large, rounded black boulders; a reminder of past volcanic activity. Bunga Beach backs onto the beautiful and picturesque Bunga Lagoon. Bunga Beach North is the most northern beach in the Mimosa Rocks National Park and from the headland has beautiful views north to Murrah Head and south to Hidden Valley Beach and Bunga Head behind it. A few hundred metres walk north along the beach will bring you to the entrance of Bunga Lagoon, home to an abundance of birdlife. 

Directions: Access is via Hergenhans Road from the Tathra Bermagui Road. Follow the road past private property to the small car park overlooking the beach.

Facilities: None

 

Broken up into a series of beaches by various volcanic rocky outcrops this beach is well over a kilometre long. This is an idyllic, peaceful beach offering pristine waters in varying shades.

Directions: Access to this beach is via Hergenhans Road which is on the southern side of Goalen Head. 

Facilities: None

Directions: Access to this beach is by foot only from the Bunga Beach South car park at the end of Hergenhans Road.

 

Bunga Head is over a hundred metres high and is a dominating backdrop to this secluded beach. At the entrance to the Hidden Valley there is a small beach aptly named Hidden Valley Beach which is approximately 250 metres wide. Protected from the north and south winds this beach is private and well worth the hike.

Facilities: Wood barbecue

Directions: Access is by foot only from the Bunga Beach South car park at the end of Hergenhans Road. 

 

This 500 metre-long beach provides a rather popular camping area and beach and is the site of the Mimosa shipwreck found at the northern end.   As a result of the shipwreck the rocks you will see are called the Mimosa Rocks and are a fantastic place to snorkel and explore.   This beach has significant Aboriginal heritage for the local Yuin people with a large midden protected by a boardwalk which stretches through  a section of rainforest ends at a platform at the Mimosa Rocks.

Facilities:  Wooden barbecues and non-flush toilets, noticeboard with local information

Directions: Turn off the Tathra-Bermagui Road onto Aragunnu Road, north of Wapengo.

Camping: 50 sites

 

Facilities: Wooden barbecues, non-flush toilets

Camping:  18 sites on a small flat grassy area beside sandy beaches and Banksia forest. This campground is at the end of Wapengo Lake Road, off the Bermagui-Tathra Road.

 

Facilities: Barbecues, non-flush toilets

 

Directions: Either walk from Gillards Beach to the south or take Haighs Road, a 3.5 km-long unsealed road off the Tathra Bermagui Road.

 

Gillards Beach has several kilometres of wide, golden sand which backs onto dense bushland and has access to Middle Lagoon.   This beach offers an excellent and popular camp site and is the only place in Mimosa Rocks National Park which allows caravans.   The maximum stay during school holiday periods is 2 weeks, 4 weeks at other times. From Gillards Beach you can walk north to Middle Lagoon for a relaxing swim in calm waters. 

Camping : 70 sites. Turn off the Tathra-Bermagui road onto Gillards Road, just south of Tanja

Cowdroys Beach backs onto Nelson Lagoon and is 2 kilometres long. The high headlands and beach foreshore give this narrow beach a very secluded feel. There is a northern entrance to the beach which is around 150 metres long and brings you onto a wider steeper beach which is also enclosed by colourful headlands.

Facilities:  None

Directions: Follow the signs to Gillards Beach from the main road then keep to the right and continue on to Cowdroys Beach.   The road is fairly rough in places and better suited to 4WD vehicles. The track ends in a small car park and a short track will lead you down to the beach.

 

To get a birds-eye view of Nelson Beach, take the time to go to Wajurda Point lookout. To access the lookout, follow the signs from the Tathra Bermagui Road and continue past the turnoff to Nelson Beach to the car park for Wajurda Point and Moon Bay. There is a 450 metre walk which leads you to a large viewing platform where you will be able to see Nelson Beach and north to Baronda Head. The bush is around 1 km long and surrounded by bushland. At the northern end you can access Nelson Lagoon which is an idyllic spot for relaxing and swimming.

Facilities: Non-flush toilet

Directions: Follow the signs from the Tathra Bermagui Road to Nelson Beach

 

This 200 metre-wide crescent-shaped beach is set well back from the ocean between two protective headlands. It is ideal for fishing (rock ledges make ideal fishing platforms), surfing, beach walking and exploring.   Access to the beach is via a 250 metre steep track at the southern end of the car park.   The beach itself is shallow for quite a fair way out which makes it ideal for small children. 

Facilities: Non-flush toilet

Directions: Follow the signs from the Tathra Bermagui Road to Nelson Beach