This return walk, from Saltwater Creek camping area, heads south along the coast and around the headlands to Hegartys Bay. The walk passes over a large expanse of low heath along the headland between the bays, providing great panoramic views of the coast. There is a small campsite at Hegartys Bay with some shade and a fascinating red rock platform on the waters edge. Let us begin by acknowledging the Yuin people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Day use parking area sign Saltwater Creek camping area. | Photo by admin, 2009.Saltwater Creek and dune. | Photo by admin, 2009.Saltwater Creek Beach. | Photo by admin, 2009.First foot prints of the morning Saltwater Creek Beach. | Photo by admin, 2009.Woodburn Creek. | Photo by admin, 2009.Signpost south of Saltwater Creek Beach. | Photo by admin, 2009.Information sign just above Saltwater Creek Beach. | Photo by admin, 2009.Track through low heath. | Photo by admin, 2009.Regrowth next to track. | Photo by admin, 2009.Burnt trees beside the track. | Photo by admin, 2009.View of Hegartys Bay. | Photo by admin, 2009.Arrow marker north of Hegarty Bay. | Photo by admin, 2009.North Hegartys Bay. | Photo by admin, 2009.Hegartys Bay. | Photo by admin, 2009.Drift wood seats north of Hegartys Bay camping area. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)
Directions
From Princes Highway, A1
Turn on to Edrom Road then drive for 5.7 km
Turn right onto Green Cape Road and drive for another 2.7 km
Turn sharp left and drive for another 910 m
Turn right onto Duck Hole Road and drive for another 2.9 km
Turn left onto Saltwater Road and drive for another 4.1 km
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started From the information signs at Saltwater Creek camping area, the walk heads through the 'Day use' parking area to the far left corner. The track then follows the track-marker through the fenced area and onto the beach between the creek and ocean. The track continues towards the bush on the other side, where there is a signposted intersection.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
There is a toilet (about 95 m back from the start).
There is a BBQ (about 65 m back from the start).
After 130 m pass the car park (20 m on your left).
After another 90 m turn right, to head along Light to Light Walk.
After another 150 m find the "Saltwater Creek Beach" (on your left).
Saltwater Creek Beach
Saltwater Creek Beach
Saltwater Creek meets the South Pacific Ocean at a beautiful white sand beach in Ben Boyd National park. The beach looks north-east and has a rock shelf at either end. The wide Saltwater Creek forms a lagoon at the northern end, popular for swimming. Woodburn Creek also forms a lagoon on the southern end of the beach. Both creeks have a brown colouration from the tea tree, that forms a beautiful contrast with the white sand and blue ocean. The back of the beach is heavily wooded, providing some shade, and is home to the Saltwater Creek campsite. The beach can be accessed from the Saltwater Creek campsite at the end of the access road from Duck Hole Road.
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Saltwater Creek meets the South Pacific Ocean at a beautiful white sand beach in Ben Boyd National park. The beach looks north-east and has a rock shelf at either end. The wide Saltwater Creek forms a lagoon at the northern end, popular for swimming. Woodburn Creek also forms a lagoon on the southern end of the beach. Both creeks have a brown colouration from the tea tree, that forms a beautiful contrast with the white sand and blue ocean. The back of the beach is heavily wooded, providing some shade, and is home to the Saltwater Creek campsite. The beach can be accessed from the Saltwater Creek campsite at the end of the access road from Duck Hole Road.
After another 290 m cross the ford.
Continue another 4.2 km to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 4.8 km to get back to the start.
About 40 m past the end is "Hegartys Bay camping area".
Hegartys Bay camping area
Hegartys Bay camping area
Hegartys Bay camping area is a basic bush campsite on the Light to Light walk, about 2km north of Bittangabee. The campsite is signposted and is just north of a small creek that leads to Hegartys Bay. There is another, smaller campsite that is not signposted, about 50m north. The creek is very unreliable and other than some impromptu chairs made from driftwood, there are no facilities provided. The campsite is nestled in a clearing among the tall, dense bush, providing some shade and shelter from winds.
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Hegartys Bay camping area is a basic bush campsite on the Light to Light walk, about 2km north of Bittangabee. The campsite is signposted and is just north of a small creek that leads to Hegartys Bay. There is another, smaller campsite that is not signposted, about 50m north. The creek is very unreliable and other than some impromptu chairs made from driftwood, there are no facilities provided. The campsite is nestled in a clearing among the tall, dense bush, providing some shade and shelter from winds.
About 65 m past the end is "Hegartys Bay".
Hegartys Bay
Hegartys Bay
Hegartys Bay is a north-east facing bay, about 2km north of Bittangabee in Ben Boyd National Park. The bay has many small boulders at the apex that then fade to rock shelves at each end. The bay is walled by red cliffs at the entrance and the northern wall has some spectacular examples of rock folding. The bay can be accessed along the Light to Light track and is home to a bush campsite.
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Hegartys Bay is a north-east facing bay, about 2km north of Bittangabee in Ben Boyd National Park. The bay has many small boulders at the apex that then fade to rock shelves at each end. The bay is walled by red cliffs at the entrance and the northern wall has some spectacular examples of rock folding. The bay can be accessed along the Light to Light track and is home to a bush campsite.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities
Saltwater Creek to Hegartys Bay
Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length
9.7 km
Time
3 h to 3 h 30 min
Quality of track
Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage
Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Bushwalk
3 h to 3 h 30 min
Campsite: There is one 4.9 km from the start.
Toilet: There is one -89 m back from the start.
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There is a BBQ (about 65 m back from the start).
After 130 m pass the car park (20 m on your left).
After another 150 m find the "Saltwater Creek Beach" (on your left).
After another 290 m cross the ford.
