National park · Australia
Beowa National Park
Give Beowa one full day from Merimbula or Eden: drive the southern Green Cape section for the Light to Light coast and Green Cape Lighthouse, or the northern Pambula-Haycock section for the Pinnacles loop and Haycock Point; park entry is free, so the cost is fuel and a $6–12 vehicle fee only where a booth applies (check).
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
105 km²40 sq mi
approximate
Established
1971
Best months
May, Sep–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 105 km²40 sq mi
- About 10,486 hectares (105 km²) after later additions; the original 1971 reserve was 8,900 ha.
- Established
- 1971
- Best months
- May, Sep–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Beowa National Park is New South Wales' southernmost national park, split into two unconnected sections on the Sapphire Coast: Pambula-Haycock in the north and Green Cape in the south. It was gazetted in 1971 as Ben Boyd National Park and renamed in September 2022; beowa means orca in the Thaua language. The landscape is low, wind-scoured heath and clifftop, cold for most of the year, and best known for the 30 km Light to Light walk, the Green Cape Lighthouse and whale watching from the shore between May and November.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1971.
Size and age
105 km²40 sq mi · national park since 1971
About 10,486 hectares (105 km²) after later additions; the original 1971 reserve was 8,900 ha.
Why go
- The Light to Light walk: 30 km of clifftop between Boyd's Tower and Green Cape Lighthouse, usually done over two or three days.The Light to Light walk: 19 mi of clifftop between Boyd's Tower and Green Cape Lighthouse, usually done over two or three days.
- Shore-based whale watching from May to November, when humpbacks and southern rights move along the coast.
- Two very different halves: sheltered Pambula River estuary beaches in the north, exposed Green Cape cliffs and heath in the south.
- Green Cape Lighthouse, the southernmost lighthouse in New South Wales, with fur seals, dolphins and seabirds below the lookout.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecCaution
- JanWarmest month but rarely above 25°C; book campsites earlyWarmest month but rarely above 77°F; book campsites early
- FebWettest stretch; northern unsealed roads cut up
- MarRain tails; expect mud on the northern tracks
- AprMild, quieter, good walking
- MayWhale season opens; clear, cool days
- JunCold and windy; whales close to shore
- JulColdest; pack for wind, not rain
- AugPeak whale movement; few visitors
- SepWhales plus the first warm, still days
- OctMuttonbird migration past Green Cape; wildflowers in the heath
- NovWhale season ends; long daylight for the Light to Light
- DecSchool holidays fill campsites and Eden motels
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humpback and southern right whales offshoreMay–Nov · Seen from Barmouth Beach, the Pinnacles, Disaster Bay and Green Cape lookouts. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Muttonbird (short-tailed shearwater) migration past Green CapeOct · Passes the cape in October; best from the Green Cape lookout. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | no | no |
| Eastern ground parrot and eastern bristlebird in the heathAll year · Heathland species; listen rather than chase. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Little tern breeding on beaches and dunesOct–Feb · Nests on open sand; keep off marked areas and keep dogs away. | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Fur seals, dolphins and seabirds below Green CapeAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Merimbula
Drive the A1 then Edrom Road for the southern section, or Haycock Road for the northern section.
30–45 min
From Eden
Short drive to both sections; the northern Pambula-Haycock area is closest.
15–30 min
From Sydney
A1 Princes Highway south, then Haycock Road (north section) or Edrom Road (south section).
6–7 h
Open the page →
From Melbourne
A1 Princes Highway north, then Edrom Road for Green Cape.
6–7 h
From Canberra
M23/A23/B23/B72 to the A1, then Haycock or Edrom Road.
3–4 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Pambula-Haycock (northern section) | Pambula River estuary, Barmouth and Severs beaches, the Pinnacles and Haycock Point. | Car to signed trailheads; some tracks north of the Pambula River are reached through Pambula Beach. |
| Green Cape (southern section) | Boyd's Tower, Bittangabee Bay, Disaster Bay and Green Cape Lighthouse. | Car; only Edrom Road is sealed, the rest is gravel. |
| Davidson Whaling Station historic site | A separate reserve next to the southern section, covered by the same practical arrangements. | Car on Boyd Road; free to visit. |
Sketch map
- 1Pambula-Haycock section trailheads · Gate≈-36.951, 149.936Approximate; Haycock Road area.Map ↗
- 2Barmouth Beach · Beach≈-36.947, 149.922Map ↗
- 3Severs Beach · Beach≈-36.953, 149.906Map ↗
- 4Pinnacles loop · Trail≈-36.989, 149.925Map ↗
- 5Boyd's Tower · Viewpoint≈-37.102, 149.953Map ↗
- 6Saltwater Creek campground · Sleep≈-37.169, 150.000Map ↗
- 7Bittangabee Bay · Beach≈-37.216, 150.017Map ↗
- 8Disaster Bay lookout · Viewpoint≈-37.236, 149.994Map ↗
- 9Green Cape Lighthouse · Viewpoint≈-37.261, 150.049Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | vehicle | No entry fee for Beowa National Park; NSW charges for some parks only (check). |
| Vehicle access fee where a collection point operates | AUD 6–12 | vehicle per day | 2026 estimate; confirm at the park or on the NSW National Parks site before you drive in. |
| Camping at Saltwater Creek or Bittangabee | AUD 12–30 | adult per night | 2026 estimate; bookings required, price varies by site and season. |
| Telegraph Station bunkhouse or Green Cape Keepers' Cottages | AUD 150–400 | night | 2026 estimate; heritage accommodation, book well ahead. |
| Guided dive with a local operator | AUD 150–350 | person | 2026 estimate; wreck and reef dives near Eden, bookings required. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Camping permit or guide
Light to Light walk permit or guide
Green Cape Lighthouse tour permit or guide
Park rules
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the national park; leave them at your accommodation.
- Driving off sealed roads
- Northern section roads are unsealed and can be slow or cut up after rain; Edrom Road is the only sealed road in the south.
- Beach driving
- Only where signed; four-wheel driving damages little tern nesting sites.
- Fires and firewood
- Use only provided fireplaces where permitted; total fire bans apply in summer.
- Shell middens and historic ruins
- Do not disturb Aboriginal shell middens at Severs Beach or the 1840s stone ruins at Bittangabee Bay.
- Lighthouse and heritage buildings
- Access to Green Cape Lighthouse and the keepers' cottages is by booking only.
Where to stay
In the park
Saltwater Creek campground
14 sites on the Light to Light walk; bookings required, quiet and far from town.
In the park
Bittangabee campground
Camping beside sheltered water good for swimming, snorkelling and diving.
In the park
Telegraph Station bunkhouse
Former 19th-century telegraph station sleeping up to four; check-in 14:00, check-out 10:00.Former 19th-century telegraph station sleeping up to four; check-in 2:00 PM, check-out 10:00 AM.
In the park
Green Cape Lightstation Keepers' Cottages
Heritage cottages at the cape; guests get a lighthouse tour.
Near the park
Eden and Merimbula
Motels, holiday parks and apartments 15–45 minutes from the trailheads.
Safety
Cold, wind and exposure on the coast medium
Unsealed roads after rain medium
No phone coverage high
Surf and cold water medium
Bushfire high
Accessibility
- Boyd's Tower walking track includes a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk to a lookout over Twofold Bay.
- The Green Cape Lighthouse area and Disaster Bay lookout involve short walks on uneven ground.
- Most other tracks are rough, sandy or stepped and are not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked tracks in the heath; ground parrot and bristlebird habitat is easily trampled.
- Keep off signed little tern nesting areas on beaches and dunes.
- Carry out all rubbish, including food scraps, and use the campground facilities.
- Book campsites rather than camping informally, and keep group sizes small on the Light to Light.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Beowa National Park?
There is no entry fee for Beowa National Park. You pay for camping (roughly A$12–30 per adult per night, 2026 estimate), heritage accommodation at Green Cape, or a guided dive; some NSW parks charge a vehicle fee of about A$6–12 where a collection point operates, so check before you drive in.
What are the best hikes in Beowa National Park?
The 30 km Light to Light walk from Boyd's Tower to Green Cape Lighthouse is the signature route, usually done over two or three days. For a short walk, the 1.1 km Pinnacles loop and the 0.8 km Boyd's Tower track (with a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk) are the easiest, and the 3 km Haycock Point to Barmouth Beach track is the best half-day in the northern section.
When is the best time to visit Beowa National Park?
September to November and April are the most comfortable: mild, often clear and quieter. May to November is whale season, with October also bringing the muttonbird migration past Green Cape. December to March is warmer but wetter, and the unsealed northern roads can be soft after the February–March rain.
Do I need a 4WD to visit Beowa National Park?
No for the main trailheads, but the Green Cape Lighthouse road and other southern tracks can need 4WD after rain, and northern section roads are unsealed. Terrace Beach and Lennards Island are 4WD-only.
Can I camp in Beowa National Park?
Yes, but only in the southern section: Saltwater Creek (14 sites) and Bittangabee campground, plus the Telegraph Station bunkhouse and Green Cape Keepers' Cottages. Bookings are required and there is no camping in the northern Pambula-Haycock section.
Is there phone coverage in Beowa National Park?
Only Telstra has coverage, and it is patchy in the northern section and largely absent in the southern section. Optus and Vodafone do not work outside Eden and Pambula, so plan the Light to Light accordingly.
Where can I eat near Beowa National Park?
There is nowhere to buy food or drink inside the park. Bring your own and stock up in Eden or Merimbula, which are 15–45 minutes from the trailheads.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go