Haycock Point
Download & Print Map and Notes
2 hrs
4.8 km Return
119 m
Hard track
(0km) Barmouth Beach car park → Int. Barmouth Beach and Haycock Point Trks
40 m
1 mins
0m
-5m
Moderate track
From the car park, this walk heads down the hill, following the path made by the cut logs. The track soon comes to a signposted intersection.
(0.04km) Int. Barmouth Beach and Haycock Point Trks → Barmouth Beach
140 m
3 mins
0m
-24m
Hard track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign ‘Barmouth Beach 150m’ down the hill. The walk leads down steps which are in sight of the beach, passing an information sign and coming to the southern end of Barmouth Beach. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.
Barmouth Beach
Barmouth Beach is in Ben Boyd National Park, at the mouth of Pambula River. The beach is opposite the township of Pambula Beach and can be access from inside the national park via a small track, not too far from Haycock Point. The beach is a small north-facing, yellow sand beach with no facilities (no Surf Life Saving patrols). The beach has some bright red rock platforms at either end that are worth exploring. Exploration is a part of Barmouth Beach’s history, with George Bass escaping the winds, landing on the beach in 1797. He explored the area and named Barmouth River, today Pambula River.
(0.04km) Int. Barmouth Beach and Haycock Point Trks → Arched Rock Lookout
490 m
10 mins
17m
-25m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Haycock Point 2.4km’. The track heads down a gully then continues further across the hillside to a ‘Haycock Point’ sign. The walk follows this sign across a wooden bridge and up some stairs, then continues up the hillside (beach below on the left. The walk then heads along the flat hilltop, winding through the bush, before leading nearer the cliff edge on the left, to a small track and clearing to the left (leading to a view of a rock arch.)
Arched rock lookout
This is an informal, unnamed, and unfenced lookout, on the southern side of the headland forming the mouth of the Pambula River. The lookout is in Ben Boyd National Park and can be accessed by walking track to Haycock Point. There is a great view out to sea and up the coast as far as Merimbula. The view is memorable for the unusual rock arch, formed from the eroding force of the ocean.
(0.53km) Arched Rock Lookout → Haycock Point
1.9 km
34 mins
34m
-38m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the arch rock lookout, the walk keeps the ocean on the left of the track as it continues up the slight hill along the hilltop. The track follows numerous arrow signs, marking the way through the bush as the track tends right into a valley. The track then heads up a hill to an area behind sea cliffs. The track continues tending right, keeping these sea cliffs to the left. The walk follows another arrow – ‘Haycock Point 1.3km’[1]. The track continues along the cliff tops, with the ocean below on the left. The walk continues through an area of thicker, taller heath, then opens out onto a grassy area with a number of arrow signs directing the way. The track follows these signs out along the point to a ‘Barmouth Beach 2.2km’ sign[2].
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads in the opposite direction to the ‘Barmouth 2.4km’ sign[3], up the slight hill. The track continues to follow the arrow signs through the low heath and grass, out to the point on the edge of the headland.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads in the opposite direction to the ‘Barmouth 2.4km’ sign[3], up the slight hill. The track continues to follow the arrow signs through the low heath and grass, out to the point on the edge of the headland.
Haycock Point
Haycock Point, in the northern part of Ben Boyd National Park, provides a great vantage point across the red rock platform, out to sea and north up the rocky coast. An interesting dome-shaped rock, called Haystack Rock, is memorable for its unusual shape and also as a dive location. The SS Empire Gladstone struck rocks here in calm seas in 1950, after mistaking the lights of Merimbula for a lighthouse. Thankfully, no lives were lost and some cargo was recovered, but the wreck forms a popular dive spot today. More info.
Maps for the Haycock Point walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
| Pambula | 1:25 000 Map Series | 88242S PAMBULA | NSW-88242S |
| Bega | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8824 BEGA | 8824 |
Cross sectional view of the Haycock Point bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Haycock Point
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
| Length | 4.8 km | ||
| Time | 2 hrs | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Short steep hills (3/6) |
| Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
| Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
| Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
Around 1.9km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 530m has short steep hills.
Quality of track
Around 1.9km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely, whilst the remaining 530m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
This whole walk, 2.4km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 2.4km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 2.4km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 2.4km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Haycock Point walk starts and ends at the Barmouth Beach car park (gps: -36.94805, 149.92376)Your main transport option to Barmouth Beach car park is by;
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/hp
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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