Hobart Beach to Bournda Island Loop
Download & Print Map and Notes
2 hrs 15 mins
7.6 km Circuit
70 m
Hard track
Hobart Beach campground
This is a well-established campsite close to the beach and lake. There are garbage and recycling bins. Each camping space is well-defined and there is a large covered common area. The camp surrounds the stone and timber toilet and laundry facility.
(0km) Hobart Beach large shelter → Int. near Bournda Rd and Hobart Beach Rd
410 m
7 mins
8m
0m
Easy track
From the intersection, this walk follows the path and the sign to the ‘Field Study Huts’[1] past the large picnic shelter (on the left). The track soon passes a volleyball court (on the right) and a fire pit (on the left), then follows a track marker through the dense melaleuca. The track soon comes to a three-way intersection marked with several signs, including one pointing back to ‘Hobart Beach Camping Area’[2].
From the intersection, the walk continues straight along the track, following the ‘Bondi Lake’ sign[3] through the melaleuca. The track soon comes to another three-way intersection, marked with another sign pointing back to ‘Hobart Beach Camping Area’[4].
Continue straight: From this intersection, this walk heads south along the track, following the ‘Bondi Lake’ sign[5] through the melaleuca. The track soon comes to then crosses the dirt Bournda Rd to the ‘Hobart Beach Camping Area 0.5km’sign[6] on the otherside.
Continue straight: From this intersection, this walk heads south along the track, following the ‘Bondi Lake’ sign[5] through the melaleuca. The track soon comes to then crosses the dirt Bournda Rd to the ‘Hobart Beach Camping Area 0.5km’sign[6] on the otherside.
(0.41km) Int. Bournda Rd and Hobart Beach Rd → Bournda Beach car park
1.7 km
28 mins
12m
-13m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the road, this walk follows the sign to ‘Bondi Lake’[7] between the timber posts and along the wide track. The track winds through the tall heath for a while untill passing an old hut (on the left) where the track comes to a three way intersection marked with a ‘hobart beach camp’ sign[8] pointing back along the track.
From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘bournda lagoon’ sign[9] along with wide track. The track passes along the side of Bondi Lake (not visable on the left) to come to a faint intersection with the signposted ‘Field Studies Huts’[10] track (on the right).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk leaves the hill and the ‘Field Studies Huts’ sign behind, on the right of the track, as the track continues through the heath,heading up a slight rise to a signposted intersection in Bournda Beach car park.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk leaves the hill and the ‘Field Studies Huts’ sign behind, on the right of the track, as the track continues through the heath,heading up a slight rise to a signposted intersection in Bournda Beach car park.
(2.11km) Bournda Beach car park → Int Bournda Rd and Bournda Beach Parking Area
90 m
1 mins
3m
0m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Bournda Lagoon’ sign up the hill to the signposted intersection with a management trail.
(2.19km) Bournda Lagoon Carpark → Bournda Lagoon
290 m
5 mins
0m
-7m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the gate, this walk heads up through the car park following the ‘Hobart Beach Camping Area’ arrow on the signpost. The trail comes to a signpost for ‘Bournda Beach Parking Area’.
Veer left: From the car park, the walk heads past the gate following the sign to ‘Bournda Lagoon’ past the toilet. The walk heads down the hill, becoming more sandy as it comes to meet the lagoon shore.
Veer left: From the car park, the walk heads past the gate following the sign to ‘Bournda Lagoon’ past the toilet. The walk heads down the hill, becoming more sandy as it comes to meet the lagoon shore.
Bournda Lagoon
Bournda Lagoon has formed behind Bournda Beach, between Tathra and Merimbula in Bournda National Park. The lagoon is deep enough for swimming and is a popular spot for a freshwater swim. The lagoon is fed by Sandy Beach Creek, which has been silted up at the southernmost end of Bournda Beach. The lagoon supports a variety of environments, including a rainforest, on its shores. However, the lagoon is subject to environmental issues such as algal blooms. The lagoon can be accessed by bush track from Bournda Lagoon car park, at the end of Bournda Rd. More info.
(2.48km) Bournda Lagoon → Bournda Bch Sth
460 m
8 mins
0m
-8m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the lagoon, this walk heads over the dunes towards the ocean, keeping the lagoon behind on the right. The walk turns right on the beach, keeping the ocean to the left, and follows the beach to the end where there is a signposted intersection.
(2.93km) Bournda Bch Sth → Bournda Island
450 m
8 mins
16m
-8m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Bournda Island’ and ‘North Tura Beach’ up the hill, passing a grassy platform on the left (which has great views over Bournda Island). The walk leads along the top of the dunes, along the fenced track to an intersection with a sign pointing back to ‘Bournda Island’ and ‘Bournda Lagoon’.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the sign to ‘Bournda Island’ over the dune and down some stairs onto the beach.
Veer left: From the bottom of the steps, this walk heads away from the stairs and across the beach towards Bournda Island. The walk continues along the sand to a small cave feature at the base of the island.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk keeps the cave feature on the right and climbs up the ridge of rock. The track winds along the left-hand side of the island, with the ocean below on the left. The walk heads up onto the hill with views of both North Tura and Bournda Beaches.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the sign to ‘Bournda Island’ over the dune and down some stairs onto the beach.
Veer left: From the bottom of the steps, this walk heads away from the stairs and across the beach towards Bournda Island. The walk continues along the sand to a small cave feature at the base of the island.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk keeps the cave feature on the right and climbs up the ridge of rock. The track winds along the left-hand side of the island, with the ocean below on the left. The walk heads up onto the hill with views of both North Tura and Bournda Beaches.
Bournda Island
Bournda Island separates Bournda and North Tura beaches, and is located between Tathra and Merimbula. The island is joined to the mainland by a tombola beach, which can be submerged by the tide to form a real island. Bournda Island is covered in low dune shrub vegetation species that are perched on top of the rocky island. Access to the island is at low tide from Bournda or North Tura beaches. Bournda Island can also be accessed from the Bournda Lagoon via Headland Track.
(3.39km) Bournda Island → Bournda Island Trk
60 m
1 mins
0m
-3m
Hard track
Turn around: From the top of Bournda Island, the walk heads towards the mainland, tending closer to the ocean on the right side. The walk then heads down a steep, vegetated track and follows a rocky ridge onto the sand below.
(3.44km) Bournda Bch Sth → Bournda Bch Sth
890 m
15 mins
10m
-13m
Hard track
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk heads towards the ocean, across the end of the beach, then crosses the rocky headland to continue along a shorter beach, keeping the ocean to the left, to an island like feature. The intersection is marked by a cave feature at the bottom of the island. (This route is only possible at low tide).
Turn right: From the intersection at the southern end of the beach, the walk heads along the beach, keeping the ocean to the right, and the dunes to the left. The walk continues past views of Bournda Lagoon to a spot opposite a set of stairs (going up the taller dunes on the left).
Turn right: From the intersection at the southern end of the beach, the walk heads along the beach, keeping the ocean to the right, and the dunes to the left. The walk continues past views of Bournda Lagoon to a spot opposite a set of stairs (going up the taller dunes on the left).
Bournda Beach
Bournda Beach, Bournda National Park, lies between Tathra and Merimbula, and forms the southern end of Wallagoot Beach. The beach provides some good surf conditions with a south-easterly aspect (not patrolled). At the southern end of the beach is Bournda Island, attached to the beach by a rocky headland and tombola (sand joining the island to mainland). The dunes backing the beach are undergoing rehabilitation. Bournda Beach is accessed by Bournda Rd at either Hobart Beach camping area, Bournda Lagoon or Wallagoot Gap parking areas.
(4.33km) Bournda Beach → Ocean beaches carpark Trk
2.5 km
39 mins
19m
-14m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the middle of the beach, opposite a set of erosion control steps, the walk heads along the beach, keeping the ocean to the right. The walk continues along the beach until it comes opposite a set of erosion control steps to the left.
Continue straight: From the middle of the beach, across from a set of erosion control steps, the walk heads along the beach, keeping the ocean to the right. The walk continues along the beach for quite some time to a point opposite a set of erosion control steps going up the dunes to the left.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the beach and up the erosion control stairs. The walk then heads down the stairs onto a sandy clear trail which winds through the bush. The track soon meets a signposted intersection.
Continue straight: From the middle of the beach, across from a set of erosion control steps, the walk heads along the beach, keeping the ocean to the right. The walk continues along the beach for quite some time to a point opposite a set of erosion control steps going up the dunes to the left.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the beach and up the erosion control stairs. The walk then heads down the stairs onto a sandy clear trail which winds through the bush. The track soon meets a signposted intersection.
(6.8km) Ocean beaches carpark Trk → Wallagoot Lake Shore (Hobart Beach)
430 m
6 mins
1m
-2m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to the ‘Parking Area’[11] along the sandy track, towards the distant hills. The walk winds though the melaleuca, some of which are on the track. The soon comes to a timber boardwalk and a three way intersection with a ‘Ocean Beaches’ sign[12] pointing back along the track.
From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Hobart Beach camp’ sign[13] off the end of the board walk to the come to a car park a short distance later. A the carpark the walk turns right to find a signposted intersection next to the picnic table.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the arrow on the sign to ‘Wallagoot Lake’[14], away from the car park and picnic table. The track tends right, down the hill, for approximately 50m to an intersection on the shore of Wallagoot Lake.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the arrow on the sign to ‘Wallagoot Lake’[14], away from the car park and picnic table. The track tends right, down the hill, for approximately 50m to an intersection on the shore of Wallagoot Lake.
Hobart Beach
Hobart Beach is located on the southern shores of Wallagoot Lake, between Tathra and Merimbula. Hobart Beach extends from the sand dunes to Scotts Bay, on Wallagoot Lake. The beach is a thin slice of white sand between the treeline and the lake, and provides plenty of opportunity to go for a swim and enjoy the water. Access to the beach is through Hobart Beach camping area, off Bournda Rd in Bournda National Park.
(7.23km) Wallagoot Lake Shore (Hobart Beach) → Hobart Beach large shelter
330 m
5 mins
1m
0m
Easy track
Turn sharp left: From the intersection, the walk heads away from Wallagoot Lake, keeping it a bit to the right for a short time, passing a post with a red reflective marker[15]. The track tends right, away from the lake and the beach, to come into view of a clearing, the campsite, on the left. The track continues to an area with cut logs on the ground. The walk passes these logs, continuing to the main road, to the right of large triangular shelter where there is a signpost.
Maps for the Hobart Beach to Bournda Island Loop 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.
| Wolumla | 1:25 000 Map Series | 88242N WOLUMLA | NSW-88242N |
| Bega | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8824 BEGA | 8824 |
Cross sectional view of the Hobart Beach to Bournda Island Loop bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Hobart Beach to Bournda Island Loop
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 | 7.6 km | ||
| Time | 2 hrs 15 mins | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
| Signs | Minimal directional signs (4/6) | ||
| Experience Required | Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6) | ||
| Weather | Forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
3.3km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 2.7km is flat with no steps. Whilst another 1.1km has short steep hills and the remaining 480m is very steep.
Quality of track
4.9km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 2.2km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (480m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
6km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 890m is clearly signposted. The remaining (430m) has minimal directional signs.
Experience Required
Around 7km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 430m requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
7km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation) and another 320m is affected by forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather events that may impact on navigation and safety. The remaining (280m) is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
5km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 2.3km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats). The remaining (170m) has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Hobart Beach to Bournda Island Loop walk starts and ends at the Hobart Beach large shelter (gps: -36.797001, 149.93998)Your main transport option to Hobart Beach large shelter is by;
Car. A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/hbtbi
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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