Boyd Tower to Saltwater Creek
Download & Print Map and Notes
5 hrs
13.4 km One way
382 m
Hard track
(0km) Ben Boyd car park → Boyd Tower Intersection
280 m
5 mins
0m
-15m
Very easy
From the car park, this walk follows ‘Boyd Tower 300m’ arrow[1] along the asphalt footpath, between the timber bollards[2] to pass the information sign[3][4] (and parking pay station, on the left). The path leads gently downhill for 45m to pass a ‘Welcome to Ben Boyd NP and Boyd’s Tower’ information sign[5] then the path meanders for 150m through the melaleuca forest to find a seat and the ‘Gambling on the Future’[6] & ‘Boyd’s Folly?’[7] information signs. Just 35m further along the path you pass another seat with pleasant coastline view[8]. From here the path starts to lead gently uphill for 50m to come to a clear 3-way intersection[9] (with a timber path and Boyd Tower on the left).
Boyds Tower
Boyds Tower[10] was commissioned by Benjamin Boyd and originally designed to be a lighthouse. After the Government rejected the proposal of the private lighthouse, Boyd changed tact and built the Sydney sandstone tower for whale spotting. The tower gave his whaling ships a strong advantage over other whalers in the area.
Built in 1847, Boyds Tower is a large sandstone tower on the southern head of Twofold Bay in Ben Boyd National Park. The top of the tower bears the BOYD title, and boast several viewing points. The ground floor of the tower is open to the public and is well worth exploring.
Boyd was declared bankrupt soon after completing the tower and left Australia for the Californian goldfields. Boyd died in the Solomon Islands in 1851 whilst hunting game.
“Ben Boyd’s Tower is watching –
Watching o’er the sea
Ben Boyd’s Tower is waiting
For her and me.” Henry Lawson (1910)
The bottom floor of the tower is open to the public via a 1.2m wide sandstone door frame[13].
(0km) Ben Boyd Car park information sign → Red sands bay
2.4 km
48 mins
71m
-99m
Hard track
Veer left: From the information sign, the walk heads down the hill, following the low posts away from the information sign, to a signposted intersection on the left. From the intersection, the track follows the sign for ‘Coastal Walk’ down the hill away from the car park. The track soon passes an information sign on the right before tending right, down the hill to be above the coastline. The walk then continues with the coast on your left, down stairs into a gully and back out. The track winds and undulates for some time, leading away from the coast. The track then continues back towards the coast, to a view of the tower on your left and a rock island below in the sea.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the track, keeping the the coast to the left. The track soon leads out of the heath and winds along the hillside, tending away from the coast (which disappears below the trees on the left). The walk then winds down into a gully with access to the rocks (below on your left). Rising up and out of the gully, the track winds across the hillside and then down into a rocky bay with an arrow marker. The walk continues across the red flat rock at the back of the bay, coming to the arrow marker[14] pointing inland, in the middle of the bay.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the track, keeping the the coast to the left. The track soon leads out of the heath and winds along the hillside, tending away from the coast (which disappears below the trees on the left). The walk then winds down into a gully with access to the rocks (below on your left). Rising up and out of the gully, the track winds across the hillside and then down into a rocky bay with an arrow marker. The walk continues across the red flat rock at the back of the bay, coming to the arrow marker[14] pointing inland, in the middle of the bay.
Red sands bay
Red sands bay (not officially named) is a north-facing bay between Boyd Tower and Leather Jacket Bay in Ben Boyd National Park. The rocky bay is accessed via the Light to Light walk. The beach in this bay is made up of small boulders and a fine red gravel. Most of the red gravel is on the western side of the bay. The gravel is made from the sea smashing the red siltstone into small pieces. The red sands/gravel of this bay makes for a fantastic contrast on sunny days.
(2.44km) Red sands bay → Int. Light to Light and Leather Jacket Pt Trks
410 m
8 mins
21m
-3m
Hard track
Turn right: From the red rock bay, this walk follows the track marker away from the ocean and up the stairs. The track climbs over the hill to head down into a creek bed, where it heads up the hill keeping the ocean on the left of the track. The stairs lead this walk around the hill to the right and then to a signposted intersection with a service trail.
(2.84km) Int. Light to Light and Leather Jacket Pt Trks → Int. Light to Light and Leather Jacket View Trks
740 m
13 mins
16m
-19m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the arrow of the tower sign through the small clearing and along the clearer service trail. The track winds quickly through the heath for some time to meet a signposted intersection.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows track marker down the hill, towards the ocean. The track leads downhill to a signposted intersection.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the track marker past a white post, keeping the ocean and the other service trail to the left of the track. The walk continues along the service trail for a short time to a signposted intersection.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the track marker, leaving the fork in the trails behind and heading down the slight hill towards the ocean. The track continues down the hill to a signposted intersection.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows track marker down the hill, towards the ocean. The track leads downhill to a signposted intersection.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the track marker past a white post, keeping the ocean and the other service trail to the left of the track. The walk continues along the service trail for a short time to a signposted intersection.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the track marker, leaving the fork in the trails behind and heading down the slight hill towards the ocean. The track continues down the hill to a signposted intersection.
(3.58km) Int. Light to Light and Leather Jacket View Trks → Leatherjacket Bay
1.1 km
19 mins
13m
-32m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the track marker into the tall heath, towards the views of the ocean. The track then winds through the heath, passing through some large areas of tall heath and melaleuca trees. The walk follows white posts through the heath to then enter an area of tall eucalypt bush. The track soon passes an old farm fence post on the left of the track while winding down the hill into Leather Jacket Bay. The track follows the creek across the back of the rocky bay to a well signposted clearing – the campsite.
Leather Jacket Bay
Leather Jacket Bay is a north-east facing beach between Boyd Tower and Mowarry Point in the Ben Boyd National Park. The bay has a sandy beach with small rock boulders between the sand and the ocean. The wooded forest behind the bay provides some shade, making this a great place to rest on the Light-to-Light walk. The bay can be access by the Light-to-Light track or by Newtons Road service trail from Edrom Rd.
(4.66km) Leatherjacket Bay → Mowarry Bay car park
2.7 km
57 mins
113m
-108m
Hard track
Turn right: From the clearing, this walk follows the sign up the hill along the service trail, away from the clearing and the bay. The track soon comes to a signposted intersection.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Mowarry Point’ up the hill. The track winds up the hill to continue across the ridge, with the track soon heading down the hill over large speed bumps. The walk comes to a small bridge over a creek bed, after which it leads up a hill, tending left to head across the flat to an unsignposted intersection on the left.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill, leaving a track behind on the left. This walk leads down into a saddle, to rise up again along a section of yellow dirt service trail. The track continues to undulate and wind for some time, with views of the ocean appearing on the left of the track under the trees. The track then leads down the hill, tending right for some time to the signposted cul-de-sac at Mowarry car park.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Mowarry Point’ up the hill. The track winds up the hill to continue across the ridge, with the track soon heading down the hill over large speed bumps. The walk comes to a small bridge over a creek bed, after which it leads up a hill, tending left to head across the flat to an unsignposted intersection on the left.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill, leaving a track behind on the left. This walk leads down into a saddle, to rise up again along a section of yellow dirt service trail. The track continues to undulate and wind for some time, with views of the ocean appearing on the left of the track under the trees. The track then leads down the hill, tending right for some time to the signposted cul-de-sac at Mowarry car park.
(7.32km) Mowarry Bay car park → Mowarry Creek Sth bank
80 m
1 mins
1m
-2m
Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Mowarry Point 500m’, down the hill. The track leaves the car park through the gap in the logs and tends right, heading down the hillside to an intersection (with a track marker present), above a creek.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the track marker down the stairs and upstream of the creek, to turn left across the rocky creek bed. The walk heads up the stairs, leading to a service trail.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the track marker down the stairs and upstream of the creek, to turn left across the rocky creek bed. The walk heads up the stairs, leading to a service trail.
(7.4km) Mowarry Creek Sth bank → Mowarry lookout
1.8 km
34 mins
56m
-47m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign up the hill, tending left. The track soon meets a flatter area where this walk comes into sight of a beach, below on the left. The walk passes two access tracks on the left which lead down to the beach. The track continues to a small clearing at an intersection, marked by an arrow.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, keeping the ocean below on the left. The track winds up the hillside to a large signpost ‘Mowarry Point’. This walk follows the arrow to ‘Saltwater Creek 5.4km’ into an open grassland, following numerous track markers through the open grass area and patches of heath. The walk soon turns right, up the hill, keeping the ocean well below to the left of the track. The track then enters and winds through an area of heath. Many trees cover the tracks and trodden paths in this part of the walk. The track passes through these trees to a clearing with views towards Boyd Tower and waves crashing below.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, keeping the ocean below on the left. The track winds up the hillside to a large signpost ‘Mowarry Point’. This walk follows the arrow to ‘Saltwater Creek 5.4km’ into an open grassland, following numerous track markers through the open grass area and patches of heath. The walk soon turns right, up the hill, keeping the ocean well below to the left of the track. The track then enters and winds through an area of heath. Many trees cover the tracks and trodden paths in this part of the walk. The track passes through these trees to a clearing with views towards Boyd Tower and waves crashing below.
Mowarry Point lookout
Mowarry Point lookout is an informal vantage on Mowarry Point in Ben Boyd National Park. There is no signage or other infrastructure. The lookout provides a unobstructed view to the north and north-east, along the coast of Ben Boyd National Park. The view extends up to Eden, into Twofold Bay and out over the South Pacific Ocean. There are some Melaleuca trees that offer limited shade.
(9.15km) Mowarry Lookout → Red rocks
2.6 km
48 mins
60m
-66m
Hard track
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk winds through the heath, keeping the ocean to your left. The track heads through sections of low and tall heath and eucalypt bush. The walk begins to wind down the hill, and passes a clearing with a fire place, leading onto the rocky beach where there is an arrow marker standing in the pebbles of the beach.
Veer right: From the signpost, the walk heads towards the next arrow sign within sight, keeping the ocean on the left. The walk crosses the pebbly beach to the arrow marker, where another can be seen further along the coast on the red rock shelf. The walk meanders across the rock shelf to the track marker, which points into the bush. The walk follows this arrow away from the coast and up the stairs into the heath, where the track winds for quite some time through the heath and then bush. The track then heads back through the bush, down onto a red rock platform above the sea. The walk continues down the rock platform following the arrow signs, with the sea on the left of the track, coming to be opposite a set of stairs (on the right of the track).
Veer right: From the signpost, the walk heads towards the next arrow sign within sight, keeping the ocean on the left. The walk crosses the pebbly beach to the arrow marker, where another can be seen further along the coast on the red rock shelf. The walk meanders across the rock shelf to the track marker, which points into the bush. The walk follows this arrow away from the coast and up the stairs into the heath, where the track winds for quite some time through the heath and then bush. The track then heads back through the bush, down onto a red rock platform above the sea. The walk continues down the rock platform following the arrow signs, with the sea on the left of the track, coming to be opposite a set of stairs (on the right of the track).
Red Cliffs
Red Cliffs – These fantastic red coastal cliffs are found about 1km north of saltwater creek in Ben Boyd National Park. The cliffs are made of a red siltstone. As the name suggests, this rock is made from deposited silt, making it much finer grain than sandstone. The red silt came from nearby volcanic eruptions long ago, and is clearly different from the other brown siltstone and sandstone in the region. The cliff is unfenced and provides views out to sea and into a few surrounding bays. More info.
(11.74km) Red Rocks → Saltwater Creek Beach Nth
1.5 km
27 mins
29m
-36m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the rock platform, the walk heads up the stairs away from the rock shelf and ocean. The walk winds through the heath along the track, leading away from the coastline. After a while, the heath gives way to Melaleuca trees. There are numerous fallen trees and hanging branches over the track, so walkers should take due care. The track leads down the hill, with views of the ocean under the trees. The track passes through an old farm fence and soon comes down onto Saltwater Creek Beach. The track here is signposted on the ocean side of the headland.
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.
(13.22km) Saltwater Creek Beach Nth → Saltwater Creek Campsite Information Sign
180 m
3 mins
2m
0m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the sign to the camping ground across the sandbar, which separates the creek (on the right) from the ocean (on the left). The track heads up the stairs on the opposite side, to follow the fence line through to the day-use parking area. The track continues through to the information signs just behind the day-use area.
Saltwater Creek campground
Salwater Creek campground is a nice place from which to access the coastal walking track -there is plenty of swimming, fishing and snorkeling to be done as well. There are some rainwater tanks on site, but be prepared for them to be empty.
Maps for the Boyd Tower to Saltwater Creek 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.
| Kiah | 1:25 000 Map Series | 88231S KIAH | NSW-88231S |
| Eden | 1:25 000 Map Series | 88231N EDEN | NSW-88231N |
| Green Cape | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8923 GREEN CAPE | 8923 |
| Eden | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8823 EDEN | 8823 |
Cross sectional view of the Boyd Tower to Saltwater Creek bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Boyd Tower to Saltwater Creek
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 | 13.4 km | ||
| Time | 5 hrs | ||
| . | |||
| 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 | No experience required (1/6) | ||
| Weather | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
| 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
10km of this walk has short steep hills and another 3km is very steep. The remaining (740m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 9km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 4.8km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
7km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 4.6km has minimal directional signs. The remaining (1.3km) is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 13km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 11km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 2.8km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
7km of this walk has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) and another 6km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced). The remaining (180m) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Boyd Tower to Saltwater Creek walk starts at the Ben Boyd Car park information sign (gps: -37.104513, 149.95119)Your main transport option to Ben Boyd Car park information sign is by;
Car. A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.(get details)
The Boyd Tower to Saltwater Creek ends at the Saltwater Creek Campsite Information Sign (gps: -37.169036, 150.00069)
Your main transport option to Saltwater Creek Campsite Information Sign is by;
Car. A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/bttsc
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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