Boyds Tower

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Safer Bushwalks
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.

Getting There
Start (-37.1044837,149.9512282)
Mode 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 17.1 km

Track Notes

Getting started
From the car park, this walk follows 'Boyds Tower 300m' arrow along the asphalt footpath, between the timber bollards to pass the information sign (and parking pay station, on the left). The path leads gently downhill for 45m to pass a 'Welcome to Ben Boyd NP and Boyds Tower' information sign then the path meanders for 150m through the melaleuca forest to find a seat and the 'Gambling on the Future' & 'Boyd's Folly?' information signs. Just 35m further along the path you pass another seat with a pleasant coastline view. From here the path starts to lead gently uphill for 50m to come to a clear 3-way intersection (with a timber path and Boyds Tower on the left).....

An optional side trip to Red Point Lookout.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Toilet (about 30 m back from the start). Toilet Toilet Unisex non-flushing toilet. Entrance is 90cm wide, toilet seat 40cm high, handrails 80cm high. Bolt lock 1m high. + - Unisex non-flushing toilet. Entrance is 90cm wide, toilet seat 40cm high, handrails 80cm high. Bolt lock 1m high. Boyd car park (about 15 m back from the start). Boyd car park Boyd car park Boyd car park is found at the end 1.1km long unsealed Boyd Tower Rd, Edrom. The car park is spread around a turning circle at the end of the road. There is a concrete path leading to a toilet and water tank (empty) in the middle of the turning circle. Car parking bays are not marked, and there is space for about 20 cars plus a bus. There are no marked mobility parking areas. The surface is a fairly smooth gravel/clay. A manual pay station is available for park entry fees near the sheltered large information sign. The carpark is the start of the Light to Light walk and the path to Boyd Tower. + - Boyd car park is found at the end 1.1km long unsealed Boyd Tower Rd, Edrom. The car park is spread around a turning circle at the end of the road. There is a concrete path leading to a toilet and water tank (empty) in the middle of the turning circle. Car parking bays are not marked, and there is space for about 20 cars plus a bus. There are no marked mobility parking areas. The surface is a fairly smooth gravel/clay. A manual pay station is available for park entry fees near the sheltered large information sign. The carpark is the start of the Light to Light walk and the path to Boyd Tower. There is a sign (about 10 m back from the start). Pinch Point (about 6 m back from the start). Pinch Point Pinch Point Timber bollard pinch points at the start of the track at the carpark. The gap between the bollards are 1.18m, they are 55cm high. + - Timber bollard pinch points at the start of the track at the carpark. The gap between the bollards are 1.18m, they are 55cm high. After another 90 m find the "Trip Hazard" (on your left). Trip Hazard Trip Hazard Culvert under path with exposed drainage ditch on the very edge of path. A drop of about 25cm. Marked with timber bollards, there are a series of 4 more similar drainage ditches about every 40m. + - Culvert under path with exposed drainage ditch on the very edge of path. A drop of about 25cm. Marked with timber bollards, there are a series of 4 more similar drainage ditches about every 40m. After another 150 m come to "Seat". Seat Seat A timber bench seat, 55cm high, 22cm deep and 2.4m wide with no backrest. The seat is 1.7m off the side of the path. + - A timber bench seat, 55cm high, 22cm deep and 2.4m wide with no backrest. The seat is 1.7m off the side of the path. Then find the "Seat" (on your right). Seat Seat A timber bench seat, 58cm high, 22cm deep and 2.4m wide with no backrest. + - A timber bench seat, 58cm high, 22cm deep and 2.4m wide with no backrest.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Red Point Lookout. To start this optional side trip continue straight here. On returning from this side trip turn right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 10 m turn left.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Twofold Bay lookout. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip turn around when you get back to this intersection. Details below. Continue another 20 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 290 m to get back to the start. About 10 m past the end is "Boyds Tower". Boyds Tower Boyds Tower Boyds Tower 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. + - Boyds Tower 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.
	Start.
	After another 15 m continue straight. Then head down the 47 surface\|wood steps (about 15 m long) "Red Point Lookout". Red Point Lookout Red Point Lookout Red Point Lookout is in Ben Boyd National park and is accessed by a clear but very steep set of steps from Boyd Tower. The lookout is fenced and has a sign explaining a bit about the local geology. The lookout provides a great view south, down the coast of the park. A great example of folded rocks is clearly visible where the sandstone and metamorphosed red siltstone were compressed and bent to form distinct arches. + - Red Point Lookout is in Ben Boyd National park and is accessed by a clear but very steep set of steps from Boyd Tower. The lookout is fenced and has a sign explaining a bit about the local geology. The lookout provides a great view south, down the coast of the park. A great example of folded rocks is clearly visible where the sandstone and metamorphosed red siltstone were compressed and bent to form distinct arches. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 40 m to the main route.

An optional side trip to Twofold Bay lookout.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 25 m find the "Boyds Tower" (5 m on your left). Boyds Tower Boyds Tower Boyds Tower 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. + - Boyds Tower 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. After another 50 m veer left. Then find the "Seat" (9 m on your right). Seat Seat A timber bench seat, 50cm high, 43cm deep and 2.1m wide with no backrest. + - A timber bench seat, 50cm high, 43cm deep and 2.1m wide with no backrest. "Twofold Bay Lookout". Twofold Bay Lookout Twofold Bay Lookout Twofold Bay Lookout (not officially named) is in Ben Boyd National Park, on the southern headland of Twofolds Bay. The lookout is accessed via a boardwalk from Boyds Tower. The lookout platform has a 1m high metal fenced and is wheelchair-accessible. There is a bench seat near the lookout to rest and enjoy the view. The view looks north-west across the bay to Eden, Boyd Town and Edrom to the left, and out over the South Pacific Ocean on the right. + - Twofold Bay Lookout (not officially named) is in Ben Boyd National Park, on the southern headland of Twofolds Bay. The lookout is accessed via a boardwalk from Boyds Tower. The lookout platform has a 1m high metal fenced and is wheelchair-accessible. There is a bench seat near the lookout to rest and enjoy the view. The view looks north-west across the bay to Eden, Boyd Town and Edrom to the left, and out over the South Pacific Ocean on the right.
	The end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 85 m to the main route.

Turn map

Directions & comments

Start.

After 25 m find the "Boyds Tower" (5 m on your left).

Boyds Tower

Boyds Tower 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.

+

-

Boyds Tower 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.

After another 50 m veer left.

Then find the "Seat" (9 m on your right).

Seat

A timber bench seat, 50cm high, 43cm deep and 2.1m wide with no backrest.

+

-

A timber bench seat, 50cm high, 43cm deep and 2.1m wide with no backrest.

"Twofold Bay Lookout".

Twofold Bay Lookout

Twofold Bay Lookout (not officially named) is in Ben Boyd National Park, on the southern headland of Twofolds Bay. The lookout is accessed via a boardwalk from Boyds Tower. The lookout platform has a 1m high metal fenced and is wheelchair-accessible. There is a bench seat near the lookout to rest and enjoy the view. The view looks north-west across the bay to Eden, Boyd Town and Edrom to the left, and out over the South Pacific Ocean on the right.

+

-

Twofold Bay Lookout (not officially named) is in Ben Boyd National Park, on the southern headland of Twofolds Bay. The lookout is accessed via a boardwalk from Boyds Tower. The lookout platform has a 1m high metal fenced and is wheelchair-accessible. There is a bench seat near the lookout to rest and enjoy the view. The view looks north-west across the bay to Eden, Boyd Town and Edrom to the left, and out over the South Pacific Ocean on the right.

The end.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 85 m to the main route.

Terrain

Boyds Tower

Grading

	Class 1/6 Smooth & flat
Length	580 m
Time	10 min to 15 min

Quality of track	Smooth and hardened path (1/6)
Gradient	Flat, no steps (1/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Naturally Accessible
Slope summary:
No steps, mostly gentle slopes. (one optional side trip has a very steep set of steps).

Surface summary:
The car park has a rough dirt suraface, the rest of walk follows a hard asphalt footpath with a 15m section of timber boardwalk to the tower

Some facilities on route

Entity|toilet: There is one 8 m from the start.

Seat: There are 3 on route, on average they are 185 m apart with the largest gap of 260 m.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Entity\|toilet	8 m	Toilet
Seat	260 m	Seat
Seat	290 m + 80 m	Seat
Seat	420 m	Seat

Articles

Red Point Lookout
Red Point Lookout is in Ben Boyd National park and is accessed by a clear but very steep set of steps from Boyd Tower. The lookout is fenced and has a sign explaining a bit about the local geology. The lookout provides a great view south, down the coast of the park. A great example of folded rocks is clearly visible where the sandstone and metamorphosed red siltstone were compressed and bent to form distinct arches.

Boyds Tower
Boyds Tower 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.

Twofold Bay Lookout
Twofold Bay Lookout (not officially named) is in Ben Boyd National Park, on the southern headland of Twofolds Bay. The lookout is accessed via a boardwalk from Boyds Tower. The lookout platform has a 1m high metal fenced and is wheelchair-accessible. There is a bench seat near the lookout to rest and enjoy the view. The view looks north-west across the bay to Eden, Boyd Town and Edrom to the left, and out over the South Pacific Ocean on the right.

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