Boyds Tower to Saltwater Creek

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
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 Transport options and directions

Start	(-37.1044837,149.9512282)
Mode	Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)
Directions	From Imlay Street, A1 Turn on to Mitchell Street, A1 then drive for 18.3 km Turn left onto Edrom Road and drive for another 17.1 km
Finish	(-37.168823,150.0008134)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
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 the 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.
From the intersection, this walk heads along the track, keeping 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 pointing inland, in the middle of the bay.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Boyd Tower Intersection. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. Start.
	After another 15 m turn left. Boyd car park (about 15 m back from the start). 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. There is a sign (about 10 m back from the start). After 10 m find the "Pinch Point" (6 m on your right). 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. After another 20 m find the "Toilet" (30 m on your right). Toilet Unisex non-flushing toilet. Entrance is 90cm wide, toilet seat 40cm high, handrails 80cm high. Bolt lock 1m high. After another 2.4 km find the "Red sands bay" (10 m on your left). 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.
	After another 690 m continue straight, to head along Light to Light Walk.
	After another 185 m veer right, to head along Light to Light Walk. After another 115 m continue straight, to head along Light to Light Walk.
	After another 120 m continue straight, to head along Light to Light Walk. After another 1.1 km find the "Leather Jacket Bay" (10 m on your left). 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.
	After another 50 m veer right, to head along Light to Light Walk.
	After another 65 m (at the intersection of Midway Point trail & Light to Light Walk) turn left, to head along Light to Light Walk. After another 2.8 km continue straight, to head along Light to Light Walk.
	After another 180 m turn right, to head along Light to Light Walk.
	After another 700 m veer right, to head along Light to Light Walk. After another 680 m find the "Mowarry Point lookout" (10 m on your left). 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. After another 2.6 km find the "Red Cliffs" (7 m on your left). 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. After another 1.5 km cross the ford.
	Veer right, to head along Light to Light Walk. After another 65 m find the "Saltwater Creek Beach" (on your right). 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. After another 100 m come to a car park. About 65 m past the end is a BBQ. About 95 m past the end is a toilet. About 150 m past the end is "Saltwater Creek".
	The end.

An optional side trip to Boyd Tower Intersection.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 125 m find the "Trip Hazard" (on your left). 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. After another 150 m come to "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. Then find the "Seat" (on your right). Seat A timber bench seat, 58cm high, 22cm deep and 2.4m wide with no backrest.
	After another 10 m turn left.
	After another 2 m come to the end. About 20 m past the end is "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. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 275 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Boyds Tower to Saltwater Creek

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	13.3 km
Time	4 h 30 min to 5 h

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Camp site: There is one 13.3 km from the start.

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 4.4 km apart with the largest gap of 13.2 km.

Seat: There are 2 on route, on average they are 4.6 km apart with the largest gap of 13.3 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	0 m + 420 m	Seat
Seat	0 m + 260 m	Seat
Entity\|toilet	30 m	Toilet
Toilet	13.3 km	[toilet]
Camp site	13.3 km	Saltwater Creek

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Eden Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Tuesday 10 September
  
  19°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. The chance of fog inland early this morning. Areas of morning frost about the coastal ranges. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening. Daytime maximum temperatures between 19 and 22.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:50am to 2:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 4 [Moderate]
  
  Wednesday 11 September
  
  9°C → 22°C
  Showers increasing.
  80% chance of rain
  0 → 5mm
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of fog in the south in the early morning. High chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 6 and 10 with daytime temperatures reaching 20 to 25.
  
  Thursday 12 September
  
  9°C → 16°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds south to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 18.
  
  Friday 13 September
  
  7°C → 18°C
  Cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds west to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 15 and 19.
  
  Saturday 14 September
  
  7°C → 17°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Sunday 15 September
  
  7°C → 15°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Monday 16 September
  
  5°C → 17°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
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