Bittangabee Bay to Hegartys Bay

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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	(-37.2167421,150.0148564)
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 5.7 km Turn right onto Green Cape Road and drive for another 11.2 km Turn left onto Green Cape Road and drive for another 4.6 km Turn sharp left onto Bittangabee Road and drive for another 3 km Turn left onto Bittangabee Road and drive for another 160 m

Track Notes

Getting started
From the picnic area, the walk follows the sign to 'Saltwater Creek 9.0km' down the hill, keeping the road above on the left. The track heads down the hillside and crosses a rocky creek bed, then leads up the hill to an information sign marking the intersection.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Bittangabee Beach. To start this optional side trip turn sharp left here. On returning from this side trip continue straight when you get back to this intersection. Details below. Start heading along Light to Light Walk. There is a car park (about 60 m back from the start). After 75 m find the "Bittangabee Bay Picnic Area" (on your left). Bittangabee Bay Picnic Area Bittangabee Bay Picnic Area Bittangabee Bay Picnic Area is near Bittangabee Bay and camp area in Ben Boyd National Park. The picnic area is a day-use only area with a few picnic tables, an electric BBQ and a pit toilet. There is a reasonable amount of natural shade, and is close to a car park. There is short walk to the beach and ruins at Bittangabee Bay. The picnic area is well signposted on the loop road near the Bittangabee camping area. + - Bittangabee Bay Picnic Area is near Bittangabee Bay and camp area in Ben Boyd National Park. The picnic area is a day-use only area with a few picnic tables, an electric BBQ and a pit toilet. There is a reasonable amount of natural shade, and is close to a car park. There is short walk to the beach and ruins at Bittangabee Bay. The picnic area is well signposted on the loop road near the Bittangabee camping area. After another 30 m pass the toilet (70 m on your left).
	The starting point of an alternate route. An alternative route linking Int. Coast and Ruins Trks Sth to Int. Coast and Ruins Trks Nth. To take the alternate route continue straight here. Details below. After another 95 m veer left. After another 215 m find the "Imlay House" (on your right). Imlay House Imlay House Imlay House ruins still show the foundations of a house built by the Imlay brothers in 1844. The ruins are found in Bittangabee Bay in Ben Boyd National Park, along the Light to Light track. The house was to be a station for the Imlay family to further their grazing and whaling in the area. It appears the stone house was never completed, with the brothers dying in 1846 (George) and 1847 (Alexander). Soon after the Imlay brothers died, Benjamin Boyd began using the bay for his own whaling company in 1848. + - Imlay House ruins still show the foundations of a house built by the Imlay brothers in 1844. The ruins are found in Bittangabee Bay in Ben Boyd National Park, along the Light to Light track. The house was to be a station for the Imlay family to further their grazing and whaling in the area. It appears the stone house was never completed, with the brothers dying in 1846 (George) and 1847 (Alexander). Soon after the Imlay brothers died, Benjamin Boyd began using the bay for his own whaling company in 1848.
	The alternate route finishes here. Continue straight to rejoin the main route at the 530 m waypoint. Details below. After another 155 m continue straight, to head along Light to Light Walk. After another 350 m cross the ford. Then find the "Bittangabee Creek" (8 m on your right). Bittangabee Creek Bittangabee Creek Bittangabee Creek is a small creek feeding Bittangabee Bay in Ben Boyd National Park. The creek enters the bay and is crossed by the Light to Light track about 800m north-west of Bittangabee Campsite. The creek provides a quiet place for people to paddle and relax. + - Bittangabee Creek is a small creek feeding Bittangabee Bay in Ben Boyd National Park. The creek enters the bay and is crossed by the Light to Light track about 800m north-west of Bittangabee Campsite. The creek provides a quiet place for people to paddle and relax. After another 1.4 km find the "Black cliffs" (20 m on your right). Black cliffs Black cliffs The black cliffs of Ben Boyd National Park provide a great vantage point. The headland on the north side of Bittangabee has a fairly large clearing on a rock platform, high above the ocean. There are great views out to sea and into the mouth of Bittangabee Bay. There are no fences or facilities at this informal lookout. Being dark in colour, this rock platform can get very uncomfortable on hot days - trees on the south side provide some respite with shade. The rock slopes into the sea on the south side, but would be too dangerous for swimming. + - The black cliffs of Ben Boyd National Park provide a great vantage point. The headland on the north side of Bittangabee has a fairly large clearing on a rock platform, high above the ocean. There are great views out to sea and into the mouth of Bittangabee Bay. There are no fences or facilities at this informal lookout. Being dark in colour, this rock platform can get very uncomfortable on hot days - trees on the south side provide some respite with shade. The rock slopes into the sea on the south side, but would be too dangerous for swimming. After another 1.9 km find the "Hegartys Bay camping area" (40 m on your left). Hegartys Bay camping area Hegartys Bay camping area Hegartys Bay camping area is a basic bush campsite on the Light to Light walk, about 2km north of Bittangabee. The campsite is signposted and is just north of a small creek that leads to Hegartys Bay. There is another, smaller campsite that is not signposted, about 50m north. The creek is very unreliable and other than some impromptu chairs made from driftwood, there are no facilities provided. The campsite is nestled in a clearing among the tall, dense bush, providing some shade and shelter from winds. + - Hegartys Bay camping area is a basic bush campsite on the Light to Light walk, about 2km north of Bittangabee. The campsite is signposted and is just north of a small creek that leads to Hegartys Bay. There is another, smaller campsite that is not signposted, about 50m north. The creek is very unreliable and other than some impromptu chairs made from driftwood, there are no facilities provided. The campsite is nestled in a clearing among the tall, dense bush, providing some shade and shelter from winds. After another 6 m find the "Hegartys Bay" (55 m on your right). Hegartys Bay Hegartys Bay Hegartys Bay is a north-east facing bay, about 2km north of Bittangabee in Ben Boyd National Park. The bay has many small boulders at the apex that then fade to rock shelves at each end. The bay is walled by red cliffs at the entrance and the northern wall has some spectacular examples of rock folding. The bay can be accessed along the Light to Light track and is home to a bush campsite. + - Hegartys Bay is a north-east facing bay, about 2km north of Bittangabee in Ben Boyd National Park. The bay has many small boulders at the apex that then fade to rock shelves at each end. The bay is walled by red cliffs at the entrance and the northern wall has some spectacular examples of rock folding. The bay can be accessed along the Light to Light track and is home to a bush campsite.
	Continue another 330 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 4.5 km to get back to the start.

An optional side trip to Bittangabee Beach.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start heading along Light to Light Walk. After another 25 m turn left.
	After another 70 m come to the end. About 15 m past the end is "Bittangabee Bay Beach". Bittangabee Bay Beach Bittangabee Bay Beach Bittangabee Bay Beach, Ben Boyd National Park, is a small beach at the south-western corner of the bay. The beach can be accessed by a short walk from Bittangabee picnic area in Ben Boyd National Park. The yellow sand beach has a small creek and lagoon behind. The beach also has rock platforms at each end and is fairly well-protected from swells, being tucked away in the bay. The historic storehouse is visible on the shore to the right. + - Bittangabee Bay Beach, Ben Boyd National Park, is a small beach at the south-western corner of the bay. The beach can be accessed by a short walk from Bittangabee picnic area in Ben Boyd National Park. The yellow sand beach has a small creek and lagoon behind. The beach also has rock platforms at each end and is fairly well-protected from swells, being tucked away in the bay. The historic storehouse is visible on the shore to the right. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 95 m to the main route.

Turn map

Directions & comments

Start heading along Light to Light Walk.

After another 25 m turn left.

After another 70 m come to the end.

About 15 m past the end is "Bittangabee Bay Beach".

Bittangabee Bay Beach

Bittangabee Bay Beach, Ben Boyd National Park, is a small beach at the south-western corner of the bay. The beach can be accessed by a short walk from Bittangabee picnic area in Ben Boyd National Park. The yellow sand beach has a small creek and lagoon behind. The beach also has rock platforms at each end and is fairly well-protected from swells, being tucked away in the bay. The historic storehouse is visible on the shore to the right.

+

-

Bittangabee Bay Beach, Ben Boyd National Park, is a small beach at the south-western corner of the bay. The beach can be accessed by a short walk from Bittangabee picnic area in Ben Boyd National Park. The yellow sand beach has a small creek and lagoon behind. The beach also has rock platforms at each end and is fairly well-protected from swells, being tucked away in the bay. The historic storehouse is visible on the shore to the right.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 95 m to the main route.

An alternative route linking Int. Coast and Ruins Trks Sth to Int. Coast and Ruins Trks Nth.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start heading along Light to Light Walk.
	After another 430 m come to the end. At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

Terrain

Bittangabee Bay to Hegartys Bay

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	9 km
Time	3 h to 3 h 30 min

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

Campsite: There is one 4.2 km from the start.

Toilet: There is one 60 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	60 m	[toilet]
Campsite	4.2 km	Hegartys Bay camping area

Articles

Bittangabee Bay Picnic Area
Bittangabee Bay Picnic Area is near Bittangabee Bay and camp area in Ben Boyd National Park. The picnic area is a day-use only area with a few picnic tables, an electric BBQ and a pit toilet. There is a reasonable amount of natural shade, and is close to a car park. There is short walk to the beach and ruins at Bittangabee Bay. The picnic area is well signposted on the loop road near the Bittangabee camping area.

Bittangabee Bay Beach
Bittangabee Bay Beach, Ben Boyd National Park, is a small beach at the south-western corner of the bay. The beach can be accessed by a short walk from Bittangabee picnic area in Ben Boyd National Park. The yellow sand beach has a small creek and lagoon behind. The beach also has rock platforms at each end and is fairly well-protected from swells, being tucked away in the bay. The historic storehouse is visible on the shore to the right.

Imlay House
Imlay House ruins still show the foundations of a house built by the Imlay brothers in 1844. The ruins are found in Bittangabee Bay in Ben Boyd National Park, along the Light to Light track. The house was to be a station for the Imlay family to further their grazing and whaling in the area. It appears the stone house was never completed, with the brothers dying in 1846 (George) and 1847 (Alexander). Soon after the Imlay brothers died, Benjamin Boyd began using the bay for his own whaling company in 1848.

Bittangabee Creek
Bittangabee Creek is a small creek feeding Bittangabee Bay in Ben Boyd National Park. The creek enters the bay and is crossed by the Light to Light track about 800m north-west of Bittangabee Campsite. The creek provides a quiet place for people to paddle and relax.

Black cliffs
The black cliffs of Ben Boyd National Park provide a great vantage point. The headland on the north side of Bittangabee has a fairly large clearing on a rock platform, high above the ocean. There are great views out to sea and into the mouth of Bittangabee Bay. There are no fences or facilities at this informal lookout. Being dark in colour, this rock platform can get very uncomfortable on hot days - trees on the south side provide some respite with shade. The rock slopes into the sea on the south side, but would be too dangerous for swimming.

Hegartys Bay camping area
Hegartys Bay camping area is a basic bush campsite on the Light to Light walk, about 2km north of Bittangabee. The campsite is signposted and is just north of a small creek that leads to Hegartys Bay. There is another, smaller campsite that is not signposted, about 50m north. The creek is very unreliable and other than some impromptu chairs made from driftwood, there are no facilities provided. The campsite is nestled in a clearing among the tall, dense bush, providing some shade and shelter from winds.

Hegartys Bay
Hegartys Bay is a north-east facing bay, about 2km north of Bittangabee in Ben Boyd National Park. The bay has many small boulders at the apex that then fade to rock shelves at each end. The bay is walled by red cliffs at the entrance and the northern wall has some spectacular examples of rock folding. The bay can be accessed along the Light to Light track and is home to a bush campsite.

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