Batemans Bay Coastal Headlands Walking Trail and Observation Point upgrade

Project: a coastal walking trail linking the headlands and beaches between Batehaven and McKenzies Beach via existing natural bush tracks and lookout areas, all on public land.

Timeframe: late 2021 to late 2024

Status: In progress

Cost and funding: approximately $6.5m consisting of:

  • $5.25m from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, co-funded by the Australian and NSW governments
  • $672,000 from Building Better Regions Fund
  • $145,000 from Bushfire Regional Tourism Fund
  • $75,000 from Stronger Country Communities Fund
  • contributions from Rotary Club and Council

Page last updated: November 2024

Latest news: November 2024:

We’ve completed new toilet facilities at Lilli Pilli and a viewing platform near Beechwood Court. The yarning circle at Wimbie Beach is coming together beautifully, and we're now enhancing Malua Bay South and McKenzies Beach.

Project details

We are working to:

  • Build the Batemans Bay Coastal Headlands Walking Trail, a recreational feature that will connect Batehaven, Surf Beach, and Malua Bay.
  • Upgrade the Observation Point lookout.

Benefits to the community:

  • The trail will offer a year-round attraction that shows off Eurobodalla’s coast, diverse nature and unique Aboriginal heritage.
  • Walkers can choose to hike the whole distance in a single day, wander at a more leisurely pace, or take advantage of shorter walks.
  • The Observation Point upgrade will include a wheelchair-accessible viewing platform and lookout points, interpretations of Aboriginal and European cultural and historical information, car parking and picnic areas.

This project is based on a concept approved by the Council back in 2010. Significant government funding in recent years, including for bushfire recovery, brought the trails to the final planning and construction-ready phase.

Construction will be low-impact and only where required. This will include erosion control, upgrading walkways and stairways, providing footbridges, safety barriers and information signs. We will reroute the trail around any sensitive areas and keep vegetation trimming to a minimum so we don't widen the track any more than necessary. We'll remove invasive weeds along the way and replant with native species to enhance the natural environment.

Batehaven's Observation Point will serve as a gateway to the trail. From there, the trail will continue along the headlands to McKenzies Beach. A smaller network of inland tracks will allow access during high tides and adverse swell conditions.

The trail will provide safe, year-round access to the headlands and ensure residents retain access to this community land through ongoing maintenance by Council.

The trail will navigate varying landscapes from urban areas to dense forests, and from cliff tops to the ocean foreshore.

Walking trail video overview

This short video highlights key opportunities for the walk.

Trail route interactive map

NSW Public Works Advisory, which is working with us on the project's implementation, created an interactive map showing the trail's planned route in detail and additional information about some of its features.

The map is not the final walking trail and is to be used as a guide only. As the project has evolved and adjustments were made on-site, the scope and specific locations of some parts have changed. While this map is now outdated, we are keeping it available for reference.

How to use the map

  • Once loaded, view the map legend and about information in the top-right of your screen.
  • Use the arrows in the top left to zoom in to your area of interest - click and drag the map to move your focus area.
  • Use the camera icon to see notes about features at this point of the trail. Some sections may have photos available under the Photo Link section.
  • The map does not meet current accessibility requirements. For assistance or more information, please phone us on 02 4474 1000.

Updates

We have been planning these projects for some time. Here are some images of the new infrastructure and a summary of activities and milestones that have taken place so far:

Image A staircase with handrails leads from up high to a carpark next to a beach.
A staircase at the northern end of Caseys Beach
Image Timber bollards line a car park surrounded by gum trees overlooking the ocean.
A formalised car park and landscaping at Observation Point
Image A curved timber ramp leads to a viewing platform overlooking the ocean.
The spectacular viewing deck at Observation Point
Image A viewing platform with a wooden bench seat overlooks blue ocean and a rugged coastline.
A small platform at Malua Bay allows awesome coastal views
Image A set of stairs with steel handrails leads through vegetation down to a beach.
A set of steps leading to Sunshine Bay Cove
Image A short footbridge lined with handrails leads to a narrow bush track.
A short footbridge crosses a small gully
Previous Next

2024

We’ve got big plans to wrap up the project by the end of the year. Our goals for 2024 include:

  • building the remaining raised walkways, steps, seats, viewing platforms, and safety barriers
  • constructing five footbridges
  • creating a yarning circle at Wimbie Beach
  • upgrading the toilet facilities at Mosquito Bay and Lilli Pilli
  • upgrading the car park at Denhams Beach
  • finishing works at Observation Point
  • upgrading the trail access at McKenzies Beach
  • creating and enhancing informal tracks
  • revegetating areas along the trail
  • providing directional and interpretive signs.

We are working with Aboriginal consultation groups and Aboriginal artists to finalise the interpretive signage content and arts collaborations. Integrating artwork has been a focus of the project, with art featured in our wayfinding and interpretive signage, dhurga language plates, concrete etchings, privacy screens, art murals, and audio poles.

We are working with five local yuin walbunja artists: Leanne Brook, Nigel Stewart, Bronwen Smith, Reena Slockee and Natalie Bateman. The artworks explore each artists connection to Country, drawing themes and subjects from our interpretation plan. Examples include:

  • Caring for Country: sustainably living off the ocean
  • Formation of the land: our diverse coastline
  • Taking care of natural places: flora and fauna, our sanctuaries
  • Local language and culture.

It has been a privilege to work alongside First Nations people, elders, artists, and the community to bring Aboriginal culture into the trail project. We look forward to sharing the results of these collaborations later in 2024 and hope they will enhance our community spaces, fostering a sense of belonging and connection to place.

2023

  • Loads of people made the most of the awesome viewing deck at Observation Point and checked out the cool new features nearby.
  • We invited locals to share their stories to help us create interpretative signs along the walk.
  • By the end of the year, we had:
    • finished installing the eight picnic tables, the ladder at Mosquito Bay, and most of the concrete pathways
    • built approximately half of the raised walkways, steps, seats, viewing platforms, and safety barriers
    • obtained approval from the grant authority to finish the project by December 2024.

2022

  • December: Our crews worked on the Observation Point upgrade to get it ready in time for Christmas.
  • November: Bushland management specialists started on sections of the trail to widen the track, trim vegetation, control weeds, plant native species and improve drainage to reduce erosion.
  • August: We closed Observation Point to build the new car park, pathways, viewing areas, seats, shade structures, and yarning circle. Everything is on track to be open by the end of the year.
  • June: We began work on the Observation Point upgrade by constructing the cantilevered viewing platform. It will take several months to build but will provide awesome views once complete.

2021

  • December: Construction on the trail kicked off with a new staircase at the northern end of Caseys Beach in Batehaven. The old stone steps were replaced with a modern structure using mini mesh grating and hardwood handrails. The new steps provide safer access to the beach and will be maintained by Council.
  • October: Council wrote to owners of land adjoining the trail to inform them of the project’s progression. Council staff will work directly with residents who might have encroachments like gardens or structures on the public land where the track passes. An online interactive map showing detail of the planned route was also made available.
  • August: Council engaged the NSW Government’s Public Works Advisory to help with project planning and implementation.
  • June: Our Natural Resource Management team is working closely with the Batemans Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council to identify and select culturally significant plants for the landscaping at Observation Point. They will also be working together to revegetate the natural areas surrounding the site in spring to reduce erosion and informal access points.
  • May: Consultants Wolf Peak worked with the community to gather stories and develop design concepts for the Aboriginal and European cultural and historical information to be provided at Observation Point. They held a number of targeted meetings and community drop-in sessions to help them develop ideas. Public Works Advisory have been engaged to help with project planning for implementation of the coastal headlands walking trail.

2019-20

  • Consultation undertaken during Hanging Rock, Corrigans Beach and Observation Point planning helped design the upgrade.

2010

  • A concept plan for the Batemans Bay Coastal Headland Walking Trail was prepared:
  • We acknowledge the 2010 document and appendices may not conform to accessibility requirements. Please contact us if a hard copy is required.

Downloads

Contact us

For more information, please contact George Workman, Senior Project Engineer: