This hidden walk on the NSW’s South Coast blends nature and culture

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Here’s why it deserves a spot on your hiking hit list.

There’s a new reason to lace up your hiking boots on the NSW South Coast – and it’s more than just a pretty walk. The recently upgraded Munjip Trail in Eurobodalla blends the region’s beaches and bushland with First Nations’ history and culture, making it the perfect weekend activity.

What to expect of Munjip Trail

Tacked onto a stunning stretch of sand and sea four hours south of Sydney, the Munjip Trail is a scenic hike connecting Batemans Bay to McKenzies Beach. Weaving between ocean and bushland, the refurbished track is the perfect way to experience Eurobodalla’s stunning natural beauty.

The track has two trailheads, making it easy to tackle all at once or explore in bite-sized sections across multiple days. Begin at Observation Point in Batehaven, where a wheelchair-accessible pathway doubles as a canvas for Bronwen Smith and Gavin Chatfield’s Connection to country, land and sea.

Munjip Trail in Eurobodalla, NSW
Start the trail at Observation Point. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism; Grand Pacific Drive)

The Munjip Trail then tracks along 15 kilometres of scenic coastline – past towns, along beaches and through bushland. Look out for local wildlife and native flora throughout the walk, from scar trees to dolphins. This part of NSW is also known as one of Australia’s best whale-watching spots, so keep your eyes peeled during migration season! Be sure to pack your cozzies, too, as you’ll pass sandy stretches like Caseys Beach, Sunshine Cove, Denhams Beach, Grandfathers Gully, Malua Bay and McKenzies Beach.

Caseys Beach along the Munjip Trail in Eurobodalla, NSW
Cool off at Caseys Beach. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)

If you’re tackling the track over a few days, there are plenty of places to rest overnight. Try NRMA Batemans Bay, Denhams Beach Retreat or the Beachfront Shack in Malua Bay. There’s also a range of local restaurants and cafes along the route that are perfect for lunch or a quick grab-and-go.

History and cultural significance

While the trail itself may not necessarily be new, it definitely offers a fresh perspective. After a series of upgrades between late 2024 and early 2025, which included new steps, footbridges, viewing platforms, fences and signage, it was only fitting that it got a name change, too.

Previously called the Batemans Bay Coastal Headlands Walking Trail, the Munjip Trail was renamed in consultation with Traditional Owners. For the local Walbunja people, ‘Munjip’ means ‘walking together, let’s go’ in the dhurga language.

Munjip Trail in Eurobodalla, NSW
Enjoy sweeping coastal views. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism; Grand Pacific Drive)

The land’s deep cultural significance is reflected along the walk, from yarning circles and sculptural message poles to educational signs and audio posts with stories from Traditional Custodians. Artwork also features heavily along the Munjip Trail, completed by local Indigenous artists Leanne Brook, Reena Slockee, Natalie Bateman and Nigel Stewart.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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Other important information

The Munjip Trail can be undertaken from either Batemans Bay in the north or McKenzies Beach in the south. The best way to ensure smooth transportation is a car shuffle – park one car at the end of the walk and use a second vehicle to drive walkers back to the start. There’s parking available at both ends of the track.

Malua Bay on the Munjip Trail in Eurobodalla, NSW
Malua Bay is one of many seaside pit stops. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)

While Parks NSW has rated the track as Grade 3 (suitable for most ages and abilities), a few sections feature stairs, as well as loose terrain, steep inclines, rocks and sand. The viewing platform at Observation Point is wheelchair accessible.

Be sure to come prepared! Wear a good pair of comfortable hiking shoes, ensure you have a hat, sunscreen, water, snacks and, of course, a thirst for adventure.

Looking for more hikes on NSW’s South Coast? Try the Southern Headlands Walk!

Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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3 vintage train journeys to step back in time and explore NSW

(Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.

Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.

Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.

Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train carriage
Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.

The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.

The Riverina

Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train travelling through nsw
Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.

The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.

North Coast

Forest Sky Pier
Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)

This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.

Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.

Golden West

winery experience in new south wales
Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.

Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.

Special event journeys

meal onboard Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train
Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.

For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.

Step back into the golden age of rail travel at vintagerailjourneys.com.au.