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

hero media
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.

AI Prompt

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!

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
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 check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
View profile and articles
hero media

This new tour takes you to the best and most unexpected parts of NSW’s outback

Credit: Destination NSW

    Dilvin Yasa Dilvin Yasa

    The outback is calling, and the adventure is made all the easier with this hot new AAT Kings’ tour.

    It’s the desert palette of rust-red earth and vast cobalt sky that calls you at first, for where better to get away from it all than the outback? Of course, once you start driving, taking note of all the weathered pubs, dusty tracks and tiny towns held together with humour, resilience and more corrugated iron than ever deemed possible, something else grabs a hold of you: the idea that far from the celebrated icons and landmarks associated with Australia, you’re finally immersed in an authentic slice of local life that few have ever experienced.

    Ancient landscapes, proud pastoral histories, ghost towns, culinary powerhouses and a rich Indigenous heritage; there are plenty of facets to life on the land. The best way to experience all of the above with both ease and like-minded friends? AAT Kings’ new Outback New South Wales Adventurer, a 9-day small group tour. This Sydney-return itinerary is designed to connect travellers not only with iconic outback destinations, but with the characters, culture and experiences that bring each place to life.

    Highlights? The Adventurer has more than a few, but here are eight to start.

    1. Broken Hill

    See the striking art at Living Desert and Sculptures. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Welcome to Broken Hill, where mining history, outback eccentricity and a surprisingly rich arts scene unite in a rusty desert landscape. In Australia’s first heritage-listed city, exploration is quickly rewarded. Begin with a guided walking tour taking in the city’s grand Victorian and Art Deco architecture. Later, enjoy visits to both the Broken Hill City Art Gallery and the Living Desert and Sculptures – the perfect place to enjoy the changing colours of an outback sunset. Of course, no visit to Broken Hill is complete without a stop at the historic Palace Hotel Broken Hill, famous for its role in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Happily, it makes for the perfect spot for dinner.

    2. White Cliffs

    people in a mine in white cliffs nsw
    Strap on your hardhat and head underground. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Strap on your hardhat and start spending your imaginary fortunes; White Cliffs, Australia’s oldest commercial opal field, is begging you to come in search of rare pineapple opals. Admittedly, you’re much more likely to find white opals, but the true gems of White Cliffs – where much is built underground to escape the desert heat – are everywhere.

    Here, you’ll descend 13.5 metres underground into a working mine to learn about the region’s heritage, and observe how miners continue the search for these prized gemstones. Perhaps you’ll even find a couple yourself?

    3. Mungo National Park

    mungo national park nsw outback
    Spend time in the striking, lunar-like landscape of Mungo National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    With its lunar-like landscape made up of ancient, dried lake basins and sculpted sand and clay formations, a drive into UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park is somehow two things all at once: uniquely Australian with vast outback skies, and somehow otherworldly, as though you’ve been dropped off by spaceship. At its heart lies the iconic Walls of China, a 30-kilometre sand-and-clay lunette shaped by thousands of years of erosion.

    Understanding more than 40,000 years of Barkindji, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa history begins with a visit to the Visitor Centre, and concludes with a sunset tour led by local Aboriginal guides. A key experience? Learning about the discovery of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. At 40,000+ years old, these are among the oldest human remains found anywhere in the world.

    4. Kinchega National Park

    kangaroo in Kinchenga National Park nsw
    Meet the locals of Kinchega National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Some come to Kinchega National Park for its iconic Darling River landscapes full of birdlife and haunting river red gums; others visit for its rich First Nations and pastoral history. Your visit will encompass all of the above, with a guided tour (part of AAT Kings’ MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience) designed to give a deeper understanding of Barkindji cultural heritage, history and traditions.

    Walk with local guide David as he shares ancestral knowledge and creation stories, and explains how native plants – through bush food and bush medicine – have sustained Indigenous communities for thousands of years. Then sit back and enjoy those views alongside native tea and sweet treats.

    5. Griffith

    chef at zecca restaurant in griffith
    Treat your tastebuds to ‘the food bowl of Australia’. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    How can you say no to a visit to a destination widely regarded as ‘the food bowl of Australia’? Shaped by fertile farmland and home to approximately 75 per cent of New South Wales’ wine grapes, this is a day to roll up your sleeves and enjoy the best gastronomy the state has to offer. Think vineyards, cellar doors, cafes and restaurants largely shaped by its multicultural heart (Griffith is not only home to over 60 nationalities, but has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry anywhere in Australia).

    6. Mudgee

    exterior of lower wines in mudgee nsw
    Visit some of Mudgee’s best wineries. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Nestled by the Cudgegong River, Mudgee packs a big punch for a heritage country town, having carved a reputation for itself as one of the country’s leading (and award-winning) wine regions, a key epicurean destination, and a regional arts centre growing in both visibility and vibrancy.

    Take a moment to enjoy the town’s 19th-century charm before heading to Lowe Family Wine Co. for a guided tasting of organic and biodynamic wine, followed by a relaxed lunch featuring a feast of homegrown and local produce. Will you walk away with bottles of Mudgee’s iconic reds under your arms? It’s a distinct possibility.

    7. Silverton

    see the living ghost town of silverton on AAT Kings new NSW outback tour
    See the living ghost town of Silverton.(Credit: Destination NSW)

    A once-booming silver mining hub, the dystopian setting for Mad Max 2, and now a tranquil settlement that’s home to around 50 people; Silverton is considered a living ghost town and remains a sight to behold.

    Take time to explore its heritage streets (and perhaps take a look at the quirky Mad Max 2 Museum) and the Silverton Hotel, an iconic outback pub, before a visit to Silverton Gaol & Historical Museum. It’s home to a wealth of colonial artefacts, early mining equipment and stories from the outback’s pioneering past which will serve to anchor you firmly in place.

    8. Shear Outback

    man working at shear outback in nsw
    Get a glimpse behind the wool curtain. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    If you ever find yourself singing, “click go the shears boys, click, click, click…”, you’ve come to the right place. Shear Outback, an award-winning tourist and education attraction located in Hay, brings to life the traditions and stories of one of the outback’s most enduring industries: sheep shearing.

    Here, in the heart of the Riverina, you’ll enjoy live shearing demonstrations, meet the shearers, shedhands, sheepdogs and yes, sheep, who come together to show guests exactly what it takes to provide Australians with all that glorious wool.

    Discover more of Outback NSW with AAT Kings. Visit aatkings.com.