Place · 0.1 mi away
Overview
A mellow coastal wander that links Cave Beach with Bherwerre Beach, this track delivers a compact hit of surf, swamp, and forest. Expect easy to moderate walking on sandy and bush tracks with limited shade. The headline option is a 2.8 km (1.74 mi) loop that reaches Bherwerre Beach via Ryans Swamp and returns on a fire trail.
Route Options
- Cave Beach car park to Bherwerre Beach (via Ryans Swamp): 900 m one way (about 15 minutes), easy to moderate. From the western side of the Cave Beach camp area, a clear track skirts Ryans Swamp to the long, south‑facing Bherwerre Beach.
- Fire‑trail loop: Make it a circuit by returning to Cave Beach Road on the fire trail for a total of 2.8 km (about 1 hour), easy to moderate. The trail crosses old dune country and then firmer forest soils.
- Shorter sampler: From the car park, it’s a few minutes to the Cave Beach camping area (about 300 m). Some visitors also treat the broader Cave Beach loop as ~3 km with ~48 m gain.
What You’ll See
- Ryans Swamp: A magnet for waterbirds—swamphens, egrets, ducks—plus frogs, turtles, and snakes. Move quietly and you’ll hear the place before you see it.
- Beaches and surf: Cave Beach is a noted south‑facing surf spot; Bherwerre Beach is longer and wilder. Dolphins show up year‑round, and in season you may spot whales from the coast.
- Dunes and forest: The fire trail crosses dunes revegetated decades ago (bitou bush is now a major coastal weed) and shifts into tall blackbutt forest on deeper soils.
Best Time to Hike
Shade is limited, so cooler parts of the day are more comfortable. For whale movement along the coast, the standout windows are June–July (northbound humpbacks) and September–December (southbound, often with calves).
Practical Notes
Start from the Cave Beach car park off Cave Beach Road. Beaches here are not patrolled—treat surf and currents with respect and supervise kids. Snakes are commonly reported near Ryans Swamp; give all wildlife space and don’t feed animals. Bring water and sunscreen; even on short walks the sun reflects off sand and surf. Check park alerts before you go.
Pros
- Quick two‑beach link with a swamp wildlife detour
- Easy loop option using a fire trail for a tidy 1‑hour circuit
- Frequent kangaroo sightings around the campground
Cons
- Snakes are common near Ryans Swamp—keep a careful eye on kids
- Limited shade on dunes makes midday hot and glary
- Beaches are unpatrolled and can have surf
Parking
Park at Cave Beach car park on Cave Beach Road; it’s about 300 m to the campground and main track.
Caution
Snakes near Ryans Swamp; beaches are unpatrolled; limited shade—carry water, sunscreen, and give wildlife space.
