Camp sites on the Light to Light walk

[emydura]

We are planning to do do the Light to Light walk in a few weeks over three days. So we need two campsites along the way. But I see both the Bittangabee Bay and Hegartys Bay campsites are closed. I am just wondering if there are any other options? The first campsite we were planning on staying at Saltwater Creek. But I'm not sure where we can camp between Saltwater Creek and Green Cape Lighthouse.

[sandym]

Hegartys. But it is also only 30 km so you could simply do the walk in two days.

[emydura]

Hegartys. But it is also only 30 km so you could simply do the walk in two days.

Hegartys is also closed because of fire damage. I could do it in 2 days but I really want to do it in 3. Going with more casual walkers who would prefer a slower more relaxed pace.

From what I can see, it is currently not possible to do this walk in 3 days, as there is no where to camp on the 2nd night. Any suggestions appreciated.

[sandym]

I now wonder if these closures are to do with the all the upgrades/lodge accomodation that NPWS wants to put in this area of Ben Boyd NP as I have been there multiple times since the fires - mostly in a sea kayak - and the track is open and the campsites clear.

I am just gonna put this out there, take or leave it. If you camp at Saltwater on night 1, the distance to the end of the walk is only about 4 km more on day 2 than you walked on day 1.

But, check your PMs. I have sent you a suggestion.

[emydura]

I now wonder if these closures are to do with the all the upgrades/lodge accomodation that NPWS wants to put in this area of Ben Boyd NP as I have been there multiple times since the fires - mostly in a sea kayak - and the track is open and the campsites clear.

I am just gonna put this out there, take or leave it. If you camp at Saltwater on night 1, the distance to the end of the walk is only about 4 km more on day 2 than you walked on day 1.

But, check your PMs. I have sent you a suggestion.

I believe the Bittangabee Bay campground was completely torched and all the facilities need to be rebuilt. But I don't understand why Hegartys Bay campground would still be closed. There are no facilities there that need rebuilding.

We have to dry back to Canberra on the last day. So a short walk on the third day suits us.

I think we will camp at Mowarry Point on the first day now.

Thanks for the PM. Most helpful.

[sandym]

No, I was at Bittangabee last December and the campground is fine. Anyway, enjoy your walk. Mowarry is a great camp often used by the sea kayakers. Recently a pod of killer whales were seen so maybe you will also catch a glimpse.

[damomcdermott]

I was there last winter and did the walk over three days.

Bittangabee campground was fine. So was Saltwater (but both require bookings). They may be closed after recent rains - Parks NSW website should explain in the alerts. If you do stay at Bittangabee, you can reserve campsites away from the vehicles, which I would recommend for hikers.

There is a small campground at Leatherjacket Bay, but it isn't very far into the walk. Mowarry Point is the pick of the bunch and a better distance for day 1.

Hegarty's was closed with no structures left and really serious regrowth. It looked like it had been reclaimed by the bush after the fires. You wouldn't be able to find a spot for a tent if you tried while we were there.

Here's a write up of the trip with pics of all the campsites:

https://www.randomfootprints.com/single ... mbat-tales

Cheers and good luck! It's an awesome part of the world and well worth taking your time over three days to enjoy it.

[tom_brennan]

Bittangabee campground was fine. So was Saltwater (but both require bookings). They may be closed after recent rains - Parks NSW website should explain in the alerts. If you do stay at Bittangabee, you can reserve campsites away from the vehicles, which I would recommend for hikers.

There is a small campground at Leatherjacket Bay, but it isn't very far into the walk. Mowarry Point is the pick of the bunch and a better distance for day 1.

Hegarty's was closed with no structures left and really serious regrowth. It looked like it had been reclaimed by the bush after the fires. You wouldn't be able to find a spot for a tent if you tried while we were there.

We were there in Feb and did it over 1.5 days (Green Cape - Mowarry (camp) - Boyds Tower). I'd echo damomcdermott's comments. Hegartys has pretty much nowhere you'd want to pitch a tent at the moment due to regrowth. Bittangabee appears to be open til 6 June, and is the nicer of the two drive-in sites from a bushwalker point of view (well, my point of view anyway!).

[emydura]

Thanks Tom and Damo. Bittangabee it is then. We are heading down on Friday and commencing the walk on Saturday. Hopefully we are not too impacted by this weather system that is heading down this way.

[emydura]

We did the walk last weekend (Saturday to Monday). It was wonderful, if not a little muddy. Amazing cliffs and coastal scenery. Certainly glad we chose 3 days. Two would have been rushed, especially with the short winter hours. We finished around midday on Monday, which enabled us to get Canberra at a reasonable hour. At a warmer time of year, I think I would do it in 4 days and camp at Saltwater Creek as well. Would give you more time to swim, fish or photograph. There is plenty to do on this walk, other than just walking.

Mowarry Point was just wonderful and probably the highlight. Definitely the best campsite as you can see from the photo below. What a shame they will be building huts there soon as well as forcing campers to camp further away from the beach. I am nervous about the future of this walk. Our second night was spent at Bittangabee Bay which is lovely of course. There was a spot at Hegartys Bay you could have camped, just up from the creek. There was room for 2 tents. But we had already paid for Bittangabee Bay so kept going. There was a sign further up saying the Hegartys Bay campground was closed. I expect that has more to do with the fact that this site will be totally banned for campers in the not too distant future. You will have to pay for a hut if you want to stay here.

[sandym]

Thanks for posting. I think a lot of people are really sad about the "upgrade" to the walk that is in the works. Those wanting wilderness will be pushed a bit further south to the Nadgee area which thankfully, so far, is not looking to be "upgraded."

Glad you enjoyed the walk.

[emydura]

I share your view. Thankfully, I believe the Nadgee area can never be commercialised as it is a dedicated wilderness reserve, so any human development is not allowed. They can't even add track signs, let alone build huts. May that always be the case.

I read the Light to Light strategy yesterday and noted that the plan to build a track between the Greenpatch Lighthouse and Disaster Bay has been scrapped in order to protect cultural heritage sites. So the two walks will now not be linked.