In 2019 this gal put on her big girl hiking boots and embarked on her first solo trip to the South Coast. That gal was me!
This was my first time adventuring solo, so these trips (not all have been solo) were very influential on me. Growing up in a large family I never had to do anything solo really, so it felt VERY strange initially, but after only 1 trip I grew to love it. If I wasn’t confident enough to go out on my own I can guarantee I wouldn’t have nearly as many of these experiences to reflect back upon.
This was also a time when I had a 10+ year old Mazda 6 with a leaking oil filter, so the mishaps were many. One time in Batemans Bay I had to urgently check in to a local mechanic to fix a dud spark plug so I could get home, just to give you an idea of the mishaps. What a wild time that was.
The below are some of my favourite locations I visited along the South Coast.
Australia Rock
Every true Aussie needs to visit Australia Rock in Narooma at some point, a right of passage as an Australian if you will. It is perfectly shaped to match the outline of Australia. Joy.
Camel Rock
Camel Rock is the first rock formation you come across walking along the edge of the beach to reach Horse Head Rock. Its a beautiful rock formation in its own right especially after sunset.
The walk to Camel Rock is super easy as its right on the end of the main beach.
Horse Head Rock
On the theme of interesting rock formations! Horse Head Rock has got to take the cake for rock shapes resembling animal forms in NSW (eagle head rock probably comes second).
Be mindful however that you need low tide to be able to safely access Horse Head Rock from the same back as Camel Rock. Don’t become a human version of grated cheese on the sea rocks.
She is a beauty! Alternatively, if the tides are too high or you aren’t comfortable exploring so close to the ocean there is also a walking track high on the cliff where you can look down onto Horse Head Rock. It definitely isn’t as dramatic or epic a view, but better than nothing!
Fishermans Cave
My favourite of all time sea caves, or most caves. This fishermans cave (if that is its proper name) is magical. Or atleast it was, before it seems someone decided to push the picnic table off the sea cliff. I like to think they were returning the cave to its natural form, but honestly, they’re probably just a destructive dick.
The first time I visited this cave was back in 2019. The windows and window frames were still intact and even though built by humans and materials added to the cave, it still very much had a wild feeling to it. This may also be the simple fact it was not well known, and there was no graffiti in the cave (from memory).
You are so high on the sea cliff, what a magical place to sit for a while and watch whales swimming by. The first time I visited I actually did see a whale!
Access to this cave is very dangerous and exposed, you are right on the sea cliff with nothing stopping you from falling to your death if you slipped. I brought my two brothers and their partners along for the adventure one time we were all down the south coast and I still don’t think they have forgiven me yet. Or come on another adventure since?!
I visited again in 2021, but this time all the windows had been smashed/damaged with only a few frames remaining. It seems as more popular this spot got the more damage it received, which is a bit of a pattern unfortunately.
Drawing Room Rocks
If you have not yet visited the NSW South Coast (first of all, HUGE red flag) then you must schedule in a visit to hike to the top of Drawing Room Rocks. The views are epic.
It is a breezey 4.5km return hike with 350m of elevation, so enough to get your blood pumping but nothing that will break an ankle.
Gosangs Tunnel
Gosangs Tunnel is a fascinating (and fun) work of nature. It’s a natural geological fault that has created a 20m long cave tunnel opening thing leading you from a walking track to an epic rock ledge overlooking the ocean.
Watch your head as you first enter! It may be wide and fabulous (that’s what she said) at its opening (also what she said) but when you first enter you really have to crouch down and crawl in (she also probably said that??). In more appropriate context, you can not walk through the tunnel at full height the whole way.
Cathedral Rock
More rock shapes!! Cathedral Rock in Kiama is not as existing as the other rock formations on this list, however there is a cute little sea cave you can crawl into to frame a beautiful shot of cathedral rock.
There aren’t many things I like about my photo below (I need to go back and do better) but I do love how there is a bird standing on each peak of the cathedral.
Maddens Falls
Thank god there is a waterfall on this list! Maddens Falls is a real waterfall gem of the south coast. We visited right on sunset, so we had beautiful colours in the rock behind the falls. And no, I do not count the waterfalls of the Southern Highlands as the south coast.
Historic Hellensburg Tunnel
I am not sure why but historic tunnels have always fascinated me, even though they are not natural or formed by nature. I love the history of them and the art of their construction, especially when nature has claimed them back and its a mix of natural and unnatural.
Hellensburg Tunnel is my favourite unnatural tunnel so far. It feels like the kind of place a Tomb Raider movie would be filmed, weirdly jungle-y and somehow not very Australian.
The most epic features about this historic tunnel are after a heavy rain event there is a waterfall that flows on the right side, and at all times (but especially night-time) the inside of the tunnel is alive with glow worms.
Please be mindful of the glowworms, use red light only and turn off that damn flash.
Tianjara Falls
I suppoooossseee Tianjara Falls counts as the South Coast… after all it is easily accessed from the South Coast if you are heading to or from Canberra/inland.
It is a magnificent 50m high waterfall located in Morten National Park. There is a visitor carpark right next to the falls and a very short walk to the viewing platforms.
Nethercote Falls
Not far out of Eden is a beautiful rocky gorge with small caves and waterfalls. It located in Nullica State Forest and therefore, DOG FRIENDLY, which wins heaps of green flags for me. It would be epic to re-visit one day and abseil through the gorge.
For those who don’t know my darling Fida, she is my 4 year old Aussie Shepherd/Border Collie and THE BEST adventure companion there is. For those who do know my darling Fida, this was shortly after she was hospitalised after multiple nasty paralysis tick bites where she was fully shaved. She looked a bit like a dalmatian without all the fluff and this family holiday to Berry was just as she started being able to walk again. I have never been so stoked to see her do a poo. This trip is a very emotional rollercoaster to remember, but one where my baby found her legs again.
Rachmartee 
Leave a comment