Discover Moon Bay - Mimosa Rocks National Park

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At the southern end of Mimosa Rocks National Park lies Moon Bay, a pretty crescent-shaped beach situated between two rocky headlands. While usually secluded these days, apart from an occasional naturist or two, it is interesting to discover some reminders of its diverse history.



Access to Moon Bay is via a short but very steep track. The track is signposted from the car park as 250 metres, but be warned, the descent is made up of steep stairs practically the whole way down.



The vegetation on either side of the track is thick with a canopy of tall trees towering above and large, vibrant tree ferns dotted below. If you are lucky you may spot a wallaby, like we did, just before we came out on to the beach.



While we didn't see any other people on our walk, I have been told that Moon Bay is a popular spot with naturists.

The beach is not patrolled and swimming is not encouraged as the beach is known to have strong rips and currents. It is, however, a scenic place to take a stroll along the beach.



Mimosa Rocks National Park lies within the traditional country of the Yuin Aboriginal people. It is thought that Aboriginal occupation of the area could date back over 25 000 years. Today the major archaeological remains of this occupation are found in middens and open campsite deposits.

Sadly extensive shell middens at Moon Bay were reportedly carted off in "dray loads" by builders back in the 1850s, and used to make lime for the mortar in the original buildings in nearby Bega.

However other reminders of the past can still be found. It may surprise you to learn that this secluded beach hosted a log slide at one point and was used as a mooring site where timber and farm products from nearby properties were loaded on to barges for transfer to ships. At the northern end of the beach have a look for the rusted stubs of mooring rings and grooves cut into the cliffs, the only remaining evidence of this period of history.

According to the NPWS information brochure, it is possible to continue walking around the southern headland to Mogareeka Inlet where the Bega River meets the ocean.



Unfortunately, we were headed back to the car park via those stairs - only 178 steps and counting... at least your work out for the day will be complete.

To get to the Moon Bay Walking Track, turn off the Tathra - Bermagui Road at Nelson Lake Road. It is just over 2km from the turnoff to the car park for Moon Bay.

Other places of interest nearby include the Wajurda Point Walking Track and Nelson Beach and Lagoon.

For more information about Moon Bay and the Mimosa Rocks National Park please click here.

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