Moruya Heads lookout
Eurobodalla National Park
Overview
Moruya Heads lookout offers superb coastal views taking in the scenic mouth of Moruya River.
- Type
- Lookouts
- Where
- Eurobodalla National Park in South Coast
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Please note
The weather in the area can be extreme and unpredictable. Please be well prepared for your visit.
In spring, bring your binoculars for whale watching as these gentle giants migrate south back towards the Southern Ocean for another summer of feeding on krill. Enjoy a picnic with friends and family in this beautiful part of Eurobodalla National Park.
Keep a lookout on the beach as there are plenty of birdwatching opportunities, with the endangered little tern and hooded plover calling the area home. Come spring, Moruya Heads is enlivened with wildflowers, including coastal wattle, banksia and pittosporum for you to feast your eyes on. And, with beaches nearby, you can also seize hotter days with swimming, surfing or a bout of fishing.
Close to Moruya Heads lookout is historic Moruya Heads cemetery, where 20 burials are on record and some headstones remain visible. The earliest recorded burial is from 23 August 1858 – a reminder of early European heritage in the area.
Also see
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Shelly Beach picnic area
Shelly Beach picnic area is in Eurobodalla National Park near Moruya Heads lookout. Visit this pretty spot for a leisurely lunch, refreshing swim and beautiful ocean views.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/lookouts/moruya-heads-lookout/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Eurobodalla National Park in the South Coast region
Eurobodalla National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Moruya Heads lookout.
Getting there and parking
Moruya Head lookout is in the South Head part of Eurobodalla National Park. To get there:
- Head east off the Princes Highway on Moruya South Head Road
- Follow this road for approximately 6km before turning left onto Charles Moffitt Drive
- After 600m, turn left onto Coronation Drive.
- Turn right at the T-junction onto Elizabeth Street and follow the road around to the right until you see the cemetery
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
- Parking is available in 2 small bitumen carparks at Moruya Heads lookout.
- It can be a busy place on the weekend, so parking might be limited.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Eurobodalla National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Head out for a spot of fishing – either from the beach or lakeside, on a boat or from a kayak.
Spring
A lovely time of year to walk all or a short part the Bingi Dreaming track – coastal banksias and a range of other wildflowers will be on display.
Summer
The perfect time of year for a family camping holiday by the beach – try Congo campground near Moruya or Beachcomber Holiday Park near Bodalla.
Winter
Head to Mystery Bay for a picnic and spot of whale watching. be sure to take your binoculars for a close up view.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
18°C and 23°C
Winter temperature
Average
6°C and 17°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
July
Facilities
The nearest toilets are located at Shelly Beach.
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Boat ramp
Cafe/kiosk
Carpark
Drinking water
Step-free access
The lookout is flat and step-free with a paved pathway that leads around the edge of the lookout platform.
You'll need to cross over flat grass to get to the nearby picnic table.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Moruya Heads lookout is flat and step-free, with a paved path that leads around the edge of the lookout platform.
To get to the single picnic table at the lookout, you'll need to cross over flat grass.
Permitted
Fishing
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Moruya Heads lookout is in Eurobodalla National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal cultural heritage
Eurobodalla National Park is the traditional Country of the Yuin People. The park's landscape provided a rich source of food, shelter, medicines and weapons and continues to be an important place for Aboriginal people today. Walk the Bingi Dreaming track to follow the footsteps of the Brinja-Yuin People. Dreaming tracks traditionally linked the places visited by local Aboriginal people, then extended to connect other places utilised by neighbouring clans so that all Aboriginal people in Australia were connected by these unique highways.
- Aboriginal culture tours at Eurobodalla Follow Aboriginal Dreaming tracks in Eurobodalla National Park on a guided tour with Minga Aboriginal Cultural Services. Take part in cultural activities and share in the local knowledge of the Yuin People.
- Bingi Dreaming track Head out for a day walk on the Bingi Dreaming track, a coastal walk that traces the ancient Song Lines of the Yuin Aboriginal people. Enjoy stunning views as you walk.
- Guided Aboriginal culture walk with a Yuin Elder Trace the footsteps of the Yuin People along Bingi Dreaming track in Eurobodalla National Park with Southbound Escapes. Hear Dreamtime stories and learn about Aboriginal culture on this 2-hour walking tour.
- Traditional weaving workshop: Eurobodalla Get creative on a traditional weaving workshop in Eurobodalla National Park, between Bermagui and Narooma. Learn Aboriginal weaving techniques and see how these ancient skills carry a strong connection to Aboriginal culture.
Birds galore
Eurobodalla National Park provides an important habitat for a wide variety of birds, with 131 bird species having been recorded in the park. Estuaries and headlands within the park are important over-wintering areas for migratory birds, including 17 species of waders. In the summer, you may be lucky enough to see little terns nesting on the ground on sand islands, sandspits and dunes. If you do, please take care not to disturb this precious bird. You may also catch a glimpse of a sooty owl roosting in eucalypt forests in deep moist gullies, or the hooded plover which was only recently recorded in the park with potential threats similar to those of the little tern.
- Bingi Dreaming track Head out for a day walk on the Bingi Dreaming track, a coastal walk that traces the ancient Song Lines of the Yuin Aboriginal people. Enjoy stunning views as you walk.
Historic heritage
The period from the 1840's to the 1900's saw a rapid development of the area as a result of several often short-lived gold rushes, the growth of more intensive pastoral and agricultural land uses, and the expansion of timber getting activities. Many small towns grew up throughout the area, often acting as transport hubs and points of supply for surrounding districts. South Head at Moruya has many reminders of the important role shipping played, including several breakwaters and training walls that guided shipping through the river mouth, as well as the pilot's cottage and several smaller buildings situated on the headland.
Water abounds
Eurobodalla National Park contains a range of aquatic environments, including lagoons, lakes, estuaries, sheltered and wild beaches that protect a wide variety of plants and animals. For visitors, these aquatic environments offer a huge range of water-based activities, like waterskiing and boating at Corunna Lake, fishing and swimming around Mullimburra Point, surfing at 1080 Beach and paddling on Brou Lake and around Lake Tuross. It's the perfect place to visit during the summer holidays.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.
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Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
The curious pelican is Australia’s largest flying bird and has the longest bill of any bird in the world. These Australian birds are found throughout Australian waterways and the pelican uses its throat pouch to trawl for fish. Pelicans breed all year round, congregating in large colonies on secluded beaches and islands.
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Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
The humpback whale has the longest migratory path of any mammal, travelling over 5000km from its summer feeding grounds in Antarctica to its breeding grounds in the subtropics. Its playful antics, such as body-rolling, breaching and pectoral slapping, are a spectacular sight for whale watchers in NSW national parks.
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Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.
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Peron's tree frog (Litoria peroni)
Peron’s tree frog is found right across NSW. These tree-climbing and ground-dwelling Australian animals can quickly change colour, ranging from pale green-grey by day, to a reddish brown with emerald green flecks at night. The male frog has a drill-like call, which has been described as a 'maniacal cackle’.