Beach Road picnic area
Seven Mile Beach National Park
Overview
Beach Road picnic area has everything you need for a relaxing day at the beach. Enjoy swimming or surfing, take a walk whilst birdwatching in the forest near Gerroa.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Accessibility
- Easy
- Opening times
In summer, Gerroa picnic area is open from 6am until 8pm everyday closed overnight. In winter, the picnic area is open 6am to 6pm.
- Please note
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch.
Set among shady bangalay trees and only moments from the beach, Beach Road picnic area has everything you need for your next family outing or group picnic.
Spread out a blanket on the grass or set up your feast on the picnic tables or large sheltered area. Then head down to the beach to kick a ball with the kids or set up for a game of beach volleyball. Try your luck fishing from the beach, then throw your catch on the barbecue for lunch.
Wander through tall forests on the Sand track walk (south) or Sand track walk (north) and catch glimpses of rainbow lorikeets and rosellas dotted throughout the trees. Keep your eyes out for the gliders found in this area. And for those who want to laze about, sit back and enjoy the views of the sweeping beach from the viewing platform, a short stroll from the picnic area.
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/picnic-areas/beach-road-picnic-area/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 Seven Mile Beach National Park in the South Coast region
Seven Mile Beach 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 the Beach Road picnic area.
Getting there and parking
Beach Road picnic area is in the central precinct of Seven Mile Beach National Park. To get there:
From Sydney or Wollongong:
- Turn off the Princes Highway to Gerringong and drive south through Gerroa
- Turn left into Beach Road, about 4km south of the bridge
- Follow Beach Road to the end.
From Nowra:
- Turn off the Princes Highway at Bolong Road, Bomaderry
- Follow Bolong Road which becomes Gerroa Road
- Turn right into Beach Road and follow to the end.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available at Beach Road picnic area in an asphalt carpark, including 2 designated accessible parking spaces.
Bus parking is available but there are no designated bus spots.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Seven Mile Beach National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Walk among the tall forest trees and enjoy a leisurely picnic surrounded by bush at Gerroa picnic area.
Spring
Enjoy the flowering wattles and birds nesting as you wander through the forest and dunes.
Summer
Start your day with an early morning swim, followed by breakfast at the beach picnic area, then a stroll along the long stretch of beach.
Winter
Feel the cool sea breeze on your face as you take in the tranquillity of the beach in winter, enjoy the scenic views, then head to the protected Beach Road picnic area for a leisurely lunch.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
17°C and 25°C
Highest recorded
42.4°C
Winter temperature
Average
8°C and 18°C
Lowest recorded
2.3°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
728.7mm
Facilities
Please take your rubbish.
Amenities
Toilets
- Flush toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Carpark
Drinking water
Showers
- Cold showers
Step-free access
The picnic area is flat and step-free with:
- A concrete pathway that leads from the carpark and toilet facilities towards the beach.
- A hard-packed ground path that goes from the end of Beach Road onto the beach itself. Part of this path heads to a lookout and becomes a wooden boardwalk.
- A short hard-packed ground path from Beach Road to the south side shelters and barbecues.
- Step-free outdoor pathways
Seats and resting points
You'll find bench seats at:
- The south side of the picnic area
- The lookout platform
- As you head towards the beach
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
This area is fully wheelchair-accessible, with the following accessible facilities:
- Step-free access from the carpark to the toilets, the lookout and the beach along concrete, wood boardwalk and hard-packed ground pathways.
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible picnic tables with step-free access
- Bench seats for resting in the southern part of the picnic area, at the lookout and near the beach.
Some assistance may be required to access the picnic tables due to the soft ground surface.
Prohibited
Gathering firewood
Firewood is not supplied and may not be collected from the park.
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
Beach Road picnic area is in Seven Mile Beach National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal culture
The park’s beach, forest and wetland environments near Coomonderry Swamp were once important sources of food and materials for Aboriginal people. Part of the Dharawal language group, they had strong associations with other groups north to Sydney, inland to the southern highlands and south as far as Gippsland in Victoria. Today, you can see shell middens along the length of the foredune and in the forest. There are also several important ceremonial and culturally significant sites for Aboriginal people within the park.
- Then and now: Aboriginal culture Aboriginal culture then and now is a Stage 1 (Years 1-2) school excursion in Seven Mile Beach National Park, focusing on HSIE. Through story and creative expression, the life and culture of the local people are shared.
Aviation history
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith started his historic 1933 trans-Tasman flight to New Plymouth in New Zealand from Seven Mile Beach. This flight led to the inauguration of the trans-Tasman airmail service, making Seven Mile Beach a significant place in aviation history. In November 1933, Kingsford Smith ran passenger flights from the beach and in 1934, he used it for an emergency landing.
It's a wild world
For animal-lovers, Seven Mile Beach National Park has lots to offer. There are great birdwatching opportunities in the tall forests and at Coomonderry Swamp. Rainbow lorikeets, king parrots, and rosellas can all be seen, whilst thornbills, wrens, New Holland honeyeaters and brown cuckoo doves are also in abundance. There are also plenty of small mammals to see, such as antechinus and a range of tree-dwelling mammal species. As you wander through the forests, keep your eyes out for the greater gliders found in the park. Gliders are best seen at night, so be sure to enquire about a spotlight walk with NPWS Discovery Ranger.
- Sand track walk (north) Take the Sand track walk through the forest and admire the birdlife at Seven Mile Beach National Park, near Nowra. Pack a picnic lunch, and enjoy sweeping views at the end.
Unique landscape
This park supports several significant and endangered natural habitats. The forests are one of the last intact areas of Bangalay and blackbutt sand dune forest on the south coast. Coomonderry Swamp is also the only large semi-permanent freshwater wetland on the south coast. The area is significant as it shows a relatively intact example of a large scale dune barrier formed during the end of the last ice age, approximately 6000 years ago.
- Sand track walk (north) Take the Sand track walk through the forest and admire the birdlife at Seven Mile Beach National Park, near Nowra. Pack a picnic lunch, and enjoy sweeping views at the end.
- Sand track walk (south) Take the Sand track walk through the ancient and untouched forest at Seven Mile Beach National Park, near Nowra, where you can go fishing, swimming, birdwatching and picnic.