4 Hikes in Meroo National Park That Left Us Hooked!

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Yuin people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Where the bloody hell is Meroo?

My partner, Jeff, has often spoken of a magical spot he’d visited as a kid, camping right on the beach and exploring the surrounding bush, but he could never remember what it was called. Then one day, the mention of Meroo sparked his excitement – that was the place! 

We absolutely had to visit, and after a bit of research on the best way to explore the area, we decided on a weekend camping trip filled with beautiful hikes.

Meroo National Park was the perfect place to take our new Oboz Katabatic Low hiking shoes for a spin. While coastal hikes sound lovely, they can be quite demanding on your feet as you cover a large variety of terrain, from sharp rock to soft sand.

@jeffimsheroky

The Oboz Katabatic hiking shoes provide the much-needed combo of agility and support for navigating this type of ever-changing terrain, making it the perfect shoe for hiking around Meroo. We found them so comfy that they ended up becoming the only shoes we wore all weekend – for every trail we hiked (and even those late-night stumbles to the bathroom with a head torch). 

How to Get to Meroo National Park

Meroo National Park extends down the South Coast of NSW, just south of Ulladulla. The best way to get there is by car, approximately a 3.5 hour drive from Sydney or 2.5 hours from Canberra.

Where to Stay at Meroo National Park

The ideal way to experience Meroo National Park is to camp. All the campgrounds are very close to the beach and have basic facilities such as toilets and picnic tables. They’re remote campgrounds so be prepared! A small booking fee of $6 applies. 

• Sunburnt Beach Campground – A short walk from the car park, tents only, small sites (so not good for groups), not all cars may be able to access after wet weather 
• Termeil Point Campground – Able to camp beside vehicles 
• Meroo Head Campground – Larger campground, a short walk from car park to the campsites, tents only
• There are plenty of caravan parks nearby if the campgrounds in the national park are full. I recommend staying near Lake Tabourie or Dolphin Point/Burrill Lake 

Essential Gear for Hiking in Meroo National Park

• Oboz Katabatic Hiking Shoes – they’re super comfy, lightweight, versatile, and durable, meaning you have the flexibility to go on extended hikes over rough terrain or a short quick bush walk to find a beautiful spot for sunrise
• Snorkel and flippers – for exploring the beautiful beaches
• Swimmers – a must!
• Towel – a microfibre towel works great for hiking trips as it packs up small and dries fast
• A change of clothes – consider what clothes will be easy to change on the go when you’re alternating between swimming and hiking, you want to be comfortable for both! Don’t forget a spare pair of socks for hiking just in case you get yours sandy or wet
• Insect repellent + hiking first aid kit
• Plenty of drinking water – there’s no water available for drinking at the campgrounds so make sure you bring your own
• Firewood – bring your own and minimise your impact to the area
• Camping gear – you’ll want all your usual car camping gear including everything you need for sleeping and cooking

@jeffimsheroky

Hikes Around Meroo National Park

1. Sunburnt Beach to Meroo Head Lookout and Secret Beach

Distance: 6km return
Duration: 2 hours

Leaving our campsite at Sunburnt Beach Campground, we walked south along the beach towards Termeil Point. If the tide is high (but you’re walking on), head via the track to Termeil Point Campground rather than along the beach as access can be difficult.

We explored both the ocean and Termeil Lake, which sit side-by-side, crossing the sand between them and enjoying many beautiful spots for a swim with no one else in sight. The ‘trail’ that continues is just along Termeil Beach itself. We felt the burn in our calf muscles as we crossed the wide sandy beach spanning all the way down to Meroo Head, but the Oboz Katabatic Low hiking shoes helped support our feet as we powered on.

Towards the end of the beach we found a small set of stairs leading up into the bush towards Meroo Head Campground. Following the signs to the lookout brought us to a spectacular ocean view, I was surprised to find that we could see all the way across to Pigeon House Mountain. From this spot if you look down upon Meroo Head you can see the secret beach which was our next stop!

@jeffimsheroky

To access the secret beach, we walked back down to Termeil Beach and followed the rocks around Meroo Head. This led us to the super cute sandy cove, perfect for a little private picnic lunch before heading back to Sunburnt Beach. If you’re keen for more you can always continue your walk onto Meroo Lake or Nuggan Point Walking Tracks.

2. Tabourie Village Track

Distance: 5km loop
Duration: 1 hour

This fairly short and easy hike, along a combination of sand and bush trails, winds its way around both Sunburnt Beach Campground and Termeil Point Campground giving a great feel for the area.

@jeffimsheroky

This was one of my favourite trails of the weekend because of the adorable friends we made along the way. We saw so many Swamp wallabies through the bush here, especially around dawn and dusk. A lot of them had younger ones with them; some even had little joeys peeking from their pouches.

The Tabourie Village Track officially starts from South St in Lake Tabourie, but we started the loop at Sunburnt Beach Campground. The full track is a great alternative to get to Lake Tabourie instead of walking along Tabourie Beach.

3. Dolphin Point Loop

Distance: 4km loop
Duration: 1-2 hours

The short trail around Dolphin Point extends on from the previous hike (or begins at Burrill Lake car park) and involves a lot of rock scrambling to explore. While it isn’t overly challenging, good shoes are a must for navigating the sharp and often slippery rocks.

Read more: Staying Safe on Coastal Rock Platforms

The Oboz Katabatic hiking shoes provided great protection for our feet from the harsh ground and gripped really well on the wet rocks, allowing us to do all the scrambling and exploring we desired without hesitation or discomfort. The right gear can really make a difference in preventing any little slips or missteps.

Soon into the hike you’ll be met with incredible views of a large rock shelf and the chance to view the ocean in all its power. We sat for what felt like hours watching the waves crashing into the rock and spilling over creating a waterfall effect back into the ocean. We even spotted a seal exploring the waters around the point too!

Walking further around the point revealed some slightly calmer waters and plenty of rock pools to explore. Aside from a lone surfer navigating the waves and a small family exploring the rock pools, we had the place to ourselves. The incredible sights and moments of serenity made the journey absolutely worth it.

4. Sunburnt Beach to Burrill Lake

Distance: 18km return
Duration: 4-5 hours

The next hike was much longer and more challenging, but trust me, it’s worth it. Why is it so difficult? The majority of the hike is along the beach which means a LOT of sand.

From Sunburnt Beach Campground the trail leads north, passing Stokes Island where you often see people fishing off the rock outcrop. The walk along Tabourie Beach is long but the water and views are beautiful as you approach Crampton Island.

The beach at Crampton Island was my favourite spot over the whole weekend. The island lies at the point of two connecting beaches – Tabourie Beach and Wairo Beach. The waves from these two beaches intersect at the sand bar where you can (carefully) walk out to Crampton Island and explore the tiny charming place.

Stop in at Lake Tabourie Beach for calmer, clear waters perfect for a relaxing swim before continuing up Wairo Beach. This eventually takes you to Dolphin Point where you can either explore the Dolphin Point Loop or relax at Burrill Lake before heading back to the campsite.

Tips for Hiking at Meroo National Park

• Choose your footwear wisely – the Oboz Katabatic hiking shoes are some great lightweight shoes with good support and grip, all the things you want to support you on your adventures and keep you safe
• Check your tides – don’t be silly and check those tides before you head out. There are a few places which can become impassable at high tide and we don’t want anyone getting caught off guard!
• Be prepared – take it slow especially on those really hot days and make sure you have plenty of water and sun protection to get you through. A little first aid kit in the backpack is always a good idea
• Leave no trace – be respectful, there are a few areas blocked off to able vegetation to regrow. Make sure you take all your rubbish with you (carry a rubbish bag with you along your hikes if you need to) and always leave the place better than you found it
• Make the most of it – I loved finding some of the best spots for a refreshing dip in the water to break up the hike – what a way to recharge along the way

@jeffimsheroky

Feature image by @jeffimsheroky