Why the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk is the Perfect Gateway into Multi-Day Hiking

While looking for an easy way to dip her toe into a solo adventure that’s light on logistics, Explorer Vanessa tackled this coastal walk over two weekends. 

We Are Explorers acknowledge that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Gumbayngir 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.

Quick Overview

Set on the stunning beaches of NSW’s Mid North Coast, the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk is a great trail for Explorers of every skill level.

Not to mention all the great opportunities for a dip!

Solitary Islands Coastal Walk Quick Facts

Distance: 60km
Duration: 3-4 days
Towns: Red Rock, Corindi, Woolgoolga, Sandy Beach, Emerald Beach, Moonee Beach, Coffs Harbour, and Sawtell

About the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk

The Solitary Islands Coastal Walk covers the coastline of Solitary Islands Marine Park, which encompasses a string of islands called, you guessed it, the Solitary Islands. 

The 60km walk stretches from Red Rock in the north to Sawtell in the south, traversing beaches and headlands while passing through small towns along the Coffs Coast. 

You’ll be walking on Gumbayngir Country. There’s a lot of local Indigenous history to be discovered along the way, so make sure you stop and read the signs. Or better yet, do some reading before you set out!

The whole trail takes between three to four days to complete. It can also be broken up into smaller sections and completed over one or two days, based on your preference and skill level. To do this, you’ll need to be mindful of the trail entry points from Arrawarra Headland, Woolgoolga Beach, Emerald Beach, Diggers Beach, and Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve when you’re planning your route. 

This was my first ever overnight walk, and because I work full time, I decided to split the whole adventure over two weekends. This allowed me to fit it within my schedule but also gently ease my way into the world of multi-day hiking.

Mullawarra on the way to Woolgoolga

How to Get to the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk

The easiest way to get to the trailhead of the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk is to organise a lift to the starting point in Red Rock. Arrange to get dropped off outside the Reflections Red Rock Holiday Park on Lawson St. Once you’re there you’ll see signs directing you to Red Rock Beach where the trail officially starts.

If you’re not from the area, the 393 bus from Coffs Harbour will get you to Corindi Beach in just over an hour. This does mean you’ll miss the first section of the walk from Red Rock, but you’ll still see most of it. Or you can grab a taxi/Uber from Coffs. The drive will take just under 40 minutes. 

While the coastal walk can be walked north to south or south to north, it’s recommended to start in the north at Red Rock and work your way down so the sun is at your back while you make the journey.

Getting started at Red Rock

Where to Stay on the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk

Depending on the total distance you want to cover and the gear you want to carry in your pack, there are a couple of accommodation options.

You can camp with all the associated conveniences in established caravan parks at Woolgoolga, Emerald Beach, Moonee Beach, Park Beach, and Sawtell. This’ll require you to carry your sleeping gear with you.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Hostels are a cheap alternative if you don’t want to carry any sleeping gear. This was the option that I chose for my first overnight walk. I stayed at Woopi Backpackers. For high-end Explorers, motels or Airbnb may be an option if you are doing the walk with mates and can split costs.

Skill Level

Intermediate

The Solitary Islands Coastal Walk is categorised as a Grade 4 trail and is recommended for people with some bushwalking experience. It doesn’t take much planning to prepare for this trail. You’ll need to sort out your accommodation and check the tide charts for the best walking experience (low or outgoing tide is what you want to aim for), but otherwise it’s smooth sailing.

If you want to make this a more challenging walk, you can extend the journey by combining it with the Yuraygir Coastal Walk that extends into the Clarence Valley region and Country of the Yaegl people. It’ll add another 65km to the journey and will throw some extra logistical challenges at you, like negotiating river crossings. 

Check out how Wendy and her mates combined the Yuraygir and Solitary Islands Coastal Walks: Coffs Harbour to Yamba: 125km of Coastal Hiking

Mullawarra headland

Essential Gear for Solitary Islands Coastal Walk

• Water
• Snacks
• Hat, glasses, sunscreen, and protective clothing – sun safety is key!
• Swimmers – these are a must!
• Warm gear – even if the forecast is sunny. Beaches are exposed and if the wind is strong you’ll want to keep yourself warm. I wore a windcheater for a whole day despite the temperature being warm and humid – a drizzle and onshore winds made sure I was chilled to the bone. 

Mullawarra looking gorgeous and warm despite being cool

Depending on how keen you are to make the most of the water you may also want to pack a snorkel. Or if you’re really, really, keen, you could carry a surfboard if you know there’ll be good swell. There are heaps of great surf spots on the way including Emerald Beach, Moonee Beach, Diggers Beach, Park Beach… there are a lot of beaches!

Read more: Staying Safe on Coastal Rock Platforms

What It’s Like to Hike the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk

This is primarily a beach walk so be prepared for sand… everywhere. 

The trail has easily distinguishable lighthouse track markers to guide your way.

There’s a high chance of spotting dolphins on the entire coastline, and there are plenty of docile kangaroos along the Look At Me Now Headland section. Depending on the season you may even see migrating Humpback whales cruising close to the coast.

Weekend 1

Day 1 – Red Rock to Woolgoolga

Distance: 16km
Duration: 3.5 – 4 hours

On day one I was dropped off in Red Rock with my day pack on my back and blue skies above. On the stretch of beach from Red Rock to Corindi, I discovered beautiful tea tree lakes just behind the dunes that reflected the sky, sun, and clouds back on itself like a mirror. These spots were stunning and perfect to stop at for water and snack breaks. 

McDougall’s Lookout between Red Rock and Corindi

I finished this leg of the walk in Woolgoolga and decided to stay at the Woopi Backpackers, so that I could keep my pack light and do a bit of socialising. I arrived by lunchtime and set about making some new friends. I indulged in an afternoon swim, fish and chips for dinner, a hot shower, and an early night in preparation for the next day.

Day 2 – Woolgoolga to Moonee Beach

Distance: 15.4km
Duration: 3 – 3.5 hours

I started day two walking in light rain but it soon cleared as the wind picked up. The first landmark on this leg of the walk was Hearns Lake. Next was Sandy Beach where I stopped in at the Sandy General Store for breakfast and a coffee. Then it was on to Fiddamans Beach and Emerald Beach (another great place for a coffee!). 

If you want to call it a day early then you could set up camp at the Emerald Caravan Park. Emerald Main Beach and Back Beach are great surf spots. Otherwise, it’s a straight stretch of beach from Emerald’s Look At Me Now Headland to the mouth of the estuary at Moonee Beach. This is where I called it quits and organised a lift home. 

The estuary is tidal and my plan to cross at low tide worked perfectly. By the time I got there the tea-tree coloured water was flowing out to sea. I unlaced my boots, shimmied out of my shorts, and crossed the thigh-high water. Easy. High tide would have been a different story, so make sure you plan for this.

Walking towards Moonee Beach | @emmaaregan

Weekend 2

Day 3 – Moonee Beach to Coffs Harbour Jetty

Distance: 13.4km
Time: 2.5 – 3 hours

I picked up where I left off the week before, starting at Moonee Beach and continuing my journey south. If the bridge at Moonee Beach (which gives you access to the headland and back beach) is closed, you’ll need to walk (or swim) across the creek to continue from here. Current alerts regarding the bridge closure are provided by NSW Parks and Wildlife. 

After exploring White Bluff Headland at Sapphire Beach to escape the sun, I sat in the shade, and did some journaling. I had a better idea of how fast I could cover the distance now so I decided to ease into the day and take my time. 

Charlesworth Bay was an unexpected hidden gem. Walking through the rainforest then through the back of the dune, weaving between paperbarks, I was greeted by the glistening ocean that appeared between the trees.

By this time I was starting to get hungry, but there were plenty of options for food in my future! Diggers Beach to Park Beach meant a coffee cart and snacky foods like banana bread, muffins, and smoothies. Park Beach to the jetty brought options including burgers, fish and chips, toasties, ice cream, plus more cafés up on the strip. It was also great for a swim.

The day turned out hotter than expected and there was no wind so I decided to save the tail end of the walk, the 6km stretch of Boambee Beach from Coffs Harbour to Sawtell, for another day and arranged to get picked up early. To be continued!

Read more: How To Hike in Hot Weather

One final swim by the jetty at Coffs Harbour was the perfect way to end the day | @nicole.banks.writing

Tips for Hiking the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk

• There’s a private beach at Korora that needs to be diverted so keep an eye out for the markers to help stay on the right route
• Towns are well equipped with food and drink options. I packed snacks and two litres of water each day just to be safe, as the temperature was warm. Lunch and dinners were had in towns along the way. Just be mindful of when you will get in, especially if walking on Sunday, as cafes often close by 2pm, and many restaurants don’t open until 5pm
• If you’re planning on bringing a furry friend, keep in mind that while most of the beaches are dog-friendly there are sections of beach that aren’t. For this option you’ll need to divert your route, which may have you walking sections of road
• Some beaches are 4WD-accessible so keep your wits about you and stay clear of oncoming vehicles that may not see you straight away
• This walk is not wheelchair accessible, however there are short stretches on the route that are accessible and suitable for prams as well

FAQs Solitary Islands Coastal Walk

Where is the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk?

The Solitary Islands Coastal Walk passes through the towns of Red Rock, Corindi, Woolgoolga, Sandy Beach, Emerald Beach, Moonee Beach, Coffs Harbour, and Sawtell on the NSW Mid North Coast. 

How long is the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk?

The Solitary Islands Coastal Walk is 60km in length.

Is the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk suitable for beginners?

The Solitary Islands Coastal Walk is a Grade 4 walk, which means it’s more suited to people with hiking experience. This is because of the length of the walk and the need to plan around incoming tides.