Meet a local, Bushwalking in the Shire series
Welcome to Walk this Way, a series showcasing the beautiful bushwalks to be discovered in the Eurobodalla Shire.
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While most walking tracks in this area are unmarked, we've asked some of the shire's most experienced bushwalkers to give us the inside scoop on their favourite walks and how to get to them.
This week, Batemans Bay Bushwalking Club member Brian Mercer shares his recommendation for a nature escape, close enough to town for a coffee break: the Surf Beach to Mckenzies Beach Track.
Eurobodalla shire residents are lucky to have nature right on their doorsteps, pretty much no matter where they live.
For Batemans Bay Bushwalking Club member Brian Mercer, one of the shire's most scenic walks is not too far from his home in Surf Beach.
"This walk is arguably as scenic a walk as you can get, it follows the clifftops of Mckenzies right along the coast, on to Malua Bay, Garden Bay, Mosquito Bay, through to Circuit Beach at Lilli Pilli and eventually Surf Beach," he said.
"A lot of people don't know you can do the whole walk along the cliffs and the beaches are absolutely stunning."
A bonus for sticky beaks is the stunning clifftop homes you walk past along the way.
"On your right it's beach views from the clifftops, out to the Tollgates and across the bay and to the left you're passing beautiful houses," he said.
"It's not private land and the trail is fairly well-worn along the way."
Mr Mercer said the walk had great whale watching vantage points along the way and you could often spot sea eagles, dolphins and other marine life.
"On the land you'll come across some reptiles, sometimes goannas and echidnas - it's surprising how many animals live in such close proximity to houses," he said.
Other than the epic scenery and nature, Mr Mercer said this walk also benefited from it's closeness to town.
"It's a little bit of an unusual one because it is a bushwalk in suburbia, whereas most are in national parks," he said
"You get to appreciate the beautiful nature while not being too far from home."
Brian's guide to Mckenzies to Surf Beach trail
10-11km, easy
This walk is mostly flat, the only real hill is from Grandfathers Gully up to the top of the hill, but otherwise you don't need to be particularly fit.
It will take about three to four hours depending on your pace, and it's a nice one to meander along on an afternoon.
For long sections of the bushwalk it there is an easy, well-worn track to follow but some of the tracks take a little more work to find.
If doing it for the first time it would be good to do it with someone who knows the area, but Google maps can also help you out.
Around Mosquito Bay there is a cafe which is a good point to stop for a break, and from there you need to walk a little around the road to find the track again.
READ MORE:
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- Walk this way: Bengello Beach the perfect spot for an easy forest track
- Walk this way: Discover the history of the shire at Gulaga