Pebbly Beach Loop – a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

Summary: Pebbly Beach Loop is a short and fun coastal walk from Pebbly Beach around the headland to the east to Little Pebbles Beach, Must be done at low tide.

Trailhead: Starts from Pebbly Beach carpark
Distance: 2.8km
Duration: 1-2 hours
Grade: Moderate
55m total ascent
Route type: Loop
Best season/s: All year
Low tide essential
Topographic map/s: 8926-1N KIOLOA - Buy / Download
Online map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/pretty-beach-loop-96c9745
No Dogs
No mountain bikes

Having done the Durras Mountain loop from Pretty Beach a few days earlier, I’m back to do the missing piece – from Pebbly Beach to the junction with the Durras Mountain track. The Pebbly Beach Loop which I end up doing follows the official track from Pebbly Beach to Little Pebbles (or Burns Bay), then returns along the coast. It’s definitely a bushwalk you need to do at low tide – even at low tide there were some tricky sections. The signposted and ofiicial track starts at the eastern end of Pebbly Beach; it’s about 1.7km to Clear Point, where the coast track meets the Durras Mountain track, and 1.4km to Little Pebbles.

AWAT7550 LR Pebbly Beach Loop - a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

AWAT7553 LR Pebbly Beach Loop - a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

The track passes behind the Pebbly Beach cabins, before ascending the headland at the eastern end of Pebbly Beach.

AWAT7555 LR Pebbly Beach Loop - a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

The coast track then decends through the tall forest to Little Pebbles Beach on the other side of the headland.

AWAT7559 LR Pebbly Beach Loop - a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

AWAT7560 LR Pebbly Beach Loop - a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

Rather than returning the same way from Little Pebbles, I head back along the rocky coastline.

AWAT7561 LR Pebbly Beach Loop - a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

It’s initially easy and quick walking along the broad and flat rocky platform, with Little Pebbles soon far behind me.

AWAT7565 LR Pebbly Beach Loop - a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

As I get closer to the tip of the headland, the rock platform between the ocean and sheer cliffs gets narrower and more exposed to the waves.

The most challenging section of the Pebbly Beach Loop

I continue along the coastline, with a little trepidation as the gap between the cliffs and the ocean gets narrower. Although it’s low tide and there’s no risk of getting swept into the sea, I need to cross a small cave in the cliffline that’s wet and slippery.

AWAT7578 LR Pebbly Beach Loop - a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

I’m relieved to get around the tip of the headland and beyond the cliffs, where the rocky shore is again wide and a little higher above the crashing waves.

AWAT7584 LR Pebbly Beach Loop - a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

I pass some rockpools and a few people fishing off the rocks, as I make good progress back to Pebbly Beach.

AWAT7589 LR Pebbly Beach Loop - a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

I’m soon back at Pebbly Beach where I enjoy a quick swim. It’s taken about 45min for the 3km Pebbly Beach Loop, but you might want to allow a bit more time to explore Little Pebbles. It’s definitely a walk you need to do very close to low tide, and be ready to turn back if you don’t feel comfortable crossing the exposed section of the coast at the tip of the headland.

AWAT7590 LR Pebbly Beach Loop - a fun but challenging coastal bushwalk

Getting to the Pebbly Beach Loop

The Pebbly Beach Loop starts from Pebbly Beach, which is accessed via the Princes Highway, between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay on the south coast of NSW (about 3.5 hours drive from Sydney). There’s an official bushwalking track from Pebbly Beach to Littles Pebbles / Burns Bay over the headland; there is no track or route along the coastline below the headland.