Mangrove walk
Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve
Overview
An easy walk offering great birdwatching opportunities, Mangrove walk is partly along an elevated boardwalk, giving an insight into the unusual dune formations.
- Accessibility
- Hard
- Distance
- 1km loop
- Time suggested
- 15 - 45min
- Grade
- Grade 3
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- Drinking water is not available in this area
- Shore birds are best seen on low tide, so check the tides charts beforehand.
Right beside Cullendulla Beach, the Mangrove walk is the only one of its kind in the entire area. Raised boardwalks thread through the marine park sanctuary zone of Cullendulla Creek.
At low tide, Australian white ibises forage in the sand here, while large groups of solider crabs march back and forth. The track also passes swamp oak forest, an endangered ecological community. Bring some binoculars and take advantage of the bench seats along the way for a round of birdwatching.
Signs along the walk help you get the most out of any visit, highlighting features like the unusual dune formations called ‘cheniers.’ These scenic ridges contain a staggering 7000 years of shoreline changes stored in their sand.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://uat.nswparks.cloud/things-to-do/walking-tracks/mangrove-walk/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 Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve in the South Coast region
Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve 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 Mangrove walk.
Maps and downloads
Learn more
Mangrove walk is in Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal culture
Cullendulla Creek holds several ancient Aboriginal midden sites, including rarely recorded mounded midden sites. The Mangrove walk is a great way to engage with the past lives of people here, weaving through areas where mud oysters, mussels and shellfish were once collected.
Birdwatchers' haven
Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve is home to mangrove estuary (and two mangrove species, the grey and river mangroves), forest red gums, littoral rainforest, and sea grass beds. The reserve is also a fish nursery for the Clyde River. Unsurprisingly then, a substantial mix of forest and shorebirds visit the area annually, including white ibises, curlews, two species of spoonbill and several of duck. Migratory birds come from as far away as Russia, taking refuge in the warm weather.
- Square Head track 1 This short walk offers rich rewards, leading to the entrance of Cullendulla Creek, perfect for an afternoon picnic and swim near the shorebirds.
- Tomaree Coastal Walk Explore a mountain summit, beaches, rock platforms, and Worimi Aboriginal culture on this multi-day adventure along Tomaree Coastal Walk.
Remarkable dune formations
The nature reserve contains important and unusual dune formations called cheniers. Roughly parallel to the shoreline, these long, low (3-6m) and narrow ridges overlay estuarine mud and are of great scientific interest for the information they provide about the evolving landscape - some 7000 years worth of changes. There are nine beach ridges at Cullendulla; the most northerly two are cheniers. Though they're not directly visible to visitors, a fascinating boardwalk tracks through the mangrove estuary, accompanied by signs which offer a keen insight into the local ecosystem. For the best overview, visit in both high and low tide and compare the differences.
- Mangrove walk An easy walk offering great birdwatching opportunities, Mangrove walk is partly along an elevated boardwalk, giving an insight into the unusual dune formations.