Local Trail - Wharf to Wharf

Wharf to Wharf (30km one way)

Getting there

Start is Merimbula Wharf and finish in Tathra Wharf.

The track

There are many different ways to run between Merimbula and Tathra! This was our journey when myself and two other SCR Glenn and Pete ran from Merimbula Wharf to Tathra Wharf.

Starting at the beautiful Merimbula Wharf (make sure you touch the wharf and get a photo) head along Lake Street until you reach the public school and turn right onto Randolph Street. At the end of the road before it goes left and up the hill go right down the drive way and onto the Mundooi trail.

Follow this for around 3km (at one section you need to head left to stay on the trail- don’t loop back to Short Point) and you will pop out at a car park - here we turned right and then at the toilet block turned left to be on the Tura Beach golf course.

Run along this golf hole parallel to the beach then head left and follow the fence line of the houses- this will lead you on a dirt then road path back onto the road which is pacific way in Tura beach.

Follow this for about a km before you reach a dirt road on your right taking you down to the beach- run down here until the road splits into two - take the left hand trail and then follow this through the bushland - when in doubt go straight! You will cross a pretty dodgy bridge (1 at a time!) and eventually pop out at the top of Tura headland - here head up onto the road and follow the streets until you reach Sapphire Coast Drive. Turn right here and then turn right to head down to north Tura beach- its a lovely dirt road - follow this down to the signs about Bournda Island- follow the trail to the island and then continue until you reach stairs to take you onto the beach. Here you have 2 options- you can run straight along the beach to the other end to reach the stairs (about 2-3km of sand running) Or run around 400m before heading left to find the beach access that takes you into the car park- run up and through the car park until you see a trail on your right- follow this through the bush until you reach the Bournda camp ground. Here head towards the lake until it is right in front of you- then head north (keep the lake on your left) - you may get wet feet! Until you reach the opening to the ocean- its about 2kms of running.

Look for a set of stairs- this set of stairs will be the access you also find if you head straight along the beach.

Climb the stairs and then head right to hop onto the Kagaruthra Trail.

This is a tricky and technical trail with lots of stairs! Follow this for nearly 3km until you reach a dirt road- White Rock Road- where you need to turn a sharp left to follow the road up the hill- this road takes you all the way up to Evans Hill crossing various MTB trails and popping out at the flowers of the memorial garden at the top of the hill - here head right and follow the MTB sign that says “Back to Base” follow this until you see another sign the says fire shed 70m and follow that arrow (don’t go to 50 shades!) you are now at the Tathra fire shed and nearly there. Head down the main road into Tathra and follow the signs to the wharf.

Don’t forget to get a photo of the wharf and touch it when you finish!

Difficulty

Difficult (includes stairs and sand)

Connections

There are many points along the way that are accessible by vehicle and you could arrange an earlier pickup point.

Special Note:

This is a variation of a walk promoted on the following webpage: https://www.wharftowharfwalk.com.au/

Our variation covers more distance on trails and less on beach sand. The second section of the walk (near Tathra) also travels further inland.