Beecroft Weapons Range, located on New South Wales’ south coast is full of wildlife, stunning beaches and hiking tracks. This area owned by the Royal Australian Navy is more like Booderee National Park’s northern cousin.
The most well-known beach in the area is Honeymoon Bay. This tiny bay is known for its relaxed currents, clear blue water and cozy feel. It’s one of the best places to camp and relax at, year round. Before going to Honeymoon Bay and Beecroft Weapons range for the first time, I didn’t know what to expect walking onto a Navy base. This guide was created to help others navigate the area, and enjoy the outdoors on NSW’s beautiful south coast.
This guide has everything visitors need to know about Beecroft Weapons Range. It includes how to get there, what it’s about, what to do, see and visit around the area.
Table of Contents
About Beecroft Weapons Range
Before planning a trip to Honeymoon Bay, I couldn’t find much information about the area online. It turns out there’s a lot more to the area than just the cozy bay. BWR covers about 4,200 hectares (10,380 acres) of Beecroft Peninsula, which is the northern headland of Jervis Bay. However it’s not all publicly accessible.
It’s also just north of Booderee National Park, so if you’ve been there, you can expect similar landscape, and wildlife.
As mentioned, BWR is owned by the Royal Australian Navy, which regularly uses the area for training activities, including defence weapons. This has been going on for (literally) hundreds of years. When the Navy isn’t using the area for these activities, it’s open for public use.
To know when the area is open to the public, call to the Defence Environmental Rangers at 4448 3411.
It may be open entire days, or just a few hours within specific days. Just call ahead regardless to check.
Due to the fact that it’s a weapons range first, beware of possible unexploded ordnance. See BWR’s cute 90s-style information flyer for the full run-down. The flyer also includes information on other hazards, such as cliffs, wildlife, unpatrolled beaches and more.
It is possible to both drive and cycle in BWR. Conventional vehicles are permitted, but the unsealed roads are rough in certain areas.
How to Get to Beecroft Weapons Range
From my first trip to Beecroft Weapons Range, I learnt Google Maps doesn’t even know how to get there. Because the area isn’t always publicly accessible, most of the roads are gated off. The only way to get into the area is through the Ranger Station on Currarong Rd and Lighthouse Rd in Beecroft Peninsula.
From this point, after passing through the Ranger Station, visitors are free to venture through the publicly accessible areas only. Non-public areas are clearly marked. As you’re going through the station, the security guards or rangers will hand some of those 90s-style flyers for the trip.
Sightseeing
BWR has more to offer than just the stunning Honeymoon Bay. Point Perpendicular Lighthouse at the most southern end of the peninsula has phenomenal views out to the ocean. There’s loads of historical significance for the lighthouse as well.
There’s more to this spot than just a well-maintained lighthouse, though. During the winter months around Jervis Bay, migrating whales pass by the area. This is about from mid-May to mid-November.
The view from the lighthouse is the perfect lookout to see some of these whales. And, on a clear day it’s possible to see across the water towards Bowen Island and Booderee National Park. Bowen Island is closed for public access as it houses a colony of tiny penguins, so keep your eyes open for any of these hanging near the ocean.
Beaches
All of the beaches in BWR are on the western side of the peninsula. The most popular and most well-known beach in the area is Honeymoon Bay. It’s not the only beach though, and whether going for a swim or not, check out the other beaches on this list.
Beaches are listed from north to south and I have only included the beaches with less than a 1 km walk to the beach. Check out the walking section below for more. Keep in mind that all of the beaches in BWR are unpatrolled and may have swimming hazards present.
Cabbage Tree Beach
Starting off at the northern end of BWR’s beaches, is Cabbage Tree Beach. There’s a decent sized parking lot, and a small board walk to the beach. The walk itself down to the beach is only a few minutes. There’s also a picnic table on the boardwalk.
This beach has Jervis Bay’s typically beautiful white sand and clear blue water. It’s perfect for swimming and snorkelling with the clean and clear water.
When the tide is out, it’s possible to walk along the rocks to the right side of the beach. There’s often sea life on or around the volcanic-looking rocks (photos above). However no fishing or collecting of bait or marine resources is permitted due to the Marine Park Sanctuary Zone, at the beach.
Long Beach North and South
In BWR Long Beach is accessed by both a northern and southern parking lot. The beach is a bright white and blue, just like its northern neighbour Cabbage Tree Beach. It’s equally great for swimming and snorkelling in the sparkling water.
There’s a few picnic tables in between the parking lot and the beach, the perfect place for a meal away from the sand. The northern end of the beach is also protected by the Marine Park Sanctuary Zone.
Bindijine Beach
This beach may look a bit confusing to pronounce, but it’s another westerly facing beach in the area. There’s a small walk from the parking lot to the beach.
This parking lot is nearly always full during the summer months because it’s shared with Honeymoon Bay. The two beaches are just a small walk apart. There is a campsite at Bindijine, but bookings are by prior arrangement only.
Honeymoon Bay
This is one of the beaches Jervis Bay is most known for. Because it’s a bay, the water itself is much calmer than any of the other beaches in the area. The sand at the beach is also slightly darker than other beaches. Much different to its southern neighbours, which Jervis Bay’s white sand is known for.
Surprisingly, this is also one of the smallest beaches in BWR. And it’s another reason why the beach is so full during the summer months. Check out the neighbouring grassy area for local wallabies. There is also a campground at Honeymoon Bay with basic camping facilities. See below for more information on the campground!
Walks
Despite BWR being relatively flat, the walking tracks in the area are diverse and expansive. What helps with the diversity to these walks is the cliffs, rocks and rainforest throughout the area.
These walks are another option to exploring different views within BWR. All kilometres include the return trip back to the parking lot or other beginning point to the trail.
Green Point – 2.5 km Easy
This is the most northern publicly accessible part of BWR. The track, which begins at Green Point parking lot follows a shaded path. The trail then passes through a wild rainforest area, before reaching Green Point. Stay on the path to protect this delicate ecosystem.
Green Point is known as a good spot to watch waterbirds that migrate during the summer months. The water area is also protected by the Marine Park Sanctuary Zone.
Long Beach South to Figtree Inlet – 1.5 km, Medium difficulty
This walk to Figtree Inlet takes visitors to a small secluded beach. Surrounding the beach is a littoral rainforest which gives a cozy feel. Different from other walks in this section, is this walk goes via a rock platform down the beach.
Target Beach – 4 km, Medium difficulty
The walk to Target Beach is a through a sweet and shaded walk. It passes by more littoral rainforest, with fragrant Eucalypt forest—especially on a warm day. The beach itself has views towards Point Perpendicular and avoids north-easterly winds.
Silica Cove – 6 km, Medium difficulty
This walking track is one of three 6 km walks in the area. Silica Cove itself is a sheltered and secluded beach. White-bellied sea eagles nest in nearby trees atop an ancient dune system. The beach itself has remnants and culture significance to the local aboriginal people. Silica Cove is the most southern part of Dart Point, which is also accessible by the walking track.
Little Target Beach – 6 km, Medium difficulty
Little Target Beach is across the inlet from Target Beach. The track leads to Fishermans Beach, which you guessed is a good and scenic fishing spot.
There’s a difficult rock scramble to get to Fishermans beach, if you’re not up for it just keep heading towards Little Target Beach. The latter is the rock platform to the right of Fishermans Beach. These beaches can be dangerous for swimming, especially so for high tides and large waves.
Boat Harbour – 6 km, Medium difficulty
This walking track begins off of Lighthouse Road, the main road through BWR. Beginning at the somewhat flat a dry terrain, it leads through scrublands and heath before reaching Boat Harbour. The harbour is sandy beach on a secluded sheltered embayment. There’s views out towards Bowen Island and Murrays Beach across Jervis Bay.
Outer Tubes – 2 km return, Difficult
Beginning at the Point Perpendicular Lighthouse parking lot, the walking track goes down the torpedo tubes. These tubes were installed during World War II to protect Jervis ay from enemy attacks. What’s left is rusted remains, which shouldn’t be disturbed due to their connection to the local heritage. At the end of the trail there is a composting toilet and rubbish bins.
The walking track is a medium difficulty in the beginning, then moves to difficult. This easier first section of the trail heads through heath to a viewing area with a bench. After this is when the difficulty increases, and it changes to very steep with loose surfaces and stairs. For this reason the trail isn’t recommended for small children.
Camping
There’s only two options for camping in Beecroft Weapons Range area. Both are close to each other and have similar facilities. For information on Bindijine Campground, contact the Defence Environmental Rangers directly.
Honeymoon Bay Campground
It’s no surprise there’s a lot of people that want to camp at Honeymoon Bay all year around. The campsite is only available to the public on Friday and Saturday nights, during New South Wales school holidays and public holidays. This is also restricted to when BWR is open to the public.
Bookings: All campsites at this campground are sold on a first come first serve basis. That means bookings are unavailable. Potential campers must ask the rangers when entering the area about making a reservation. Camping fees are A$15 per site per night for up to two people (16 years and over). Extra people may be added for A$5 each. These fees are payable in cash only at the Visits Centre during office hours. Always call ahead to know if sites are already booked up, or if space is available still.
The only exception to these terms of booking is during the summer months. That is when a bookings are allocated by a ballot system.
Facilities: Aside from getting 24 hour access to Honeymoon Bay, campers can access portable toilets and rubbish and recycling bins. These are all of the facilities available.
Campers must provide their own water and gas-operated cooking equipment. Though water containers can be refilled at the entrance to BWR.
Heading to Jervis Bay? Don’t miss Booderee National Park, it’s full of stunning beaches and walking tracks to discover the park.
