South Durras: Lake, Coast and Trails

South Durras is a destination for travellers who want to explore coastal landscapes from the water as well: Durras Lake offers flatwater paddling, and a longer lake paddling route passes small beaches and rugged headlands. The walking trails also offer a range of options—from a 1.5-kilometre loop to a 16-kilometre one-way route. When planning your holiday, you can first consider whether to focus on paddling, a loop walk or a longer hike.

Lake, estuary and coastal saltmarshes

Durras Lake is both a lake and an estuary; its connection to the sea is sometimes open and sometimes closed. The lake is in Murramarang National Park. Its estuary contains extensive coastal saltmarshes, which form a threatened ecological community. So the landscape encompasses more than water—it also includes a remarkable coastal habitat. If you are interested in nature and coastal ecology, you can take this into account when choosing your outings, alongside the opportunities on the water.

Paddling routes in different formats

For flatwater paddling, Durras Lake has a loop of up to 15 kilometres. It is described as a loop, and the stated distance gives you a specific guide for planning. Another option is the 17-kilometre lake paddling route from South Durras to Batemans Bay. It follows a quiet coastline with small beaches and rugged headlands in Murramarang National Park. These distances refer to different routes: one is a loop on the lake, while the other follows the coast between two places.

The starting point for this sea-paddling route is the boat ramp at Cookies Beach on Banyandah Street in South Durras. If you are planning this route, this specific starting point is a useful reference when considering where to stay. The scenery along the route—small beaches and rugged headlands—gives the paddling trip a different character from the loop on the lake.

Exploring on foot

The walks also differ considerably. The Durras Lake Discovery trail is a 1.5-kilometre loop in Murramarang National Park. By contrast, the Maloneys Beach to South Durras walking track is a 16-kilometre one-way route. Their lengths and formats help you distinguish between the two and make suitable plans for your stay.

Another way to explore the area on foot is the Wasp Head walk. It passes through historical Aboriginal sites in the area. This offers a cultural and historical focus for your outing plans, alongside nature and water-based experiences.

Planning your stay

Cookies Beach in South Durras has a BBQ and picnic area as well as toilets. The sea-paddling route to Batemans Bay also starts there, at the boat ramp. These location details can help you plan a stay in South Durras around specific experiences. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house, you can first decide whether you are most interested in the paddling routes, the short loop walk, the longer hike or the historical sites. Your preferred focus is a useful starting point for choosing where to stay, without assuming a particular accommodation or location.

Discover more places

Other places whose pages you can explore: Lake Munmorah, Grenfell, Menah, Kellyville, Tenterfield, Kyogle, Goonellabah and Waratah.

For the main travel overview: New South Wales.