Wasp Head has some lovely coastal views, however, it’s an off shoot of the official trail that makes it really special. Tides permitting you can access a stunning rock formation with swirling sandstone walls that have been perfectly sculpted over time. The size and scale of the cliff walls, as well as the beautiful patterns in the rock make it incredibly picturesque and well worth seeking out.
It’s not signposted but we have you covered with the directions below.
The Wasp Head Gap Walk
The stats
Distance: 400m each way
Elevation gain: 20m
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Trailhead: Wasp Head Picnic Area
Summary: The walk to Wasp Head Gap has a short downhill section, but it’s on a good set of steps. After this it’s off track and requires a bit of rock scrambling, nothing too challenging or prolonged, but there are two sets of rocks to cross.
There are also another couple of short trails from the same car park which you may want to add on, including the official Wasp Head Track, which takes you to a nice lookout.
Safety info: tide & swell
Wasp Head Gap is best visited on a low to mid tide and when the swell is slight. If the sea is rough the waves may crash over the rocks you need to pass to reach it, so this is an adventure best saved for a calm day.
A couple of hours either side of low tide is optimal, although we did cross back easily enough on a mid tide (with a slight swell). Waves were just beginning to reach the second set of rocks at this time. You can see the tide and swell forecast here.
Finding Wasp Head Gap
From the Wasp Head picnic area car park you want to take the track that leads from the right side of the car park (south). It’s not signposted but it is an obviously beaten down path, you can see it in the photo below. As there are several trails that begin at the car park, you may want to take a photo of what you’re looking for to make sure you pick the right one.
You’ll walk downhill through the bush for 100m before you come out onto a sandstone rock platform. From here you can see Wasp Head Gap in the distance (it looks like a slit in the cliffs), but there are two coves between you and it.
Head to the right side of the rock platform and carefully make your way down the sandstone rock. It’s quite easy to get down, but you should be mindful of the fine layer of sand over the rock which could be slippery. There are ledges to use and it’s only a couple of steps down (I think the photos make it look steeper than it really is!).
You then need to make your way around the cove which involves some easy rock hopping and takes just a couple of minutes.
The next set of rocks lead onto the small sandy beach of Wobbegong Bay. The whole section from climbing down the sandstone rock, to crossing the rocky cove and then reaching the beach is only 80m.
Accessing the beach requires a little more rock hopping and most of these rocks are wet, so tread carefully. You can then cross the very pretty sandy beach of Wobbegong Bay which is backed by a huge cliff wall. The water here is the most glorious turquoise in colour and the beach has a wonderful remote feel.
The final set of rocks to cross are the ones most exposed to the waves and incoming tide. There is a high tide route behind them which hugs the cliff wall, but it’s a little more slippery than the rock hop.
Climb onto the rock platform and follow it right, to the final rocks you can see that separate you from the tiny beach ahead.
The rocks up to this point have been quite small, however some of these final ones are large boulders, though they were grippy when dry and crossing them doesn’t take long. One or two wobble, so test them all before putting your full weight on, but generally speaking it’s straightforward.
You can then walk across the sand and up to Wasp Head Gap, which you’ll reach 400m after leaving the car park.
Wasp Head Gap
The gap between the weathered sandstone cliffs has been eroded over thousands of years and what’s left is this gorgeous rock slot that you can walk all the way through. It’s especially pretty when viewed from the other side after you’ve walked through.
On a low to mid tide it’s completely dry and it’s very atmospheric to stand inside the slot, listening to the rolling waves beyond. It’s a beautiful spot for photography and would probably be even more special at sunrise, with more even lighting.
Either way it’s a fab spot and we were so impressed with the scale of the rock walls. Just remember to leave yourself enough time to cross back over the two coves before the tide comes in.
The surrounding walking tracks
The Wasp Head Track
There are a couple of short walks that lead from the car park you will use for Wasp Head Gap. The first is an 800m loop track which leads to a viewpoint over Wasp Head Island. The track is signposted from the car park and begins by heading through a forest before reaching an open grassy area. Take the path on the right at the end of the grassy area and you will come to a lookout (300m into the walk).
You can walk down the stairs here and onto the rock platform with great views out to the island. The stairs are a little unkempt and a touch slippery, but having a poke around the rock platform is fun.
If you continue to the far right of the platform you can see Wasp Head Gap in the distance. When you’ve finished exploring the rock platform you don’t need to back track up the stairs again, you can climb up the rocks and back onto the path from here.
It’s a touch overgrown for a few metres but then you’ll see the main track and follow it left for 250m back to the car park.
The Emily Miller Track
From the car park you take the signposted Emily Miller Track and follow it for 250m to a fence line. Around 50m later you will see steps leading downhill on the left which take you to a small rock platform with stunning views over Emily Miller Beach North and South.
There are also a couple of tiny (none swimmable) rockpools. You could then head back onto the main track and follow it to Emily Miller Beach.
As we’d visited the beach the day before we opted to end the walk here, but the beach is gorgeous and well worth seeing if you’ve not been already.
Parking for the Wasp Head Walk
The walk to the Wasp Head Gap begins at the Wasp Head picnic area car park in Murramarrang National Park, you can see it on Google maps here.
The last 400m of the road is unsealed but generally suitable for any car.
The journey time from Batemans Bay is around 20 minutes and it’s around double that to Ulladulla.
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How to find one of Batemans Bay’s least well known rockpools, as well as the required tide and swell for a safe visit.