The walk to Pulpit Rock is a great way to see an amazing section of coastline. Traveling from Green Cape car park, near the lighthouse, the walk passes through large sections of heath and melaleuca to reach Pulpit Rock car park. Pulpit rock is quite a large formation with an excellent lookout, providing great views north up the coast.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Green Cape to Pulpit Rock bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Green Cape to Pulpit Rock bushwalking track
Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length
3.8km
Time
1 hr 30 mins
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Very steep (4/6)
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Signs
Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Experience Required
No experience required (1/6)
Weather
Forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing
Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk. Gradient
3km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 640m is flat with no steps. The remaining (110m) is very steep.
Quality of track
Around 3.5km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 250m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
2.3km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 1.3km is clearly signposted. The remaining (110m) has minimal directional signs.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 3.8km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
Around 3.7km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 110m is affected by forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather events that may impact on navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 2.9km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 890m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Green Cape is a headland at the southern end of Ben Boyd National Park, forming the northern head of Disaster Bay. The cape's traditional owners are the people of the Yuin nation, from whom there remains evidence of a number of camps in the area. The cape was named 'Green Point' by Matthew Flinders in 1798. The area began its notorious fame in 1802 when eight of Flinders' crew disappeared when fetching water, in what he then appropriately named 'Disaster Bay'. The Imlay brothers and Boyd both established whaling business in the area in the early to mid 1800's, leaving several buildings in the park. There were many shipwrecks in the surrounding waters, the most famous being the SS Ly-ee-moon, whose victims are buried on the cape. The most visible feature on the cape is the 29-metre high lighthouse that is still operational today. NPWS run 1-hour tours of the site based on bookings [1]. There is a composting toilet at the car park at the end of Green Cape Road. Accommodation is also available in the renovated lighthouse keeper cottages.
(0 km)
Green Cape Lighthouse Car park
to
Ly-ee-moon Graveyard Walk: Easy - servicetrail
Length = 245 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = -5 m
From the intersection, this walk heads in the opposite direction to the 'Lighthouse Walkway' signs through the car park. The walk soon meets a bush track into the melaleuca and heath, which it follows to the signposted intersection of the Ly-ee-moon Graveyard.
Ly-ee-moon Graveyard
Alt = 24 m
The Ly-ee-moon Graveyard is a stark reminder of the horrific accident on the night of May 31st, 1886, when 71 men, women and children lost their lives. The white stone and single cross marks the positions of the unnamed graves. The nearby plaque names the people who lost their lives - sadly some names where not known and these people are remembered only by comments such as 'one who had a German accent'.
During the dark night, the lighthouse keeper and assistant heroically rescued 16 people from the sea, and were left to listen to cries for help though the night of other people who could not be saved. The mother of Blessed Mary MacKillop, the first Australian to be beatified by the Catholic church, was one of those lost during the night.
The fast and normally reliable ship, operated by the Australian Steam Navigation Company, was a single screw ship converted from a paddle steamer when it was brought to Australia in 1876. The graveyard is about 300m north-west of the Green Cape lighthouse, which was operational at the time the SS Ly-ee-moon struck the reef and sunk. More info
(0.25 km)
Ly-ee-moon Graveyard
to
Int. Light to Light Trk and Pulpit Rock Rd Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 2.77 km
Time = 49 mins
Climb = 70 m
Descent = -44 m
Veer left: From the graveyard, this walk keeps the 'Ly-ee-moon Cemetery' sign behind on the right of the track, as it heads through the melaleuca trees. The track meanders through the thick bush for a short time to an unsignposted intersection with a slightly overgrown service trail. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the track marker through the heath, keeping the ocean on the right of the track. The track leads across the hill, through the heath and Banksias for a short time, coming to an overgrown service trail (on both sides of the track). Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the track-marker along the hillside through the heath, keeping the ocean to the right of the track. The track soon turns left to wind up the hill, before turning right and continuing across the hillside. The track leads through the heath and Banksias, with the hill above on the left, coming to a signposted intersection with a service trail.
(3.01 km)
Int. Light to Light Trk and Pulpit Rock Rd
to
Pulpit Rock Lookout Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 642 m
Time = 12 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -36 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows none of the signs but instead heads down the hill towards the sea. The track winds down through the heath to the one-way car park and toilet. The walk continues through to the far side of the car park, where there is a fenced lookout over the rocks.
(3.66 km)
Pulpit Rock Lookout
to
Pulpit Rock Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 55 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = -13 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads down the stairs just near the lookout. The stairs lead onto the rock shelf, with stunning views to the north (left) and of waves crashing onto the rocks below.
Pulpit Rock
Alt = 5 m
Pulpit Rock is a large rock platform on the south-east coast of NSW, between Green Cape and Bittangabee in Ben Boyd National Park. The rock platform is a popular spot for rock fishing. Pulpit Rock is accessed via a staircase near the end of a service trail off Green Cape Rd. Near the car park is a pit toilet and garbage facilities. From the rock platform, there are great views north up the coast, with the red rock cliffs providing a spectacular highlight.
(3.71 km)
Pulpit Rock
to
Pulpit Rock Lookout Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 55 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 13 m
Descent = -2 m
Turn around: From Pulpit Rock, the walk heads away from the ocean, up the hill. Heading up the stairs, the walk comes to a fenced lookout.
Fire Danger This walk passes Far South Coast fire area which currently has a LOW MODERATE rating and No fire ban in place. (Tomorrow the Fire Danger Rating is LOW MODERATE, No fire ban.) (Downloaded 7 years ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.
Ben Boyd National ParkLink to official closures and fire bans page Ben Boyd National park is on the NSW South Coast, near Eden. The park was named and established in 1971, in the honour of Benjamin Boyd (1801-1851). Ben Boyd National park protects a wonderful section of coast line from Pambula to Green Cape, split into two distinct sections, one north of Eden and the other south. The park is well known for its contrasting red rocks, whale sighting, Boyd Tower, Green Cape Lighthouse and associated history. Ben Boyd National park offers some great insights into recent European history, Indigenous occupation and natural history. The park provides two campsites some other great recreational experiences. Region: South Coast & Highlands Park feesCampingFacilities I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Hard
1 km
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.
not too much longer now :)