Introduction

The Clarence Coastal Trail makes it possible to walk from Cremorne to Seven Mile Beach, a distance of around 13.5kms. It is an attractive and satisfying walk. You can leave or join at several places or just do a chosen section.

We have broken the walk down into two sections: Cremorne to Roches Beach (this post) and Roches Beach to Seven Mile Beach (click here to access this post).

The Clarence City Council web site also has some information. Click here.

Cremorne Beach to May’s Beach

We started from the park at Cremorne Beach where there are toilets, picnic tables and ample parking.

A pleasant walk along the beach leads to a gentle rise as you follow a clear path along the hills by the sea.

Great views across Fredrick Henry Bay and the occasional dolphin, sea eagle, swamp harrier, blue wrens and lots of other birds.

The walk is fairly easy with changing vegetation from grassy fields with sheep to gum forest, to seaside grasses and beaches.

After 1.2 kms from Cremorne Beach you reach Calvert’s Hill Nature Reserve, a section where dogs are not allowed. About 600 m further on the reserve ends and dogs are again permitted.

May’s Beach, 4.5 kms walk from Cremorne Beach, is a quiet, pretty beach with a few houses and the remains of an old wharf from its farming days. A lovely spot for a dip and a picnic.

May’s Beach to Roches Beach

Having reached May’s Beach, if you want to continue the walk to Lauderdale Beach and then to Roches Beach you’ll need to navigate a section where you have to walk along the road, Bayside Drive, down Bayview Hill for 1km to Bayview Park and then onto Lauderdale Beach.

Lauderdale Beach has plenty of parking along its length and some areas with toilets and picnic tables

Lauderdale Beach to the end of Roches Beach is a pleasant stroll along the sand for about 3.5kms. For the section Roches Beach to Seven Mile Beach see our other post.

May’s Beach Access and Parking

May’s Beach can also be accessed from the top of Bayview Hill in Lauderdale.

There is a large metal gate and driveway that looks like private property, but it is the public walking access to May’s Beach. Go through the gate and follow the tar road to a grassy hill with steps down to the beach.

Forest Hill Road Access

The track can also be accessed from the end of Forest Hill Road.

The narrow track goes through a gum forest and onto a grassy hill then down to join the Cremorne to May’s Beach track.

Conclusion

We did the walk in a couple of stages at different times. There is no easy way of creating a circuit walk given that it is around 13.5 kms one way. So, it’s either a long walk back to your starting point or you’ll need to park a car at each end. You can probably cycle it, though the beach sections could be tricky at high tide.