Maloneys Beach visitor precinct

Maloneys Beach marks the endpoint of the Murramarang South Coast Walk, one of NSW’s signature multi-day walks, and is a valued day-use area for both the local community and visitors.

The works will rehabilitate this popular coastal precinct, providing safer, more sustainable and enjoyable visitation while protecting the park’s natural and cultural values.

Importantly, the work will deter unauthorised vehicle access, reducing environmental impacts and inappropriate activity.

The project is being delivered in accordance with environmental and cultural heritage planning approval and is consistent with the the Murramarang South Coast Walk Master Plan and the park’s statutory Plan of Management.

The work balances safe, sustainable visitor access with the protection of environmental and cultural values, safeguarding the popular precinct.

Work scope and objectives

The work will include landscaping and planting of native trees, shrubs and grasses, and involve the installation of garden beds, rocks and bollards. Additional native plantings will be completed later in the year.

Supporting sustainable visitation at Maloneys Beach

The rehabilitation work supports improvements delivered at Maloneys Beach in 2023 as part of the Murramarang South Coast Walk project, which enhanced accessibility, safety and inclusivity and supported sustainable visitation.  Previous improvements included:

• sealing of the access road
• accessible parking
• interpretive signage and seating
• closure and rehabilitation of unauthorised vehicle tracks
• improved pedestrian connections and a hardened beach access pathway.

These upgrades have strengthened safe and sustainable access to the well-loved precinct while helping to protect the park’s natural and cultural values for future generations.

The current rehabilitation and landscaping works will further enhance Maloneys Beach as a safe and welcoming natural destination, while continuing to restore and reflect the natural character of the national park.

Community consultation

We have carried out extensive public consultation before making the changes at Maloneys Beach in 2023. This included community meetings at several locations (including Maloneys Beach), regular project updates on the NPWS website and via the project newsletter, and on-site meetings with interested community members.

A precinct plan for Maloneys Beach was developed and publicly exhibited as part of the development of the Murramarang South Coast Walk master plan. The changes implemented within the national park are consistent with the draft master plan released in July 2020, as well as the final version published in June 2021 and updated in August 2022.

Closure of unauthorised tracks

Previously unrestricted vehicle access across the national park to Maloneys Beach caused significant environmental damage and contributed to unsafe and inappropriate behaviour at the popular precinct.

The sandy vehicle tracks wore down over time, with some parts sinking under the weight of vehicles. The foredune was also impacted, leaving sparse vegetation due to vehicle damage. This lack of plants prevented the dune from building up sand, which is important for protecting against coastal erosion.

There were also issues with antisocial behaviour, such as illegal camping, bush toileting, and unauthorised campfires.

Unauthorised vehicle tracks in the national park have been closed and rehabilitated, including an informal vehicle track previously used to launch small boats from the beach, which is not allowed under the park's statutory plan of management.

People can still visit Maloneys during the works 

Pedestrian access to the beach, walking tracks will remain open during the works, but visitors are advised that some minor disruption to the car park and sections of the Murramarang South Coast Walk may occur during this time, for the safe completion of the work.

Visitors should check for closures and other alerts before travel. The work has been scheduled outside school holiday periods to minimise visitor impacts. 

Visitors are reminded not to enter closed areas and to: 

• stay on designated tracks and paths
• avoid entering fenced or rehabilitated areas
• respect barriers and signage.