Light to Light Walk & Sapphire Coast of Australia

What you get on this adventure:

• • Experienced, local hiking guides with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 4 days of hiking along the Light to Light Walk (Beowa NP and the Sapphire Coast)
  • Accommodation at cottages of the Green Cape Lightstation in twin rooms (3 nights)
  • All transportation during the adventure in a comfortable 12-seater mini-coach with luggage trailer
  • 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 two-course dinners, along with trail mix, fresh fruit, snacks, tea and coffee, biscuits / cake, and non-alcoholic drinks
  • A visit and a guided walk at the Eden Killer Whale Museum
  • All National Park entry fees
  • Carbon offset program

What’s not included:

• • Transportation to the meeting point in Merimbula
  • Any accommodation before and after the tour (if applicable)
  • Alcoholic beverages and other personal expenses
  • Guide gratuities — optional

To participate in the guided Light to Light walking tour on the Sapphire Coast, you need to be reasonably fit and have some basic hiking experience. The track primarily consists of hardened or compacted surfaces with occasional gentle hill sections, steps, and walks no greater than 6.2 miles (10 km). Over the 4-day adventure, you’ll be walking about 6.2 miles (10 km) a day and spending an average of 6 hours each day on the trail, carrying a daypack.

Regular breaks will be scheduled during the hikes. In exceptional cases, if hiking becomes a challenge on a particular day, there will be an option to remain in your accommodation.

To prepare for this journey, it’s advisable to engage in cardiovascular activities and strength training in the weeks leading up to the tour. Additionally, practicing with full-day hikes on weekends, especially in hilly terrain, can be beneficial. Keep in mind that you’ll always have a guide accompanying you to provide support, assess your fitness level, and adjust the pace as needed.

Here’s what you need to bring to carry in a 20L daypack with a load bearing harness:

• • Rain jacket
  • Fleece jacket
  • Wide-brimmed hat for sunny days
  • Beanie or wool hat for cold days
  • Water bottle or drinking bladder (minimum 2 liters)
  • High factor sunscreen
  • Lip balm
  • Blister pads and/or tape for rubbing and blisters
  • Antiseptic hand gel
  • Sun glasses
  • Walking poles and gaiters — optional (but recommended)
  • Camera — optional (but recommended)
  • Binoculars — optional (but recommended)
  • Spare batteries for all devices/charger
  • Tupperware/container for packing your lunch

You’ll also need a main bag (stays at accommodation) to carry items listed below:

• • 2 pairs of long and/or short pants (preferably loose-fitting, lightweight, and quick-drying)
  • 2 long-sleeved shirts
  • 4 T-shirts
  • Fleece jacket or wool sweater
  • Rain jacket or spray jacket
  • Swimming suit and towel (optional)
  • Hiking socks
  • Waterproof hiking shoes or boots
  • Thermal undergarments (if rain is expected)
  • Wool or fleece hat for cooler weather
  • Lightweight, quick-drying towel
  • Waterproof, reusable bag for worn clothing
  • Comfortable shoes and casual clothing for evenings
  • Underwear
  • Toiletries (shampoo/conditioner, body wash, deodorant, sanitary products, travel hairdryer, toothpaste, insect repellent, etc.)

Please ensure your gear is in a soft bag, not a hard suitcase, to assist the guides in packing the trailer. Bring comfortable hiking clothing appropriate for the weather. Your packing list may change depending on the season, but it is necessary to be prepared for different conditions. There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing (and equipment)!

During the guided Light to Light hiking trip on the Sapphire Coast, you’ll lodge at the historic Green Cape Lightstation, nestled on a scenic peninsula within Beowa National Park. The accommodation features three beautifully restored cottages, each equipped with kitchen, dining, and lounge areas. With comfortable terraces that provide an ideal spot for whale watching, the cottages offer two or three bedrooms, a shared bathroom, and cozy open fireplaces for chilly winter evenings after your walks.

Guests will share the cottages (and bathroom) with fellow travelers, and the accommodation provides options for either a double bed for couples or two single beds for twin sharing. It’s important to note that single rooms are available for an additional supplement, but their capacity is limited on this tour. Your knowledgeable guides will stay in a separate cottage on-site and will handle the preparation and service of your breakfast, lunch, and dinner in one of the guest cottages.

During the guided Light to Light hiking adventure on the Sapphire Coast, you’ll savor hearty, home-style meals that showcase the region’s fresh produce, including local cheese, yogurt, fruits, vegetables, fish, and meats. These meals not only support local farmers but also minimize food miles. Your dietary preferences will be accommodated if specified when booking. Breakfast offers a continental spread with cereals, yogurt, fruit, and more.

Lunches are diverse, often featuring meat, salad, bread, and occasionally roasted chicken.
Dinners are casual two-course affairs prepared by your guides, featuring dishes like classic roast lamb or curry, along with delightful desserts like apple crumble or seasonal fruit salad. In addition to the main meals, you’ll have snacks and antipasto during the trip, with fresh fruit for the trail, biscuits, and fruit cake for tea breaks. Pre-dinner nibbles include dips, cheese, and crackers. You’ll also find a self-serve trail mix selection at the start of each day.

While the tour doesn’t include alcoholic beverages, you’re welcome to bring your wine or beer along, just be sure to pack bottled wine carefully to prevent breakages.

If you have any dietary restrictions or preferences, please leave a note for your guide when booking, they can accommodate most dietary requirements.

Group sizes and prices:

• • For this group adventure, the maximum number of participants is 10 and the tour operates with two guides for a maximum 5:1 client-to-guide ratio.
  • The cost does not decrease as the group grows.

Hiking in the Light to Light Walk along the Sapphire Coast can be arranged for larger and for private groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

To get to Merimbula, the starting point of the tour, most people fly into Canberra Airport. From here, you can take a bus ride or rent a car. It will take you between 3 and 5 hours to get to your destination. Alternatively, you can fly into Melbourne Airport or Sydney Airport and take shuttle service from there.

Note that Sydney and Melbourne are quite a distance away and the bus journey would take you between 5 and 9 hours. Instead of renting a car or taking a shuttle, you can also fly into Merimbula Airport from Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney.

You’ll meet your guide and fellow hikers at one of two convenient locations in Merimbula: 50 Main St (Merimbula RSL) at 7.45 am or 33 Ocean Drive (Cranky Café) at 8.15 am.

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the trail, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.

Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to.

If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!