Seven Mile Beach

Seven Mile Beach National Park is a coastal park on the Shoalhaven Coast of New South Wales, protecting the coastal dune and beach system south of Nowra near Gerroa. Covering approximately 778 hectares, the park encompasses Seven Mile Beach, one of the finest surf beaches on the south coast, along with significant coastal dune heath and wetland communities behind the beach. The park provides important habitat for shorebirds and coastal wildlife and protects a significant stretch of undeveloped coastline in the increasingly developed Shoalhaven region.

Seven Mile Beach National Park provides critical coastal habitat for diverse wildlife. Shorebirds including pied oystercatchers and beach-nesting terns use the beach and dune system. The hooded plover, an endangered shorebird, breeds on the beach. Little penguins nest in the dune area. The coastal heath and lagoon supports diverse birdlife including glossy black-cockatoos. Eastern grey kangaroos and swamp wallabies are present in the heath. Sea turtles occasionally nest on the beach.

Coastal dune communities with spinifex, pigface, and banksia scrub occupy the ocean-facing dunes. Wallum heath with banksias and diverse wildflowers covers the sandy inland dunes. Paperbark wetland and swamp communities occur in the low areas behind the dunes. Coastal she-oak and coastal wattle scrub form the transition to more sheltered woodland.

The park is situated on a Quaternary coastal barrier, with beach sand, dune sand, and wetland sediments forming the substrate. The beach and dune system is a dynamic coastal landform that migrates and changes in response to wave action and wind.

Temperate coastal climate. Annual rainfall approximately 1,000 millimetres. Warm summers, mild winters. Sea breezes moderate coastal temperatures.

The Wadi Wadi (Yuin) people are the traditional custodians of the Shoalhaven coast. The beach and dune system provided abundant marine and terrestrial resources.

Seven Mile Beach National Park was established to protect the coastal dune system and wildlife habitat from development in the Shoalhaven.

Seven Mile Beach provides excellent surf swimming, beach walking, and fishing. Birdwatching for shorebirds and hooded plovers is rewarding. The coastal heath offers wildflower walks in spring.

Picnic area and facilities at the beach access points. Access from Shoalhaven Heads Road off the Princes Highway near Nowra. Nowra provides visitor services. Approximately 170 kilometres south of Sydney. A national parks pass applies.

Protecting hooded plover nesting areas from vehicle and pedestrian disturbance is a critical management priority. Weed control focuses on bitou bush on the dunes. Managing off-road vehicle access to the beach is important.