Malabar Headland Walk: The Ultimate Guide

The Malabar Headland Walk is an awesome coastal walk in the Malabar Headland National Park, which is located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. Starting at South Maroubra Beach, you’ll combine the Boora Point Walking Track and Western Escarpment Walking Track to form an epic circuit loop. That’s why the Malabar Headland Walk is also known as the Malabar Headland Circuit Walk. During the walk, it’s possible to add on a quick detour to the quaint Malabar Beach, which we highly recommend!

In this guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about the Malabar Headland Walk. After describing the highlights of the Boora Point Walking Track and Western Escarpment Walking Track, we’ll discuss logistics. We’ll cover information about how to get there, answer some FAQs and briefly talk about the lovely area of Malabar in Sydney.

For details about other brilliant nearby Sydney-based coastal walks, read our guides on the La Perouse Circuit Walk (Cape and Banks and Henry Head Walking Tracks) and the Malabar to La Perouse Walk. Otherwise, please read our 3 Best La Perouse Walks guide.

Table of Contents

Malabar Headland Circuit Walk: Overview

Perched in between Maroubra and Malabar Beaches, the Malabar Headland National Park is an underrated natural haven in Sydney. The Malabar Headland Walk, AKA the Malabar Headland National Park walk is a superb short circular walk, which encircles the entire national park. By doing this walk, you’ll get to explore all of the attractions in the Malabar Headland National Park.

Basically, the Malabar Headland Walk combines two distinct trails in the national park. The Boora Point Walking Track is a coastal trail stretching from Maroubra to Malabar. That’s why it’s also known as the Maroubra to Malabar Walk. The Western Escarpment Walking Track is set away from both the coast and Boora Point Walking Track. The Western Escarpment Walking Track is perfectly positioned to form a circular walk when combined with the Boora Point Walking Track.

There’s only a short section of unspecified trail that you’ll need to navigate to connect the Boora Point and Western Escarpment Walking Tracks. This is at a point where you can briefly depart the Malabar Headland National Park to check out Malabar Beach.

Map showing Boora Point Walking Track and Western Escarpment Walking Track (Malabar Headland National Park Walk)

Anyway, before we dive deep into a trail description, let’s look at the trail specs and a GPS-guided map. Indeed, below, you’ll find information such as the Malabar Headland Walk distance.

Malabar Headland Walk Map and Stats

Type: Loop
Distance: 6km
Time: 1.5 hours
Accumulated elevation gain: 75m
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: South Maroubra Beach
Map: AllTrails

Malabar Headland National Park Map

Just so you can get your bearings, here’s an interactive map of the Malabar Headland National Park.

Malabar Headland Walk Opening Hours

Before we describe the key points of the trail, it’s worth noting that Malabar Headland National Park does close sometimes. The eastern section of the national park, including the Boora Point Walking Track, is closed on Saturdays from 7:30am and the first and third Sundays of every month due to ANZAC rifle range operations. So, you’ll have to plan this walk around these closures. To be on the safe side, check NSW National Parks local alerts before you go, just in case of any sudden or unexpected closures.

FYI – the Western Escarpment Walking Track remains open all year round.

Malabar Healand Walk Trail Description

In this trail description, we’re going to cover the highlights and key points of the Malabar Headland Walk. We’ll also talk about the detour (side trail option) to Malabar Beach and Malabar Ocean Pool.

Beck on the Boora Point Walking Track during the Malabar Headland National Park Walk near the Western Escarpment Walking Track. Stunning orange rock platforms parade the Malabar Headland. Another highlight of the Maroubra to La Perouse Coastal Walk.

South Maroubra Beach

The Malabar Headland Walk kicks off at South Maroubra Beach. At the southern end, you’ll find a flat orange-brownish rock platform, surrounded by darker scattered rocks on the shoreline. It’s a lovely spot to enjoy before officially joining the Boora Point Walking Track in the Malabar Headland National Park.

Beck admires Maroubra Beach, the start of the walk to La Perouse. Standing on a light brown rock platform with darker rocks in front of her, an overcast sky looks ominous over the ocean. The Maroubra to La Perouse Coastal Walk starts here.

Boora Point Walking Track (Maroubra to Malabar Walk)

From South Maroubra Beach, you’ll scramble onto the Boora Point Walking Track, which explores the eastern section of the Malabar Headland National Park. Certainly, the Boora Point Walking Track is the best section of the Malabar Headland Walk. You’ll enjoy marvellous views of the coastline from the boardwalk. But, there are also many opportunities to go slightly ‘off-trail’ to explore the remarkable coastal landforms.

FYI – there are no safety fences along the coast here, so be very careful when exploring these beautiful cliffs. Of course, with some common sense, they can be enjoyed safely.

Beck on the Maroubra (Malabar) to La Perouse Walking Track

Magic Point

Heading in a southerly direction, you’ll soon arrive at Magic Point. You’ll find a large sandstone platform with insanely carved-out rock formations. It’s such a raw, rugged and dramatic landscape.

The epic geology of the Malabar Headland. A hole is formed in the roof of the marble sandstone cliffside, creating a natural seat for Beck.

Dragon Rock: Epic Coastline

One of the highlights of Magic Point is, what we’ve called, Dragon Rock. This is an unofficial name we’ve given to this coastal landmark. We’re convinced this rocky outcrop is shaped like the head of a dragon. What do you think? Well, you’ve got to use your imagination a little bit!

The Dragon Rock of the Malabar Headland National Park. Dan rides the dragon head shaped rock, which makes up the sandstone cliff walls. Exploring Malabar Headland is a highlight of the Maroubra to La Perouse Coastal Walk.

Boora Point

Around the corner from Magic Point, is the equally impressive Boora Point. Expect to see more stunning sandstone cliffs along the coastline. From Boora Point, you’ll see a vast green expanse of a golf course across the bay. Looking back in the direction of the Malabar Headland National Park, you’ll see some graffitied fortifications known as Malabar Battery.

Malabar Battery

You’ll only see remnants of the Malabar Battery, which, unfortunately, has been vandalised. The battery was built in 1943 during WWII as a coastal defence battery.

Malabar Beach

After enjoying the spectacular coastline along the Boora Point Walking Track, you’ll follow a straight section of the track, adjacent to Long Bay. Before heading away from the coast, towards the Western Escarpment Walking Track, we recommend adding a short walk to Malabar Beach and the Malabar Beach Ocean Pool. Essentially, you’ll leave the Boora Point Walking Track. Then, you’ll exit Malabar Headland National Park, following the footpaths that bend around Malabar Beach.

You’ll find Malabar Beach isn’t a surf beach like Maroubra Beach. It’s rather a calm small bay. Sitting between Boora Point and the Randwick Golf Course, feel free to wander and explore Malabar Beach and its ocean pool.

Malabar Ocean Pool

The Malabar Ocean Pool is certainly one of the lesser-known Sydney ocean pools. It’s tucked away at the southern end of Malabar Beach. To access the Malabar Ocean Pool, follow the paved footpath, lined with a white wooden fence, that bends around Malabar Beach. If the ocean pool is calling you, it’s time for a swim! Otherwise, if you want to continue the Malabar Headland Walk, you’ll want to head back to the national park.

Beck heading towards an ocean pool. A white fence to her left, coastal bush to her right, Beck walks on a paved path descending to the ocean pool. The sky is overcast.

Western Escarpment Walking Track

Once you’ve scoped out Malabar Beach and the ocean pool, retrace your step back to the Malabar Headland National Park. To complete the Malabar Headland Walk, you’ll head north to join the Western Escarpment Walking Track. By doing so, you’ll explore the western section of Malabar Headland National Park.

Initially, you’ll head through Cromwell Park before joining the Western Escarpment Walking Track. Set away from the coast, the Western Escarpment Walking Track consists of a boardwalk, that provides enthralling views of the coast. This track will soon lead you back to Maroubra Beach, signalling the end of Malabar Headland Walk.

How to Get There

The easiest way to get to Maroubra Beach for the Malabar Headland Walk is to drive there yourself. There’s plenty of free parking at Maroubra Beach. But, parking directly opposite the beach on Maroubra Parade has a four hour limit. So, we recommend parking on Bernie Kelly Drive near the South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club. It’s free and unlimited. Google Maps doesn’t seem to recognise the street name, but it’s right by Arthur Byrne Reserve.

Of course, you’ll need your own set of wheels to get to this car park. If you don’t have a car, use RentalCars.com to hire one. It’s a great search engine for finding the cheapest car hire.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, it’s possible to get to Maroubra Beach, for this walk, by using public transport. We recommend using the Transport NSW Trip Planner to plan your journey. Depending on where you’re coming from, it’s likely, that at least for the final part of your journey to Maroubra Beach you’ll need to catch the 350 or 396 bus.

Malabar Sydney

Malabar is a suburb in the southeast of Sydney, New South Wales. Other than having the Malabar Headland National Park, the suburb is primarily a residential area. Despite its close proximity to Maroubra, Coogee and La Perouse, Malabar remains a relatively quieter area (for Sydney anyway).

Indeed, Malabar Beach and Ocean Pool are fairly unknown and quiet beaches compared with many of the other beaches in the Eastern Suburbs. With that said, Malabar is a nice area to explore and visit as it won’t be as rammed as nearby areas such as Maroubra, Coogee and Bondi.

Malabar Beach Cafe

If you’re looking to explore more of Malabar, you’ll definitely want to visit the Malabar Beach Cafe. Conveniently located across from Malabar Beach, the cafe serves up good grub and a decent coffee. After working up an appetite during the Malabar Headland Walk, this could be the perfect place for a bite to eat.

FAQs

Below, you’ll find a few frequently asked questions about the Malabar Headland Walk.

How Long Is the Malabar Headland Walk?

The Malabar Headland Walk (combining the Boora Point and Western Escarpment Walking Tracks) is around 6km.

When Is the Malabar Headland Walk Closed?

It’s best to read the NSW National Parks local alerts for Malabar Headland National Park. Otherwise, read our Malabar Headland Walk Opening Hours section for more information about when it’s usually closed.

Are Dogs Allowed on the Malabar Headland Walk?

No, Malabar Headland National Park is a pet-free zone, just like all NSW national parks. You’ll find off-leash dog areas nearby at Pioneers Park and on-leash areas nearby at Arthur Byrne Reserve.

Accommodation

Being based in Sydney, we didn’t need to look into accommodation. So, we can’t specifically recommend anything in the area. When searching for accommodation though, we always use Booking.com or use WikiCamps or Campermate for camping.

Five Hiking Gear Essentials

Merrell Moab Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boots: these hiking boots are super comfortable and lightweight.
The North Face Venture Jacket: a fantastic windproof/waterproof jacket.
Osprey Skarab 30L Day Backpack: a great backpack for hiking, which has plenty of space to store your gear.
The North Face TKA Glacier Fleece Jacket: an excellent warmth:weight ratio fleece jacket that’ll help keep you warm.
Columbia Convertible Trousers: a value for money pair of water-resistant convertible trousers.

For a more detailed summary about hiking gear, please check out 66 Travel Accessories That You Must Travel With. Otherwise, for a comprehensive packing list, check out our Ultimate Packing Checklist.

Bonus Tips

Check whether Malabar Headland National Park is open: before heading out to do this walk, make sure the national park is open.
You can do the circular walk in either direction: personally, we enjoyed walking in a clockwise direction. But, indeed, you can walk in either direction.
Head to Pioneers Park: this is a nice park just outside the Malabar Headland National Park. It could be the perfect place for a picnic after the walk.

Do you have any questions about the Malabar Headland Walk? Please let us know in the comments below.