Elephants Trunk

Located on the eastern side of the suburb of Kurnell in Sutherland Shire, in the state of New South Wales, Elephants Trunk - also known as Elephants Trunk Beach is a 530-meter-long beige sand beach with modest recurves at each end.  The beach is positioned at the northern end of Towra Point Nature Reserve along the shores of Botany Bay and has a beautiful backdrop of mangrove trees, seagrass meadows, and sand ridges, which together provide incredible views of the Georges River.  The beach is part of Towra Point Nature Reserve, which preserves its fragile ecosystem, including coastal landscapes, wetlands, and native biodiversity of the region.

Elephants Trunk does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, except restrooms, so plan your trip accordingly.

Elephants Trunk offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, boating, sailing, snorkeling, and watching wildlife.  If you are planning to go into the water, the waves are usually calm, making it a perfect beach to swim.  The water near the beach is shallow, which is ideal for small boats.   If you enjoy snorkeling, the beach offers amazing opportunities to explore the underwater world.  Anglers may catch a variety of fish, including goatfish, cuttlefish, yellowtail kingfish, salmon, and luderick.  Depending on the time of the year, visitors may spot migrating whales and bottlenose dolphins in the water near the beach.  Hikers can enjoy the nearby hiking trails, which offer unique insights into the local biodiversity.  The beach is ideal for visitors looking for a quieter beach experience.  Dogs are allowed if they are on a leash, and it is open from sunrise until sunset.

Elephants Trunk does not offer an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting to Elephants Trunk is easy - the beach is only accessible by boat or ferry from nearby Dolls Point Beach.  Visitors can conveniently take a ferry from the Dolls Point Rock Jetty, located at 11 Carruthers Drive, to access the beach.  In addition, visitors can also walk along Towra Point Road, which is a locked, muddy track that leads to the beach.

Over time, the beach's length and shape have changed.  In 1990, trees that had once been part of the forest were "tumbling into the water" due to erosion.  Many volunteer groups engage in activities including bush regeneration, seed collection, vegetation surveys, and habitat creation.

There are many attractions near Elephants Trunk.  The Sydney Tramway Museum is a small outdoor museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of Sydney's tramway system.  Visitors can explore various tram models from various parts of Australia, and a few of these vintage trams, which are operational, offer rides on the museum grounds.  Captain Cook's Landing Place is a famous historical site where Captain James Cook first landed in Botany Bay in 1770.  Visitors can explore the monument and informative displays that provide interesting insight into the historical past of Australia.  Kamay Botany Bay National Park is spread over 471 hectares and features coastal scrub, woodlands, rainforests, beaches, rocky formations, Aboriginal sites, and foreshores along the bay.  It is home to a wide array of native wildlife and vegetation, including the spotted gum forest, kangaroos, gray-headed flying foxes, white-bellied sea eagles, and the protected green and golden bell frog.  Visitors can enjoy hiking trails, swimming, bird watching, and picnicking.   Bonna Point Reserve is positioned on the southern end of the Kurnell peninsula, overlooking Botany Bay.  This beachfront dog-friendly park offers many amenities, including a large playground with swing sets, restrooms, changing rooms, benches, a skate park, a biking path, picnic areas, picnic tables, shady areas, a barbecue grill facility, and walking trails.  If you are looking for another nearby attraction, Cape Baily Lighthouse is positioned on the southern headland of Botany Bay, on rugged cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  This white concrete octagonal lighthouse guides the ships safely past the northern coast of Botany Bay.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants within a four-minute drive of Elephants Trunk.  Blue Buddha Thai Kitchen serves amazing Thai-inspired dishes, including soups, salads, fried rice, noodles, Thai curries, seafood, meat, and seafood.  Kiss The Barista is a small beachfront cafe that serves incredible salads, fruit bowls, shakes, and smoothies.  Le Beach Hut serves incredible Indian food, including salads, curries, pork, meat, and poultry dishes.  Chez Pascal French Restaurant serves amazing soups, salads, seafood, meat, pork, and poultry dishes.   If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Bamboo Court Chinese Restaurant serves amazing fried rice, soup, curries, meat, pork, seafood, and poultry dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Elephants Trunk, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour is 33 minutes away by car and offers many amenities including an indoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, and two restaurants.  A more affordable hotel is the 4-Star Rydges Cronulla Beachside, which has many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a fitness center, and a restaurant.  Another moderately priced option is the 4-Star Quest Cronulla Beach, which has many amenities including an outdoor pool, a fitness room, a hot tub, a sauna, and a restaurant.  A more reasonably priced option is the 3-Star Cronulla Motor Inn, which offers several amenities including an outdoor pool, whirlpool tubs, and restaurants.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Engadine Motor Inn offers a few amenities including an indoor pool, a hot tub, and a sauna.