The Pink Caves are the Perfect Hidden Gem

**As of August 2022, the Pink Caves have been permanently closed due to safety reasons.**

Did you know that the Central Coast is home to magical Pink Caves? We certainly didn't but now that we do we can't wait to jump in the car for a weekend adventure with a very colourful reward! 

The Pink Caves on the Central Coast

**Warning: Please only visit the pink caves at low tide. Check the tide times before you go.**

The remarkable Pink Caves are also known as the Cotton Candy Caves or the Munmorah Sea Caves and have become quite the natural sensation, with loads of visitors strapping on their walking shoes to access the magic caves. The mystical caves have garnered much attention due to the changing colours of the rocks depending on the tide and time of day. While the luminous colours of the caves are definitely real, the science behind why they change colours is a little less magical - no fairy dust in these parts!

The changing browns, pinks and purples of the famous grotto are due to the sheer force of saltwater, pummelling the rocks frequently to reveal the under-layers (and hues) of the natural rock formation. If you happen to visit when there are vivid yellows and greens, I'm afraid that that's just a case of algae lingering on the rocks.

Visiting the Pink Caves 

The Pink Caves are located along the Moonee Beach Trail that hugs Timber Beach and Ghosties Beach in the Munmorah State Conservation Area. Driving from Sydney to the Moonee Beach Trail will take just over 1.5 hours and is the perfect weekend adventure on a sunny day. Make sure you pack your walking shoes as access to the Pink Caves can only be achieved via the Moonee Beach Trail. 

The 4-km return Moonee Beach Trail is a delightful family adventure that rewards you with stunning views of the South Pacific Ocean, Timber Beach, Ghosties Beach and, not to mention the magic of the Caves. If you're planning on traversing the Moonee Beach Trail solely to see the main Pink Caves, start out at the northern end of Moonee Beach and follow the rock platform to your destination. 

Deep Cave Bay

Now if you're up for a real adventure, it's a little-known secret that there are more Pink Caves (Rainbow Caves to be more specific) if you choose to venture a little further. Once you've seen the main Caves closest to the beach, walk back to the northern end of Moonee Beach and keep walking up over the headland towards Deep Cave Bay - Snapper Point Lookout offers the best aerial views of Deep Cave Bay or Rainbow Caves. Deep Cave Bay is open until 7 pm and is a stunning lookout that lets you take in the majestic oddity that is the Rainbow Caves from above. 

Can you Visit the Pink Caves With Kids?

Please note that we do not recommend climbing into the caves with kids as it's extremely dangerous given the unpredictability of the tides.
Instead, if you're visiting Moonee Beach with kids and they want to see the colourful Pink Caves, there are colourful rock pools at the Northern end of Moonee Beach that are strikingly colourful and fun for the kids to play in at low tide.

Hero Image: travelmademedoit.com

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