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Pyramid Rock is a triangle-shaped rock island just off the southern coast of Phillip Island, a popular destination in Victoria, Australia made famous by the Penguin Parade. A short 800 meter (0.5 miles) round trip return walk travels out onto a grassy point approaching Pyramid Rock. Overlooks at the midway point and the end of this short trail allow hikers to take in coastal views that extend to both ends of the 26-kilometer long island, from Cape Woolamai to the east to Point Grant to the west. ...Read more.

Wilsons Promontory is the southernmost point on Mainland Australia and it stands out in other ways too, with coastal beauty that's hard to beat. See what the Prom has to offer on this day hike across a boulder-strewn point between bays of clear turquoise water with pale sand beaches. There are ocean and mountain views to enjoy at every turn of this walk as it takes you from the park's main hub at Tidal River to the south end of Norman Beach and then across Norman Point to Little Oberon Bay. ...Read more.

With well-kept facilities and lovely views of Hokianga Harbour amid the surrounding verdant hills, you'll definitely feel like you're on holiday at Rawene Holiday Park. Located above the town of Rawene, the holiday park is on a hill on a peninsula that juts into Hokianga Harbour. The harbor is on the remote east coast of Northland near the town of Opononi and north of Waipoua Forest, home of the largest Kauri Tree in New Zealand (and therefore the world). ...Read more.

Watkin Powell Track offers a short walk to a secluded beach near Otamure Bay Campground in Northland, New Zealand, and it is 1/3 of a kilometer round trip. This is an over-the-top hike that you'll walk up, over, and down a small ridge to reach the beach at Tauwhara Bay. Once there, you can snorkel and swim to your heart's content, or continue walking along a crescent-shaped cove that faces east across the Pacific Ocean. ...Read more.

The Northland region of New Zealand has a remote, sparsely developed coastline with oceanfront environments that are pure heaven for campers. Otamure Bay Campground is located on the east coast of Northland near the town of Whananaki North, about 40 kilometers from Whangarei or 200 kilometers from Auckland. The Department of Conservation Campground has a hundred campsites on grassy plots just inland from the beach at Otamure Bay and backed by bucolic green hills. ...Read more.

Very few places in nature would you feel comfortable getting up close to 5,000-pound animals. Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery is one of them. While visiting the seal colony, you can get up close to these impressive (and vocal) animals and observe them in their natural habitat. In addition to two quarter-mile long boardwalk trails, the rookery is also the starting point for a dirt trail up the coast to the Piedras Blancas Light Station, a lovely thimble-shaped lighthouse on Point Piedras Blancas just north of the rookery. ...Read more.

If you're looking for a hike to a historic site on California's Central Coast with abundant ocean views, check out the 3.6-mile round trip hike on Pecho Coast Trail to the Point San Luis Lighthouse. The hike near Avila Beach crosses land owned by PG&E that is accessible only with a trail guide on organized treks. On the way to the lighthouse, you'll enjoy sweeping views over Avila Beach and San Luis Obispo Bay, while learning a bit about the area's plants, geology, and history. ...Read more.

Montaña de Oro State Park has every type of hike you could want, ranging from easy oceanfront strolls to difficult summit ascents. If you're feeling like Goldilocks and want something in the middle (just right), check out Reservoir Flats Trail, a 2-mile loop with 200 feet of elevation gain that is conveniently located just behind the park visitor center. ...Read more.

On the beautiful coast west of Santa Barbara, you'll find El Capitán State Beach, a 2,600-acre California State Park with a large campground and hiking trails. The park's top draw is the beach, and while you can drive right up to a strip of surf-friendly sand, you may also want to stretch your legs on the park's short nature trail. The Nature Trail loops through a lush sycamore grove bordering El Capitán Creek to approach the rocky shore at the end of El Capitán Point. ...Read more.

Santa Barbara County is famous for its beautiful beaches, and El Capitán State Beach is one worth noting, allowing visitors to camp on a low bluff just above the ocean. El Capitán State Beach is a fun place to camp with family and friends, relaxing by the ocean and falling asleep to the sound of the waves each night. The campground is located on a point 17 miles west of Santa Barbara, between Highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean. ...Read more.