Unofficial guide · verify with NSW National Parks

Yuraygir National Park guideYuraygir National ParkUnofficial operator’s manual

One day: Wilsons Headland

5–7 hours including Grafton / Wooli driving · Best for: The best easy walk in the park

Guide updated · verify NSW National Parks the morning you go

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Drive the central access, walk Wilsons Headland 3 km one-way (or out-and-back), picnic at the official picnic area, optional Wooli village stop.

Panoramic view of undeveloped Yuraygir coastline and ocean

Yuraygir coastline panorama

Maurice van Creij · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

If you want Yuraygir views without boats or 4WD, this is the day. Official track: Grade 3, 3 km one-way, 45 min–1 hr 15 min, barrier-free lookout platforms and seats. [VERIFY] status the morning you go.

Vehicle entry still applies. There is little shade. Whale window on this track page is May–October; the park overview says May–September from Red Cliffs and Brooms Head. Treat it as a season, not a guarantee.

Freshwater track is not a central add-on — official start is Pebbly Beach campground (southern 4WD). Do not drive Diggers Camp Road looking for it.

Always check alerts. The Sandon–Rocky Point spray window through 30 August 2026 is no longer on the official page (checked 13 Sep 2026). Sandon Beach north of the campground can still close for drone spraying through 18 September 2026. Camps stay open.

Track status, weather and closures change — verify on NSW National Parks before you leave, then use the timeline below as a planning skeleton only.

Timeline

  1. Night before

    Alerts and a water plan

    Check local alerts and a simple wind forecast — headlands are exposed. Pack 1–2 L water, hat, SPF, binoculars in whale season. Agree: one walk, then picnic, then village or home. No Illaroo-to-Wooli 14 km “while we’re here.”

  2. Morning

    Central roads to the trailhead

    From Grafton: Pacific Highway south ~10 km, Wooli / Minnie Water turn-off, ~25 km to the T-intersection, Diggers Camp Road for Boorkoom / Wilsons Headland picnic area. Pay vehicle entry. Park only in signed picnic or campground parking.

  3. Late morning

    Walk the headland

    Walk the formed track between Boorkoom and the picnic area (or out-and-back from one car). Use lookout platforms and seats. Carry water — little shade. Turn around at the picnic area unless you have deliberately joined a longer coastal-walk segment.

  4. Midday

    Picnic at Wilsons Headland

    Official picnic area: toilets, tables, BBQ. This is the sit-down. If wind is howling, keep it short. Do not climb out onto cliff edges for a better photo.

  5. Afternoon (optional)

    Wooli village or a short woodland add-on

    Cold drink in Wooli — not a second hard walk. If energy remains and you are already near Illaroo: Angophora grove (1.2 km return from Illaroo picnic) or Rocky Point (1.8 km return from Illaroo South picnic). Freshwater is not here.

  6. Late afternoon

    Drive out with buffer

    Unsealed bits get sloppy after rain. Do not leave exhausted at dusk on Diggers Camp Road. Village food in Wooli or Minnie Water if anyone is fading.

Packing

  • Water 1–2 L
  • Binoculars (whale season)
  • Sun hat + SPF
  • Snacks
  • Wind layer — headlands stay windy
  • Phone + offline map screenshot

Kit searches live on the gear hub — not as a merch wall on the itinerary.

Parking & access tips

  • Signed picnic / campground parks only.
  • Diggers Camp Road after rain can be sloppy — turn around early.
  • Do not pull onto cliff edges.
  • Two-car shuffle only if you already agreed it; otherwise out-and-back is cleaner.

Skip if short on time / energy

  • Illaroo-to-Wooli full segment (14 km Grade 4)
  • Any boat crossing
  • Freshwater track (starts at Pebbly 4WD)
  • A second hard walk after the picnic

Extra tips

Who this plan is for

  • First-timers who want views without a multi-day
  • Mixed-ability groups who will use platforms and seats
  • Winter visitors with binoculars and patience
  • Anyone who will not invent a 14 km add-on

Decision gates (say them out loud)

  • If spray signs close cliff sections: picnic area only
  • If wind is howling: short stop, skip forcing a “full experience”
  • If kids are done after 45 minutes: you still succeeded
  • If someone proposes Illaroo–Wooli the same afternoon: no

What success looks like

  • Whole group finishes the formed track or an honest out-and-back
  • Picnic used as a sit-down, not a launch pad for a second hard day
  • Notes for next time: overnight at Illaroo, or Wooli as a walk midpoint

Related trail guides

  • Wilsons Headland walking trackThe park’s best short walk: Boorkoom campground to Wilsons Headland picnic area with barrier-free lookout platforms, seats, ocean views and a May–October whale window. Part of the longer coastal walk but complete on its own.
  • Rocky Point walking trackOfficial short walk: 1.8 km return, Grade 3, 30 min–1 hr 30 min. Starts at Illaroo South picnic area and passes Illaroo and Rocky Point campgrounds. No wheelchair access.
  • Angophora grove walking trackOfficial short walk: 1.2 km return, Grade 3, 30 min–1 hr from Illaroo picnic area through angophora / woodland. Can link with Rocky Point track.

Official links to verify

Stays, tours & gear for this plan

Optional next steps once your timeline is set — park fees and official NPWS bookings are never affiliated.

Nearby stays

Yamba (primary) · Wooli · Coffs Harbour

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Guided tours

Optional — useful if you want a local operator instead of self-driving

A tour does not replace checking NSW National Parks alerts, weather, or cliff safety yourself.

What to bring

Practical kit for beaches, heath, boats and changeable coastal weather

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