Unofficial guide · verify with NSW National Parks

Yuraygir National Park guideYuraygir National ParkUnofficial operator’s manual

Brooms Head & Sandon River

Guide updated

Second northern village and the first major river crossing on the coastal walk. Sandon River campground sits on a peninsula with a boat ramp and a payphone.

  • Best for: Coastal-walk Day 2, river camping, whale watching from Brooms Head in winter
  • Time: Overnight typical; day visit possible from Brooms Head village
  • Brooms Head Road from Maclean. For Sandon River, turn right off Brooms Head Road and travel about 9 km along Sandon Road. [VERIFY] road condition after rain.

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Sandon River mouth and peninsula camping country, Yuraygir National Park

Brooms Head & Sandon River — Sandon River

janefellis · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Village plus river mouth

Brooms Head is one of the small coastal villages that break the park into separate visits. You can sleep in the village or book Sandon River campground. Walkers on the coastal walk usually treat this as the first day that needs a boat, a tide check and a booked site.

Whale watching from Brooms Head is an official winter highlight (migrating whales heading north). Take binoculars; do not expect a guaranteed show.

Sandon boat crossing

Official local-alerts river-crossing list (still posted 13 Aug 2026): Sandon River 0429 520 255. The Brooms Head–Illaroo track page still shows 0407 362 118. Confirm the live number via Grafton NPWS (02 6641 1500) before you commit a four-day walk to it. There is no vehicle ferry inside the park.

Arrange watercraft in advance. Carry extra food in case rough seas or a missed boat stall you in the village.

Brooms Head–Illaroo as a day

Official segment: 18 km one-way, Grade 3, 7–8 hours including the Sandon crossing. That is a long day even if the grade number looks friendly. Book the boat first; the beach walking is the easy part once that is organised.

The Sandon Village–Rocky Point spray window that ran through 30 August 2026 is no longer on the official alerts page (checked 13 Sep 2026). Sandon Beach north of the campground can still close for drone spraying through 18 September 2026. Camping areas are not listed as closed.

Brooms Head as a bail-out

If the boat is cancelled or late, stay in Brooms Head rather than improvising a river crossing. The village is one of the four named coastal-walk bail-outs (with Minnie Water, Wooli and Red Rock).

Whale watching from Brooms Head is official winter language. Binoculars help. The show is not guaranteed.

Highlights at a glance

  • Brooms Head village services and winter whale-watch vantage
  • Sandon River campground peninsula and boat ramp
  • Payphone at Sandon River campground (official list)
  • First commercial boat crossing for walkers (Sandon — planning number 0429 520 255; one official track page still shows 0407 362 118 — [VERIFY] with Grafton)

Practical tips

  • The Sandon payphone is a backup if your mobile has no signal. Do not rely on it as your only plan.
  • Village shops have limited hours — do not assume late resupply.
  • 2WD typically reaches Sandon; unsealed sections get sloppy after rain.
  • Confirm the Sandon boat number the day before — official pages disagree (0429 vs 0407).
  • Incoming tide is the official safer crossing window.

Facilities & services

  • Sandon River campground — toilets, picnic, BBQ, boat ramp, public phone
  • Brooms Head village — commercial food and accommodation (not park-managed)

Confirm toilets, parking and open facilities on the day via official sources and on-site signage.

Walks & lookouts nearby

Grades, times and open/closed status change — open each guide and verify on NSW National Parks before you go.

Angourie–Brooms Head

hard

Official first coastal-walk segment: 18 km one-way, Grade 4, 6–7 hours from Angourie Surfing Reserve toward Brooms Head via Lake Arragan / Red Cliff. Best walked north to south.

Grade
Grade 4 · coastal-walk Day 1
Time
6–7 hrs
Distance
18 km one-way

View guide →

Brooms Head–Illaroo

hard

Official coastal-walk segment: 18 km one-way, Grade 3, 7–8 hours including the Sandon River crossing. Book the boat first — official pages disagree on the phone number.

Grade
Grade 3 · long day + boat
Time
7–8 hrs
Distance
18 km one-way

View guide →

Coastal walk (65 km)

hard

The park’s flagship: a signposted 65 km one-way track from Angourie Surfing Reserve to Red Rock, following coastal-emu footprint markers across beaches, rock platforms, heath and villages. Best walked north to south. Self-sufficiency required.

Grade
Grade 4 · 4–5 days
Time
4–5 days (or walk as day segments)
Distance
65 km one-way

View guide →

All trails

Itineraries that use this area

4–5 days, Angourie → Red Rock (or Wooli finish)

4–5 days: Yuraygir coastal walk

Full flagship walk with a Wooli finish as the default safe plan if Corindi / Red Rock cannot be crossed. Day shape on the trail page — this itinerary is the booking and tide checklist.

2 days / 1 night

Weekend: Illaroo / Boorkoom camp

Book Illaroo (listed drinking water) or Boorkoom, walk Wilsons Headland, keep Day 2 short. Vehicle entry is still required on top of camping.

Map

Orientation only — confirm trailheads and road status before you drive.

Interactive map — pin may be approximate. Confirm trailheads and road status before you drive.

Open in Google MapsGet directions

FAQ — Brooms Head / Sandon

Tap a question to expand the answer.

Is there a ferry for cars?

No public vehicle ferry inside the park. Walkers needing river crossings pre-arrange boats. Vehicles use the three road access zones.

Which Sandon boat number should I use?

Planning source is the official river-crossing alert: 0429 520 255. The Brooms Head–Illaroo track page still lists 0407 362 118. Confirm with Grafton NPWS on 02 6641 1500 before you walk. Numbers change.

How long is Brooms Head to Illaroo?

Official: 18 km one-way, Grade 3, 7–8 hours, including the Sandon boat. Treat it as a full hard day despite the Grade 3 label.

Is there drinking water at Sandon River campground?

Sandon is not on the park-wide drinking-water list (Illaroo and Lake Arragan / Red Cliff are). Carry water. Facilities listed: toilets, picnic, BBQ, boat ramp, public phone.

Stays, tours & gear near Brooms Head / Sandon

Optional next steps after you plan this area — 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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