Things to do in Yuraygir National Park

Last reviewed 13 Sept 2026 · verify live conditions with NSW National Parks

Most first visits revolve around Wilsons Headland or a northern day at Angourie & Lake Arragan. The 65 km coastal walk and Pebbly Beach 4WD are a different sport. Rivers split the park into three access zones — do not try to collect every icon on a first visit.

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Rocky headland and ocean at the northern Yuraygir coast near Angourie — Northern Yuraygir headland
Maurice van Creij · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Day one rule

Pick one primary experience (usually Wilsons Headland or Angourie / Lake Arragan). Do not collect all three access zones on a first visit.

Weather / energy bail-out

Village time or a picnic area beats a forced rock-platform crossing. Wooli is a valid coastal-walk finish. Bail-outs are competence.

Overnight / 4WD filter

The 65 km coastal walk and Pebbly Beach 4WD are earned. If the group has never booked boats or driven beach sand, stay on Wilsons or the northern day.

1
Wilsons Headland walking track
Best first walk · Grade 3 · picnic
The classic first-visit walk: official 3 km one-way, Grade 3, 45 min–1 hr 15 min, barrier-free lookouts and picnic. Views without boats or 4WD.
Track guide →One-day plan Wilsons / Wooli area
2
Angourie & Lake Arragan
Northern · first visit · lookout + camp
Northern first day from Yamba: surfing reserve, optional 10 km Angourie track, lagoon camp and cliff views from a safe setback. Official: cliffs are unstable — stay well back.
Northern zone →Northern day plan Angourie track
3
Beaches, surf & snorkel
Unpatrolled · rips · summer
Unpatrolled park beaches with rips. Swim at flagged beaches outside the park when that matters. Check Beachsafe. Village picnic areas are the family product.
Beach safety →Beachsafe Family day
4
Whale watching
May–Oct window · binoculars · headlands
Official winter highlight from Red Cliffs lookout and Brooms Head (May–September on the park page). Wilsons Headland lists May–October. Binoculars; stay on platforms.
Whale notes →Wilsons Headland Brooms Head
5
Wildlife & wildflowers
Emus · shorebirds · spring heath
Endangered coastal emus (give space, never feed), little terns at Station Creek, spring heath on Wilsons Headland and the coastal walk. Stay on track.
Wildlife article →Wildflowers Station Creek
6
Paddle Lake Arragan, Sandon, Station Creek
BYO craft · sheltered water
Official park copy flags canoeing and SUP on quiet water. Bring your own craft; check wind and tides. Station Creek canoe launch and viewing platform is removed until replaced (alert still posted 13 Aug 2026).
Lake Arragan →Sandon River Dry bags / kit
7
Fishing (licence separate)
Statewide licence · [VERIFY] rules
Autumn is the official beach-fishing highlight. NSW recreational fishing licence is a statewide product — never affiliated here. Solitary Islands Marine Park zoning is separate.
NSW fishing fee →Marine park zoning Fee system C
8
4WD Pebbly Beach (Yuraygir)
4WD · tide · southern · status-critical
High-clearance 4WD, beach driving, low-tide via Bacoongerie Road. McPhillips logging trucks. Not the Murramarang Pebbly Beach. Station Creek is the 2WD-typical neighbour.
4WD article →4WD itinerary Southern zone
9
Yuraygir coastal walk
Advanced · multi-day · boats & tides
65 km, 4–5 days, Grade 4, Angourie to Red Rock. Boats, tides and booked camps first. Wooli is a valid finish. Not a first casual afternoon — a different sport from Wilsons Headland.
Walk logistics →Planning article 4–5 day plan

All walks on this guide

11 practical walk and lookout pages with logistics. Always confirm on NSW National Parks.

Coastal walk (65 km) — hard · 4–5 days (or walk as day segments)
Wilsons Headland — easy · 45 min – 1 hr 15 min
Angourie track — moderate · 3 hrs 30 min – 4 hrs 30 min
Angourie–Brooms Head — hard · 6–7 hrs
Brooms Head–Illaroo — hard · 7–8 hrs
Illaroo–Wooli — hard · 4 hrs 30 min – 5 hrs 30 min
Wooli–Red Rock — hard · 5 hrs 30 min – 6 hrs 30 min
Freshwater track — moderate · 45 min – 1 hr 15 min
Angophora grove — easy · 30 min – 1 hr
Corkwood & Scribbly Gum — easy · 45 min – 1 hr 15 min
Rocky Point — easy · 30 min – 1 hr 30 min

Walks hub Itineraries Articles Plan visit

Stays, tours & gear (optional)

Optional next steps after you pick an activity. Park fees and official NSW National Parks bookings are never affiliated.

Nearby stays

Yamba (primary) · Wooli · Coffs Harbour

Hotels & stays in YambaNorthern gateway — Angourie and Lake Arragan day trips
WooliCentral village on the coastal walk
Coffs HarbourSouthern services hub for Station Creek / Pebbly

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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

2–3 L water capacityDrinking water is only listed at some official campgrounds — carry between sites
Sun hat + SPF50Open beaches and heath have little shade; summer has recorded 42.5°C
Grip trail shoesBeaches, rock platforms and sandy tracks are hard on ordinary sneakers
Dry bag for river crossingsBoat and wade crossings on the coastal walk soak packs if you are careless
Light rain / wind shellMarch can dump huge rain; headlands stay windy even on “fine” days
Day pack 20–30 LWater, extra food for tide delays, first-aid and a dry layer
First-aid + tick/snake awarenessCoastal heath and forest — pack for snake and tick awareness, not as an afterthought
Tide chart / offline mapsRock platforms only at low tide; reception is limited — screenshot Yamba tides
PLB or sat messenger (optional)Worth considering for the multi-day walk or Pebbly / Shelley Head — not a legal requirement
HeadlampShort winter days and village-to-camp finishes after dusk
Power bankPayphones exist in villages and at Sandon; do not rely on charging in camp
Spare socksBeach walking and creek wades — dry feet keep a long day civil

Some stay, tour and gear links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Park fees, official NSW National Parks camping bookings and fishing licences are never affiliated. Affiliate disclosure · Privacy