Yuraygir trails & lookouts
Guide updated · official distances/grades checked 13 Aug 2026 — verify open status on NSW National Parks
Start with a clear easy headland vs multi-day coast decision. Wilsons Headland covers most first visits. Distances, grades and times below are planning ranges — always confirm on NSW National Parks and park alerts. Weather, closures and stair status change.
Decide before you lace up
- Easy headland: Wilsons Headland — picnic, platforms, whale window.
- Half-day northern: Angourie walking track — official 10 km return, Grade 3, 3 hrs 30 min–4 hrs 30 min (check live alerts).
- Short woodland: Angophora grove (1.2 km, Illaroo picnic) or Corkwood & Scribbly Gum (2.3 km loop from Station Creek — southern roads).
- Hard coastal-walk segments: Angourie–Brooms Head through Wooli–Red Rock — boats, tides, extra food, one hero day only.
A full coastal-walk day plus another remote segment is usually too much for a first visit. Use the table to match distance and effort, then open the trail page for how to get there.
Coastal walk corridor
Maurice van Creij · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Quick comparison (planning only)
| Walk / lookout | Grade | Distance | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal walk (65 km) | Grade 4 · 4–5 days | 65 km one-way | 4–5 days (or walk as day segments) | Experienced walkers who will pre-book camps, boats and tides |
| Wilsons Headland | Grade 3 · easy–moderate | 3 km one-way | 45 min – 1 hr 15 min | Families, whale watching, wildflowers, visitors who want views without a multi-day |
| Angourie track | Grade 3 · half day | 10 km return | 3 hrs 30 min – 4 hrs 30 min | Day walkers based in Yamba / Angourie |
| Angourie–Brooms Head | Grade 4 · coastal-walk Day 1 | 18 km one-way | 6–7 hrs | Coastal-walk Day 1 without committing to 65 km |
| Brooms Head–Illaroo | Grade 3 · long day + boat | 18 km one-way | 7–8 hrs | Walkers who have already booked the Sandon boat |
| Illaroo–Wooli | Grade 4 · coastal-walk segment | 14 km one-way | 4 hrs 30 min – 5 hrs 30 min | Walkers using Wilsons Headland as a mid-day sit-down |
| Wooli–Red Rock | Grade 5 · most remote segment | 15.5 km one-way | 5 hrs 30 min – 6 hrs 30 min | Experienced walkers finishing the coastal walk |
| Freshwater track | Grade 4 · from Pebbly 4WD | 2 km return | 45 min – 1 hr 15 min | A short official walk once you are already at Pebbly Beach campground |
| Angophora grove | Grade 3 · short | 1.2 km return | 30 min – 1 hr | A forest contrast day when the beach is blown out |
| Corkwood & Scribbly Gum | Grade 2 · loop | 2.3 km loop | 45 min – 1 hr 15 min | A short southern woodland loop from Station Creek campground |
| Rocky Point | Grade 3 · short coastal | 1.8 km return | 30 min – 1 hr 30 min | A short family add-on from Illaroo South picnic area |
Easy
Wilsons Headland
easyThe 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.
- Grade
- Grade 3 · easy–moderate
- Time
- 45 min – 1 hr 15 min
- Distance
- 3 km one-way
View guide →
Angophora grove
easyOfficial 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.
- Grade
- Grade 3 · short
- Time
- 30 min – 1 hr
- Distance
- 1.2 km return
View guide →
Corkwood & Scribbly Gum
easyOfficial loop: 2.3 km, Grade 2, 45 min–1 hr 15 min from Station Creek campground upstream along the estuary through corkwood and scribbly gum forest.
- Grade
- Grade 2 · loop
- Time
- 45 min – 1 hr 15 min
- Distance
- 2.3 km loop
View guide →
Rocky Point
easyOfficial 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.
- Grade
- Grade 3 · short coastal
- Time
- 30 min – 1 hr 30 min
- Distance
- 1.8 km return
View guide →
Moderate
Angourie track
moderateOfficial northern day walk: Mara Creek picnic area to Shelley Headland, 10 km return, Grade 3. Check live alerts — the Angourie Backbeach spray window to 11 Sep 2026 is no longer on the official page (checked 13 Sep 2026).
- Grade
- Grade 3 · half day
- Time
- 3 hrs 30 min – 4 hrs 30 min
- Distance
- 10 km return
View guide →
Freshwater track
moderateOfficial southern walk: 2 km return, Grade 4, 45 min–1 hr 15 min from the northern end of Pebbly Beach campground to Freshwater Beach. The walk is easy to underestimate — getting to the start is the 4WD problem.
- Grade
- Grade 4 · from Pebbly 4WD
- Time
- 45 min – 1 hr 15 min
- Distance
- 2 km return
View guide →
Hard
Coastal walk (65 km)
hardThe 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 →
Angourie–Brooms Head
hardOfficial 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
hardOfficial 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 →
Illaroo–Wooli
hardOfficial central coastal-walk segment: 14 km one-way, Grade 4, 4 hrs 30 min–5 hrs 30 min past Wilsons Headland country into Wooli. Village finish makes this a clean two-car or booked-boat day.
- Grade
- Grade 4 · coastal-walk segment
- Time
- 4 hrs 30 min – 5 hrs 30 min
- Distance
- 14 km one-way
View guide →
Wooli–Red Rock
hardOfficial hardest coastal-walk block: 15.5 km one-way, Grade 5, 5 hrs 30 min–6 hrs 30 min. Wooli boat, Station Creek wade, Pebbly country, and no commercial boat at Corindi / Red Rock.
- Grade
- Grade 5 · most remote segment
- Time
- 5 hrs 30 min – 6 hrs 30 min
- Distance
- 15.5 km one-way
View guide →
FAQ
Tap a question to expand the answer.
What is the best first walk in Yuraygir?
Wilsons Headland walking track — official 3 km one-way, Grade 3, 45 min–1 hr 15 min, barrier-free lookouts. The 65 km coastal walk is a four- or five-day trip with boats and booked camps. Always verify track status with NSW National Parks.
Do I need a permit for the coastal walk?
Current official baseline: no walk permit beyond vehicle entry. Book camps separately. Pre-arrange Sandon and Wooli boats. Trip Intention Form recommended. [VERIFY] any future change.
Can I walk the whole coast in a day?
No. Official time is 4–5 days. Walk a named day segment with a booked finish, or stay on Wilsons Headland / Angourie tracks.
Which segment is hardest?
Official Wooli–Red Rock is Grade 5, 15.5 km, 5 hrs 30 min–6 hrs 30 min — the most remote block, with a Wooli boat and no commercial boat at Corindi / Red Rock.
Is Freshwater a central-park stroll?
No. Official start is Pebbly Beach campground (southern 4WD). 2 km return, Grade 4. Getting to the start is the hard part.
Where is drinking water on a walk day?
Park-wide visitor-info lists taps at Illaroo (and group) and Lake Arragan / Red Cliff. Pebbly’s own campground page also lists taps — pack a backup. Carry water between known points.