Yuraygir coastal walk

How to get there

1. Self-drive to Angourie Surfing Reserve (Yamba / Maclean side) or arrange a drop-off. There is no public transport into the park core.
2. Leave a finish car at Red Rock only if you have already solved the Corindi / Red Rock crossing — there is no commercial boat there. Many parties leave a car at Wooli instead.
3. Book every official camp you will use on the NPWS booking system before you leave. Annual vehicle passes do not cover camping.
4. Download the NSW National Parks app maps and a Yamba tide chart. Reception is limited.

How to do it (step by step)

1. Fill in a Trip Intention Form and tell a reliable contact your day shape and bail-out villages.
2. Walk north to south with the sun at your back, following the coastal-emu footprint markers.
3. Cross rock platforms only at low tide (official). Carry extra food — rough seas can close beach sections even at low tide.
4. Pre-book boats: Wooli River Boat Hire 0439 409 909; Sandon planning number 0429 520 255 (official river-crossing alert). The Brooms Head–Illaroo track page still shows 0407 362 118 — confirm the live Sandon number via Grafton 02 6641 1500. No commercial service at Red Rock / Corindi.
5. Safest river crossings are on an incoming tide. If a crossing is unsafe, stop in a village. Wooli is a legitimate finish.

What to expect

Official facts: 65 km one-way, 4–5 days, Grade 4, signposted, some bushwalking experience recommended, short steep hills, occasional steps, rough track with many obstacles. No wheelchair access on the full walk (Angourie Bay, Mara Creek and Wilsons Headland picnic areas are the mobility-friendly points of interest).

You are linking tracks, beaches and rock platforms rather than following one formed path. The scenery is undeveloped NSW coast: heath, lagoons, headlands and the Solitary Islands Marine Park offshore. Most people who get into trouble do so on boats, tides and water, not because the walking is mystical.

This is Yaegl Country in the north and Gumbaynggirr Country in the south. Stick to official acknowledgements. Stay on the track and leave significant places alone.

Suggested day shape (adjust to fitness and tides)

These day lengths are a planning outline from commonly published walk notes, not a live NPWS timetable. Confirm current segment names and camp rules on the official coastal-walk page and map before you book.

Day 1 — Angourie / Mara Creek → Lake Arragan / Brooms Head (about 13–17 km). Northern beaches and the Red Cliff / Lake Arragan complex. Stay off unstable cliffs. Book Lake Arragan / Red Cliff or Brooms Head beds.

Day 2 — Brooms Head → Sandon River (about 13–19 km). First major river crossing. Pre-book the Sandon boat. Incoming tide is the official safer window.

Day 3 — Sandon → Illaroo / Boorkoom / Minnie Water (about 14–17.5 km). Central villages and the Wilsons Headland picnic / camp cluster. Illaroo is one of the few listed drinking-water camps.

Days 4–5 — Wooli → Pebbly / Station Creek → Red Rock. Official Wooli–Red Rock segment: 15.5 km one-way, Grade 5, 5 hrs 30 min–6 hrs 30 min (most remote). Pre-book the Wooli boat. Tidal Station Creek wade. No commercial boat at Corindi / Red Rock — arrange your own crossing or finish at Wooli if unsafe.

Boat crossings (verify numbers)

Official river-crossing alert (still posted 13 Aug 2026): Wooli River — Wooli River Boat Hire 0439 409 909. Sandon River — 0429 520 255. Red Rock / Corindi — no commercial service. Safest crossing on an incoming tide. The Brooms Head–Illaroo track page still lists a different Sandon number (0407 362 118). [VERIFY] both crossings with Grafton NPWS (02 6641 1500, Mon–Fri 8.30am–4.30pm) before you walk. Numbers change.

There is no vehicle ferry in the park. Support drivers use the three road zones. There is no regular shuttle between them.

Hazards and reverse / bail-out

Reverse walking (south to north) is possible but official advice is north to south with the sun at your back. Reverse does not remove tides or boats — it just changes the glare and the order of villages.

Bail-outs: Brooms Head, Minnie Water, Wooli, Red Rock. If a beach is closed by swell, sit in a village. Extra food is official advice, not paranoia.

Communications: limited reception throughout the park. Triple Zero needs reception. Download Emergency+ before you arrive. Use the NSW National Parks app for offline maps. A PLB or satellite messenger is worth considering. We do not list which phone carriers work where.

Self-sufficiency

Sturdy shoes, drinking water, hat, snacks, sunscreen — official “what to bring.” Add dry bags, a printed tide window, first-aid, and a layer for wind. Paper is not part of the Yuraygir recycling program; cans, plastic bottles and glass can be recycled at park campgrounds.

No permit beyond vehicle entry on the current official baseline. Book camps online only. Vehicle entry is still required on top of camping. Never buy those products through this site.

Map (orientation)

Pin may be approximate. Confirm trailheads, parking and track status on NSW National Parks before you drive.