Eastern Side lookout
Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve
Overview
The Eastern Side lookout offers spectacular views of the Solitary Islands. A short walk from the carpark, it’s a great place for whale watching in the heart of Coffs Harbour.
- Type
- Lookouts
- What to
bring - Hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- Please refrain from disturbing the birds; this means no flash photography and always keep to the track
- It’s around a 2km return journey to the lookout from the carpark area near the breakwall
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to bird watch or whale watch
The Eastern Side lookout is located a short walk from the Muttonbird Island outdoor learning space along a paved walkway. As you’re walking along the track to the lookout, on either side of the path you’ll notice open entrances to muttonbird burrows. Signage along the way explains the lifecycle of these migratory birds.
It is really important to stay on the track as the burrows are fragile and the plant cover provides little protection from cave-ins which can be disastrous for the birds.
The Eastern Side lookout is perched above wave-worn rock platforms at the eastern end of the walkway. You’ll enjoy unimpeded views of Solitary Islands Marine Park all year round and between May and November you might see humpback whales on their annual migration. On a clear day you can see all the way along the north coast to South West Rocks in the south and north to Woolgoolga.
Take a virtual tour of Eastern Side lookout captured with Google Street View Trekker.
Map
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Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://uat.nswparks.cloud/things-to-do/lookouts/eastern-side-lookout/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve in the North Coast region
Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Eastern Side lookout.
Maps and downloads
Learn more
Eastern Side lookout is in Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Divers delight
Muttonbird Island marks the southern boundary of the Solitary Islands Marine Park. The marine park protects coral reefs, mangroves, sea-grass beds, rockpools and river estuaries. It's a diver's paradise, a place where fish species from the tropical north and temperate south mingle among the reefs.
- Eastern Side lookout The Eastern Side lookout offers spectacular views of the Solitary Islands. A short walk from the carpark, it’s a great place for whale watching in the heart of Coffs Harbour.
- Muttonbirds by moonlight guided tour Walk the break wall path from Coffs Harbour to Muttonbird Island and join this short evening tour. You'll come up close to the birds who give Muttonbird Island its name.
Giidany Miirlarl
Muttonbird Island is a sacred and significant site to the local Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal people, who call the island Giidany Miirlarl, meaning moon sacred place. The moon is the island's protector, guarding the muttonbirds as a food source and protecting them from over-harvesting. The island was also a ceremonial site. Find out more about the cultural significance of Gumbaynggirr Country, taste bush tucker foods and learn about traditional uses of plants for medicine and shelter on a guided tour with one of the Aboriginal Discovery Rangers.
Love nest
The island is home to thousands of wedge-tailed shearwaters, so called for their ability to cut or shear the water with their wings as they skim across the surface. Early settlers called them muttonbirds because of their fatty mutton-like flesh. The birds spend the Australian winter in southeast Asia, travelling back to Muttonbird Island in August each year. Amazingly, the birds return to the same burrow every year. A pair of birds share the responsibility of keeping one single egg warm and then share the raising of their chick. During the day they forage for food and return to their burrow just after dusk. They depart on their annual migration in late April every year.
- An island sanctuary self-guided audio tour SL TEST IMMERSIVE STORY CHANGE - Go on a self-guided audio tour with Matt Flanders across Muttonbird Island and discover the significance of this bustling seabird rookery. Take in the spectacular views as you stroll towards the eastern lookout and learn about the shearwaters that nest here.
- Eastern Side lookout The Eastern Side lookout offers spectacular views of the Solitary Islands. A short walk from the carpark, it’s a great place for whale watching in the heart of Coffs Harbour.
- Muttonbirds by moonlight Muttonbirds by Moonlight is an Ecosystems at risk school excursion on Muttonbird Island, a nesting rookery for wedgetail shearwaters, for Stage 6 (Years 11-12) students focusing on Geography.
- Muttonbirds by moonlight Join us at twilight for a fascinating exploration of Muttonbird Island and its nesting rookery for thousands of wedge-tailed shearwaters. This Stage 2 (Years 3-4) Geography excursion examines the features and characteristics of this unique place and environment.
- Muttonbirds by moonlight guided tour Walk the break wall path from Coffs Harbour to Muttonbird Island and join this short evening tour. You'll come up close to the birds who give Muttonbird Island its name.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
The curious pelican is Australia’s largest flying bird and has the longest bill of any bird in the world. These Australian birds are found throughout Australian waterways and the pelican uses its throat pouch to trawl for fish. Pelicans breed all year round, congregating in large colonies on secluded beaches and islands.
Education resources (1)
School excursions (5)
- Giidany Miirlarl: A special site, Stage 3 (Years 5-6), Science and Technology
- Muttonbirds by moonlight, Stage 6 (Years 11-12), Geography
- The rookery roundabout at Muttonbird Island, Stage 1 (Years 1-2), Science and Technology
- Giidany Miirlarl: A special site, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Geography
- Muttonbirds by moonlight, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Geography