Type

Picnic areas

Where

Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve in South Coast

What to
bring

Hat, drinking water, sunscreen

Please note

Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go bird watching or whale watching

For a wonderful day exploring the unspoilt coastline of the NSW South Coast, gather the clan for a trip to Conjola Beach picnic area. Nestled near Lake Conjola Village, this idyllic picnic spot is a great base for adventurous families and walkers who are keen to discover the secluded charms of Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve.

Sheltered from the coastal winds, the picnic area is set back amongst the trees, only a short stroll to the beach. After a leisurely lunch at the tables, step out for a reviving walk along the golden sands or step out along Burrawang track - Conjola Beach to Buckleys Point.

It’s just a short walk to the nearby lookout with scenic coastal views that are sure to impress. It’s the perfect spot to look for sea eagles as well as for whale watching during their annual migration.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Visitor info

Maps and downloads

Learn more

Ancient fishing grounds

The reserve is situated within the traditional lands of the Wanda Wandian people and the Jerrinja Local Aboriginal Land Council. With nearby creeks, lagoons and beaches, this coastal oasis is likely to have been an important food-gathering area. The reserve protects Aboriginal middens and tool-making sites, as well as canoe and shield-making trees.

Diverse landscapes

This unique reserve protects a staggering variety of landscapes in a relatively small area, making it a region of incredible beauty as well as conservation importance. Here you can wander a veritable smorgasbord of woodlands, swamps, lagoons and lakes. Explore the range of landscapes and see if you can spot the changing forests from swamplands to dunes.

Historic remnants

Between the First and Second World Wars, silica was extensively mined near Pattimore's Lagoon. Now protected, you can wander the remains of the silica mining era and discover cuttings, mounds and even an old tram line that is now being taken back by mother nature. In the early 1900s, as well as a small amount of grazing, there was some selective logging of turpentine and blackbutt from the forests. There are still some tall stumps with notches that show where springboards were placed by the axemen.

Rare nesting grounds

The beaches are some of the most important nesting and feeding areas for the critically endangered hooded plover and endangered pied oystercatcher. These distinctive birds can be seen nesting during spring and summer. This unique reserve protects a type of swamp forest that is dominated by the swamp mahogany, which in turn is an important food source for several threated species including the swift parrot, regent honeyeater and yellow-bellied glider.