Tyagarah Nature Reserve
Overview
Tyagarah Nature Reserve protects 7km of coastline where you can swim, sunbathe, fish, birdwatch or eat at the picnic area.
Read more about Tyagarah Nature Reserve
Tyagarah Nature Reserve protects a lovely strip of coastline, which runs for 7km between Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads. The coastal heath provides a gorgeous backdrop to the reserve’s unspoilt beach.
Catch a few waves, stroll by the water, build sandcastles with the kids or throw your line into the water for a spot of fishing – all within easy reach of Byron Bay township, yet peacefully away from the crowds.
In spring, eager whale-watchers gather on the beach, hoping to catch sight of the humpback whale mums and their new calves passing by on their way home from the Great Barrier Reef to Antarctica.
There are bushwalking tracks behind the dunes that self-reliant bushwalkers will enjoy exploring. Or, you can just kick back and relax in the picnic area.
Nudity is not permitted at Tyagarah Nature Reserve and Tyagarah Beach is no longer a clothing optional area.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://uat.nswparks.cloud/visit-a-park/parks/tyagarah-nature-reserve/local-alerts
Contact
- in the North Coast region
Tyagarah Nature Reserve is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. Tap and pay card or phone payments accepted at pay machines. Cash and credit cards accepted at Byron Bay Office.
Buy annual pass. -
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Byron Bay office
02 6639 8300
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. - 22 Tallow Beach Road, Byron Bay 2481
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Email: npws.tweedbyron@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Byron Bay office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Tyagarah Nature Reserve.
Map
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Maps and downloads
Nearby towns
Mullumbimby (10 km)
Mullumbimby sits on the Brunswick River and is overshadowed by subtropical hills.
Byron Bay (13 km)
Byron Bay is Australia's easternmost town and 'style capital' of the North Coast. It's a place of outstanding natural beauty, set against lush volcanic hills.
Ballina (36 km)
Ballina is a bustling holiday town and service centre and home of the Big Prawn. It's situated at the mouth of the Richmond River, close to superb beaches.
Learn more
Tyagarah Nature Reserve is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Unique, endangered ecology
The reserve protects six endangered ecological communities in the north coast bioregion: coastal saltmarsh; swamp sclerophyll forest; littoral rainforest; lowland rainforest on floodplain; subtropical coastal floodplain forest; and swamp oak floodplain forest. A huge total of 33 threatened plant species are known, or likely to occur, within the reserve such as stinking crypotocarya, red lilly pilly and green-leaved rose walnut.
- Tyagarah Nature Reserve picnic area Relax at this lovely picnic area next to Tyagarah Nature Reserve. Wander the nearby bush tracks, or head to the beach for swimming, sunbathing or fishing.
Generations of Aboriginal history
The reserve falls within the Bundjalung nation and is of importance to the local Arakwal people who have affiliations and connections to the reserve and surrounds. The abundant resources of the reserve have been used by generations of Bundjalung people, who are the original custodians of northern coastal areas of NSW.
Colourful wildlife
Among the diverse wildlife you may encounter here are Australian bush turkeys wandering the nearby tracks in search of food. Ospreys, brahminy kits and majestic white-bellied sea eagles patrol the coast, sometimes swooping dramatically to snatch food from the sea. Pied oystercatchers, with their distinctive long red beaks, may be seen searching for pippis along the beach. If you're especially lucky, you may even come across a wallaby grazing beside the track that runs from Grays Lane to Brunswick Heads. Threatened species recorded in the reserve include the long-nosed potoroo, wallum froglet, and the Mitchells Rainforest snail.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Tyagarah Nature Reserve has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. View the detailed park and fire management documents.