Wallingat National Park

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Overview

On the mid-North Coast of NSW, Wallingat National Park, with its varied forest and swamp landscapes, offers hiking, touring, birdwatching and camping in a coastal locale.

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Here, on the Mid North Coast of NSW, the Pacific Ocean meets forest. At Whoota Whoota lookout, one of Wallingat National Park’s most visited attractions, you’ll be overwhelmed by the beauty. Explore the park further and you’ll see stands of straight, tall flooded gums. At Sugar Creek, there are also stands of cabbage palms, filled with the sounds of Wallingat’s native birdlife. Pack the car and explore what this great park has to offer for a few hours. There’s camping at Wallingat River, and a picnic area at Sugar Creek.

A network of unsealed roads throughout the park allows you to discover its best features. Accessible by 2WD in dry weather, you can also explore them by mountain bike or horseback. There’s great fishing in the river and lake, and you can swim when the weather is warm. Keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos and wallabies, as well as some of the 200 species of birds that make Wallingat their home.

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Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://uat.nswparks.cloud/visit-a-park/parks/wallingat-national-park/local-alerts

Contact

  • in the North Coast region
  • Wallingat National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to extreme weather or fire danger.

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Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Wallingat National Park.

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Nearby towns

Forster (30 km)

Dominated by water sports Forster is the centre of the Great Lakes area.

www.visitnsw.com

Bulahdelah (32 km)

Buladelah is the gateway to Myall Lakes National Park. It's situated on the Myall River, with a backdrop of soaring, forested hills.

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Taree (64 km)

Taree is a major mid North Coast city, ringed by superb beaches. It's situated on the Manning River and set against rolling hills.

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Learn more

Wallingat National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:

Life among the trees

Cabbage Palm loop, Wallingat National Park. Photo: John Spencer

More than 200 species of birds make Wallingat National Park a home. Walking through forest as well as stands of straight flooded gums, and cabbage palms, you'll hear birds singing. Noisy friarbirds, for instance, have a distinctive 'ya-kob' call, while a 'woop, woop, woop' sound signals the presence of the wonga pigeon. You might see blue wrens flitting through the trees, as well as king parrots and glossy black cockatoos. Wallingat is also a popular spot for the satin bowerbird – the males are black and shiny, the females are a plainer brown. They both, however, have startling lilac eyes.

  • Double Wharf trail Experience the scenic waterways and mountainous forests of Wallingat National Park along Double Wharf trail – perfect for walking or mountain bike riding.
  • Sugar Creek picnic area Sugar Creek picnic area is a family-friendly relaxation spot with easy walking trails through forested landscape, a leisurely drive from Forster and Pacific Palms.

Fun times

Gur-um-bee picnic area, Wallingat National Park. Photo: John Spencer

Whether you're after a relaxing time or something more adventurous, Wallingat is just the spot. Take to the gravel roads either on foot, in a car or on a bike – to explore the forests. You can swim, fish and paddle on Wallingat River. Pitch a tent in the campground and get away from it all for a few days in this naturally beautiful setting. Surrounding some of the picnic areas and campsites, you’ll find magnificent stands of trees. In the southeast corner of Wallingat, there are tall, straight flooded gums, as well as stands of cabbage palms. Find both during a walk from Sugar Creek picnic area. Some rare plants such as the liana woody climber, a climbing species that bears white flowers from August to May, can also be found here.


  • Double Wharf trail Experience the scenic waterways and mountainous forests of Wallingat National Park along Double Wharf trail – perfect for walking or mountain bike riding.
  • Wallingat Forest drive The 25km loop of Wallingat Forest drive, near Forster, is on unsealed roads that meander through forests, and excellent for cars, 4WDs, bicycles, walking and horse riding.
  • Whoota Whoota lookout From Whoota Whoota lookout, easily accessible by car, you can see for miles. Take in scenic views of Wallingat’s eucalypt forests, Wallis Lake and 100km of coastline.

Ancient footprints

Cabbage Palm loop, Wallingat National Park. Photo: John Spencer

The 6,557ha of Wallingat National Park is part of the identity and spirituality, as well as a resource, for people of the Worimi nation. The Worimi People lived a traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle and used the leaves of the cabbage palm for weaving baskets and its fibrous bark for making fishing line. They used many of the area's natural resources, including the freshwater lakes, stone outcrops, and the ocean. A central campsite was known to exist in the area now known as Coomba Park, although there are few other Aboriginal sites recorded within the park include the Bungwahl area.

Education resources (1)

What we're doing

Wallingat National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. View the detailed park and fire management documents.

General enquiries

Contact

  • in the North Coast region
  • Wallingat National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to extreme weather or fire danger.

  • More
See more visitor info