Yuraygir Coastal Walk on NSW’s North Coast is Full of Secluded Beaches, Wildlife, & River Crossings

Want private beaches, cute coves, and coastal hideaways? The 65km Yuraygir Coastal Walk is brimming with the unique beauty of NSW’s North Coast. Experience it through the lens of Casey’s 35mm film camera.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Yaegl and Gumbaynggirr people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

The Yuraygir Coastal Track is a 65km multi-day hike along the pristine Northern NSW coast, passing through small townships, empty beaches, and rocky headlands. The hike takes 4 or 5 days.

Yuaraygir Coastal Walks Facts

Distance: 65km one way
Duration: 4 or 5 days
Elevation gain: 736m
Nearest town: Angourie and Red Rock

About the Yuraygir Coastal Walk

The Yuraygir Coastal Walk follows the headlands and beaches from Red Rock to Angourie, in the Yuraygir National Park, NSW’s largest coastal national park.

The walk passes through almost 50 different beaches, and over multiple different headlands, rivers, and creeks. The walk blends long isolated, challenging stretches of beach, with tricky river crossings and popular campgrounds.

The trail passes through significant Aboriginal sites as well as the coastal hideaways of Broomes Head, Minnie Water, The Sandon, and Wooli.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Yuraygir Coastal Walk History

Yuraygir Coastal Walk is located in Yaegl and Gumbaynggirr Country, with the name ‘Yurayigr’ coming from a phonetic translation from the names of the local tribes. While the track has no official opening date, it has been a travelling route for Traditional Owners for millennia and more recently an unofficial hiking route which has become popular over the last 15 years.

How to Get to the Yuraygir Walking Track

The track can be walked in either direction between Angourie and Red Rock. There are no public transport options, so you’ll either have to hitch a ride back to your car, or do the old two car shuffle.

It’s about an hour and 15 minute drive between the start and finish points.

At the northern end we left our car at the Mara Creek picnic area, just south of Angourie, although the NSW National Parks website lists Angourie Surf Reserve Lookout as the location for a car drop off, about 1km north east.

For the southern end, you can park at Red Rocks Beach car park or Red Rock Nature Reserve, but we‘d organised a lift back to the car with a helpful, reliable friend.

Where to Stay Along the Yuraygir Coastal Walk

Where you stay depends on how far you want to walk each day. I’ve heard of people doing the track in anywhere between three or five days, but I recommend four days and three nights as a happy medium.

NSW National Parks campgrounds along the way include: 

• Shelley Head Campground (walk-in only)
• Lake Arragan and Red Cliff Grey Cliff Campgrounds
• Sandon River Campground
• Illaroo Campground (near Minnie Water)
• Rocky Point Campground (walk-in only)
• Boorkoom Campground (Diggers Camp)
• Pebbly Beach Campground (access affected by tides)

To space out the walking evenly, my recommended campgrounds from south to north are:

Night 1: Boorkoom
Night 2: Sandon River
Night 3: Lake Arragan and Redcliff

But just to make your planning and decisions harder, the Shelley Beach Campground is the nicest, and because it’s walk-in only, you’ll often have it to yourself. However it’s only about 6km from the start/end at Angourie.

So Shelley Beach can be just an extra night for fun or push out an extra 6km or so past Lake Arragan Redcliff Campgrounds on the final night to get to Shelley Beach. Taking that day to a total of about 20km walking, followed by an easy 6km on the last day.

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Skill Level

Intermediate-Advanced

This track is challenging. There’s almost no elevation change or difficult navigation, but it’s the sand. Long stretches of soft sand in the hot sun. I’m not going to sugar coat it, it does get tiresome. Around 10km either side of The Sandon is just beach walking.

While there are two general stores on the way, and a few places to fill water, you’ll also need to be largely self-sufficient.

Read more: How To Hike in Hot Weather

Essential Gear for the Yuraygir Coastal Walk

• Sun protection (hat, sunnies, sunscreen, long sleeves – there’s almost no shade)
• A good waterproof bag for the river crossings (at the least for your electronics)
• Mosquito repellent or protective clothing, as the mozzies and sandflies can get brutal around summer
• Enough water for a few days as most campgrounds don’t have drinking water
• First aid kit
• PLB

Otherwise, it’s just the regular multi-day hike gear:

• Hiking shoes
• Camp shoes
• Hiking pack
• Sleep system (bag, mat, pillow)
• Swimmers
• Quick dry towel
• Meals and snacks for four days + an emergency meal
• Trowel and toilet paper

Read more: Overnight Hiking Packing List: 20+ Must-Have Hiking Essentials

What it’s Like to Walk the Yuraygir Coastal Track

To put it simply, this trail is isolatingly peaceful and beautiful, with stretches of challenging beach walking monotony that’ll strengthen your resolve. But the details are incredible. Not only are there dolphins and plenty of whales at the right time of year, but each stretch of coastal heath is worth a closer look, especially when there are wildflowers in spring.

There are also many species of birds and mammals in Yuraygir National Park, including sightings of some rarer species like the Eastern Ground parrot, quolls ,the rarely seen Rufous bettongs, coastal emu, or the very rare Green and Golden Bell frog, of which there are fewer than 100. You’ll also see plenty of eagles, echidnas, and other common coastal animals.

I’ll never forget on our last night camping at Shelley Beach on New Year’s Eve with a warm bottle of champagne watching the sunset on Echidna Headland, a little echidna strolled past us like a good omen for the new year.

Day 1 – Red Rock to Boorkoom (Diggers Camp)

Distance: 18km
Duration: 4-6 hours

Red Rock to Boorkoom Campground is a lovely walking day, with a nice mix of rock and sand, as well as swaying pandanus palms and protected coastal scrub.

As soon as we left Red Rock, we needed to cross the Corindi River, which at low tide was an easy wade, but at high tide it’d be a swim. Keep in mind the depth varies with the storms and tides throughout the year as they move sand around.

At the end of the first stretch of beach, we had another easy crossing at Station Creek, which took us along past the Pebbly Beach Campground, popular with 4WDers.

The next stretch across Freshwater Beach was much more peaceful and isolated and we got to swim at all the nice little coves on the way.

Read more: How to Stay Safe at the Beach

The start of Wooli Beach is about the halfway mark and at the end of this stretch is where we crossed the Wooli River, which I don’t recommend swimming. I’ve included boat service details in the tips below.

Once we were across, we stumbled on a general store about 2km off the beach in town. We could see Wilsons Headland in the near distance, which was more or less our stop for the night.

The headland is a great spot for first or last light, where we could see mountain ranges to the southwest and of course the big blue out to the east.

Boorkoom Campground was only about 500m away, where we pitched our tent up high on the headland above the water. Down below was another great little north facing cove, or another 600m up at the Diggers Camp Beach Cove.

Day 2 – Boorkoom (Diggers Camp) to Sandon River Campground

Distance: 17km
Duration: 4-6 hours

It was a peaceful start to our day as we began walking along the quiet Minnie Water backbeach, which took us up to the township, and another few great coves.

We passed a general store there, a good place for brekky as it was only about 5km from last night’s camp.

Leaving Minnie Water we passed Rocky Point, which has great coastal views north and was a great spot for a swim as we had a strong northerly wind. We got in a good rest and reset while we could, as the next stretch was the toughest section – a long, sandy beach walk.

Yep. 10km of sand. This section is a lot easier two hours either side of high tide, so you’re not stuck walking in the soft sand. It’s also a hell of a lot easier not in the baking midday or afternoon sun. So consider starting the whole day early, or swim and rest in the shade through the middle of the day.

Thankfully, after the long, long stretch of sand was the biggest river crossing, which again, based on personal experience, I don’t recommend swimming, as there’s a boat service (see tips below for details). The Sandon River is deep and fast moving, especially on an outgoing tide.

After this ordeal, we got to settle in at one of the best (and hardest to book) campgrounds on the North Coast of NSW – Sandon River Campground.

Day 3 – Sandon River to Lake Arragan and Red Cliff (or Shelley Beach)

Distance: 15km or 21km
Duration: 4-6 hours or 6-8 hours

I’ll let you decide how far you want to go today, but it’s not an issue at either campground to find a spot for the night.

Hopefully you’ll wake up well-rested and not too sore from yesterday’s big beach walk, because you’re starting the day with another! This morning it’s around 7-8km of sand walking, so again, I recommend an early start and not near high tide.

At the end of this stretch, we got to another great coastal hideaway, Broomes Head, where we found the other general store as well as a bowlo for lunch.

There was a little more sand walking this afternoon, but only about 3km of it, before we arrived at Red Cliff south, where we swam and relaxed under the stunning red rock walls.

There are a few camping options around here: Grey Cliff, Red Cliff, or another kilometre or so further at Lake Arragan. If you’re a bit over the sand and beach, the creek inlet at Lake Arragan is a great place for a swim and some well-deserved relaxation.

If you want to continue on the next 6km to Shelley Beach Campground, the good news is, there’s no sand walking, just a pleasant trail through heath and coastal scrub.

Day 4 – Lake Arragan and Red Cliff (or Shelley Beach) to Angourie

Distance: 15km or 9km
Duration: 4-6 hours or 2-4 hours

We were on the home stretch now and couldn’t wait to be on some concrete or grass.

If you’re leaving from Lake Arragan and Red Cliff, as above, you’ll have an easy 5-6km on exactly the kind of track you want to see on a coastal walk. If you’re into foliage, then you’re in for a treat, as Shelley Beach Headland is supposedly the ‘best example’ of remaining grassy clay heath in the state.

It certainly feels special and untouched sitting up on the headland. Right in front of Shelley Beach Campground are some natural tidal pools for swimming and just to the south along the rocks is a big cave, if you have time for exploring.

Leaving Shelley Beach Campground, we tackled our last stretch of beach walking, and only about 2km of it.

From there on we were back on a delightful cliffy, coastal track, with plenty of nice hard headland gravel and timber boardwalks.

We finished the day passing through all our favourite coastal banksia, cyprus, and wattle.

Tips For Walking the Yuraygir Coastal Walk

There are some important tips everyone should know before taking on the Yuraygir Coastal Walk, that’ll keep you safe and the trip a lot easier.

Tides

This walk will be a lot easier if you make note of the tides – I recommend bringing a printed chart or notes in a journal. Not only are the rivers and creeks much, much, much easier to cross at low tide, but walking on the long stretches of sand at high tide means you’re stuck trudging in the soft sand, making the walk not a fun experience.

Walk the beaches at low tide or at least not within two hours of high tide. Try to cross the rivers at incoming tide. They can suck out to the ocean very hard in an outgoing tide.

River Crossings

Crossing the rivers and creeks is a big part of this walk. Most are easy, save the Sandon River and Wooli River, which are both decent sized bodies of water with strong tides.

While we swam both these rivers, using dry bags over our packs as floats, I don’t recommend it. It was sketchy to say the least, plus the rocks can be hard to see climbing out in places. Next time I’ll definitely take the boat service.

For the Wooli River, call 0439 409 909, though it’s best to give some hours notice or organise in advance.

For the Sandon River the number is 0429 520 255.

Note these numbers may change, so you can also contact NSW National Parks Grafton on (02) 6641 1500 for the latest details.

Shops

There are two general stores you’ll almost directly pass on the walk at Minnie Water and Broomes Head. They both offer general tiny tourist town food supplies and also cook burgers and fish and chips. Just double check beforehand their opening times which can change seasonally.

There’s also a general store at Wooli, about 2km from the trail, if you’re desperate.

Other Campers

Friendly well-stocked campers at the drive-in campgrounds on the way are also a great resource. Sometimes, once you strike up a conversation or they see you looking disheveled with a heavy pack, they may offer water, snacks, or sometimes a meal!

Don’t be too proud to ask for help. Any high-ego bloke with a big 4WD (like me) takes pride in their well-organised set up and carries way too much of everything for a long weekend away.

Campgrounds

While the trail is always quiet, keep in mind that during peak season or school holidays, all the campgrounds other than the walk-in sites, are very popular and are often booked out, so plan ahead and book in advance.

Yuraygir Coastal Walk FAQs

How long is the Yuraygir Coastal Walk?

The Yuraygir Coastal Walk is 65km one way.

How much does it cost to go to Yuraygir National Park?

There’s an $8 per day park entry fee per vehicle for Yuraygir National Park.

What is there to do in Yuraygir National Park?

Yuraygir National Park is a coastal and heathland national park on NSW’s North Coast and there are plenty of bush walks to do, spanning from less than 2km long, up to the 65km Yuraygir Coastal Walk. The park is also full of picnic areas to hang out at during the day and a variety of campgrounds for overnight stays.

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