Sportsmans Creek canoe trail

Sportsmans Creek canoe trail is in Everlasting Swamp National Park. To get there from Grafton:

• Drive 20km north-east on Lawrence Road.
• Veer left onto Weir Road on the bridge across Sportsmans Creek.
• Continue on Weir Road for 4.5km to the park entrance.
• As you reach the end of the sealed road, drive past 4 gates and follow the creek edge to the park entrance.
• The canoe route launch point is at the carpark, just inside the park boundary.

Road quality

• Mixture of sealed and unsealed roads

Vehicle access

• 2WD vehicles

Parking

Parking is available. Use the carpark at the park’s Weir Road entrance. This gravel carpark has space for 5 vehicles.

In Everlasting Swamp National Park there are always new things and places to explore as the wetland changes with the seasons. Here are some highlights.

Autumn

This is high season for twitchers. Bring your binoculars for a good look at black-necked storks in their nests and other wading birds. See large migrating flocks pass through, especially in wetter years. It’s your last chance to fish for bass as the season ends on 30 April.

Spring

It’s a great time to see black swans with their cygnets and if you’re lucky, pairs of brolgas or jabiru guiding their young. If you’re coming for a paddle, bring your rod and reel because bass season opens on 1 September.

Summer

As summer rains fill the wetland, it truly comes alive and frogs begin to breed. Now's the time to fish and explore new areas of the park by kayak or canoe. Come prepared because there’s not a lot of shade in this park.

Winter

The wetland dries and birdlife retreats to patches of still-deep water. Come in mid-August to witness brolgas bob and leap in flamboyant courtship dances—a must-see. Cool, sunny days are perfect to explore Everlasting Swamp by bike and canoe down Sportsmans Creek.

There are no facilities and no drinking water in Everlasting Swamp National Park. Please bring plenty of water with you.

Carpark

• Sportsmans Creek canoe trail factsheet
• Sportsmans Creek canoe trail map (1.2MB pdf)

Disability access level - hard

• Wheelchairs can access this area with some difficulty.
• The canoe launch site is located 25m from the Weir Road carpark.
• From the carpark you can access the canoe launch site with assistance or if you have a wheelchair with inflatable tyres, a TrailRider all-terrain wheelchair, or a beach wheelchair.