Junior ranger: Whale tales at Wyrrabalong
Wyrrabalong National Park
Overview
Hey junior whale watchers! These school holidays have fun whale watching at Crackneck Point lookout in Wyrrabalong National Park, near The Entrance. Learn how to spot whales on their annual migration.
- When
Tuesday 8 July and Wednesday 8 October 2025
Tuesday 7 July and 6 October 2026
10am to 12pm
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Grade
- Easy. Suitable for adults and children aged 5 years and above. You'll walk approx 1km.
- Price
-
Child (5 to 15 years) $15 per person. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Accompanying adults free.
- Meeting point
- Crackneck Point lookout
- Bookings
- Bookings required. Phone 1300 072 757 for more information or book online.
Crackneck Point lookout is a great place to see these amazing creatures of the deep in their natural environment. Find out how the whales survive their annual migration north during winter. If you've got binoculars, bring them along. Discover how to identify different types of whales, including the endangered Southern Right Whale.
You'll also go on a scenic coastal walk through Wyrrabalong National Park, led by an experienced NPWS guide. You’ll explore some of the park's diverse wildlife and enjoy fun hands-on activities.
Wear enclosed shoes and a hat, and bring drinking water, snacks, insect repellent, binoculars (if you have them) and sunscreen.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/guided-tours/junior-ranger-whale-tales-wyrrabalong/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
Park info
- in Wyrrabalong National Park in the Sydney and surrounds region
Wyrrabalong National Park is open from 5.30am to 8pm during daylight saving and 5.30am to 6pm rest of year.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Junior ranger: Whale tales at Wyrrabalong.
Getting there and parking
Crackneck Point lookout is in the southern section of Wyrrabalong National Park. To get there from Bateau Bay:
- Take Bateau Bay Road for about 500m
- Turn right onto Burrawong Street
- Take the first right to Hilltop Street and follow it to Crackneck Point at the end.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking available. Details to be provided on payment.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Assistance may be required to access this area.
- The carpark is conveniently located close to the lookout and picnic area
- The picnic area is grassed and sloping.
Learn more
Junior ranger: Whale tales at Wyrrabalong is in Wyrrabalong National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal culture
North Wyrrabalong forms part of traditional Country of the Awabakal People, with south Wyrrabalong (cut off from the north by The Entrance channel) being Darkinjung Country. The park has a rich Aboriginal history and protects many significant cultural sites, including an extensive midden at Pelican Point. You can take a guided tour with Nyanga Walang to find out more about local Darkinjung history.
Red gum forest
The northern section of Wyrrabalong National Park protects the largest stand of Sydney red gums, or Angophoras, on the Central Coast. Explore the red gum forest and enjoy the shade of these magnificent native trees along the Red Gum trail in north Wyrrabalong. See how the forest changes depending on the season – trunks change from orange in summer to pinkish-grey in winter. Visit around December to see the trees adorned with white flowers, and spot honeyeaters in the branches in wintertime. The park is also an important haven for a variety of wildlife, including a number of threatened migratory birds that visit the coastal strip between Forresters Beach and Blue Lagoon in the park’s southern section. There’s even a population of marine turtles in Tuggerah Lake – if you’re lucky, you might see a loggerhead turtle; they have a large head in proportion to the rest of its body.
- Junior ranger: Whale tales at Wyrrabalong Hey junior whale watchers! These school holidays have fun whale watching at Crackneck Point lookout in Wyrrabalong National Park, near The Entrance. Learn how to spot whales on their annual migration.
- Lillypilly loop trail The easy Lillypilly loop trail is a lovely rainforest walk on the NSW Central Coast. Enjoy birdwatching and scenic views over Tuggerah Lakes.
- Pelican Beach Road lookout Pelican Beach Road lookout offers scenic views over The Entrance and Pelican Beach and is a great spot for whale watching. The beach is popular for fishing and surfing.
Whale watching
The park's spectacular coastal lookouts - both north and south - are ideal vantage points for whale watchers. Bring your binoculars to Crackneck Point lookout in whale watching season and prepare to be astounded. Whales are frequently seen breaching and tail-slapping nearby. And watch for the blow as they surface for air - there's really nothing like it.
- Tandem paragliding on the NSW Central Coast Take a tandem flight with Cloudbase Paragliding and be treated to a stunning bird’s eye view of Wyrrabalong National Park on the NSW Central Coast.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
-
Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
The curious pelican is Australia’s largest flying bird and has the longest bill of any bird in the world. These Australian birds are found throughout Australian waterways and the pelican uses its throat pouch to trawl for fish. Pelicans breed all year round, congregating in large colonies on secluded beaches and islands.
-
Brown-striped frog (Lymnastes peronii)
One of the most common frogs found in Australia, the ground-dwelling brown-striped frog lives in ponds, dams and swamps along the east coast. Also known as the striped marsh frog, this amphibian grows to 6.5cm across and has a distinctive ‘tok’ call that can be heard all year round.
Plants
-
Cabbage palm (Livistona australis)
With glossy green leaves spanning 3-4m in length and a trunk reaching a height of up to 30m, the cabbage tree palm, or fan palm, is one of the tallest Australian native plants. Thriving in rainforest margins along the east coast of NSW, in summer this giant palm produces striking spikes of cream flowers which resemble cabbages.
-
Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)
Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.