Wyrrabalong Aboriginal cultural tour
Wyrrabalong National Park
Overview
Walk alongside an Aboriginal guide in Wyrrabalong National Park and learn about the plants, animals and landscape while listening to cultural stories.
- When
- Monday 8 July 2024, 10am to 12pm.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Grade
- Easy. You’ll walk 3km with some short, steep hills and many steps in some sections. Suitable for adults and children 5 years and over.
- Meeting point
- Bateau Bay Beach picnic area
- Bookings
- Bookings required. Phone 1300 072 757 for more information or book online.
Join this special tour with an Aboriginal guide and learn about this exceptional park that hosts the last patch of coastal rainforest on the Central Coast, near Sydney.
Along the way, you’ll hear cultural stories and learn how every aspect of this beautiful land continues to hold deep significance to its Traditional Owners. Your guide will share wisdom passed through generations, including how the amazing variety of native plants are utilised for food, shelter and medicinal purpose.
Please wear enclosed shoes and bring insect repellent, a hat, sunscreen and drinking water and snacks.
This tour is kindly supported by Central Coast Council.
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/wyrrabalong-aboriginal-cultural-tour/local-alerts
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 Wyrrabalong Aboriginal cultural tour.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Bateau Bay:
- Take The Entrance Road and turn east into Yakalla Street.
- Turn right onto Bateau Bay Road and then left into Reserve Drive.
- The track starts from Bateau Bay Beach picnic area on Reserve Drive.
Parking
Parking is available at Bateau Bay Beach picnic area.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Not wheelchair-accessible.
Learn more
Wyrrabalong Aboriginal cultural tour 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.
- Wyrrabalong Aboriginal cultural tour Walk alongside an Aboriginal guide in Wyrrabalong National Park and learn about the plants, animals and landscape while listening to cultural stories.
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.
- 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.
- Wyrrabalong Aboriginal cultural tour Walk alongside an Aboriginal guide in Wyrrabalong National Park and learn about the plants, animals and landscape while listening to cultural stories.
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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.