Broken Head picnic area
Broken Head Nature Reserve
Overview
Indulge in some picnicking, swimming, surfing, and birdwatching, while discovering a secluded paradise where lush rainforest meets the beach.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Where
- Broken Head Nature Reserve in North Coast
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- What to
bring - Drinking water, sunscreen, hat
- Please note
Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch or whale watch.
Just a short drive or bike ride from Byron Bay, and you can enjoy an early morning swim or surf, followed by a peaceful walk along the beach. Then, after you’ve worked up a morning appetite, wander back to Broken Head picnic area and indulge in a satisfying barbecue breakfast.
Spread a blanket on the grass and laze away the day under a shady tree with a good book listening to the sounds of the rainforest behind you. Or head back to the beach for a spot of fishing and a game of cricket with the kids.
It’s a perfect place to just relax, yet there’s so much to explore here. Wander through the lush rainforest to Three Sisters lookout for spectacular views and whale watching. Or enjoy the birdwatching opportunities under the rainforest canopy and along the water’s edge.
Map
Map legend
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/picnic-areas/broken-head-picnic-area/local-alerts
General enquiries
- 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
Park info
- in Broken Head Nature Reserve in the North Coast region
Broken Head Nature Reserve is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
-
Park entry fees:
$4 per vehicle per hour. Tap and pay card or phone payments accepted at pay machines. Cash and credit cards accepted at Byron Bay Office.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about the Broken Head picnic area.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
On entering Broken Head Nature Reserve:
- Continue 100m from the entrance to the picnic area at Broken Head
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available in an asphalt carpark at Broken Head picnic area, including a designated accessible parking spot. Please note that this is paid parking. Bus parking is not available.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Broken Head Nature Reserve. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Pack a picnic and enjoy the beautiful setting at Broken Head picnic area. Enjoy a game of beach cricket or explore the wonders of the tideline.
Spring
Enjoy the incredible view from Broken Head headland as humpback whales and their new calves breach and blow as they make their way south.
Summer
Get away from the crowds and spend the day picnicking at the beach, walk through the lush rainforest, and enjoy spectacular views from the headland.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
19°C and 27°C
Highest recorded
35.1°C
Winter temperature
Average
11°C and 20°C
Lowest recorded
3.3°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
652mm
Facilities
Amenities
Toilets
- Flush toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Carpark
Drinking water
Public phone
Showers
There's an accessible cold outdoor shower at the picnic area.
- Cold showers
Step-free access
The picnic area is flat and step-free, with a concrete path that runs through the picnic area and past the toilets. There are also hard-packed ground pathways that lead to the beach.
To reach other parts of the picnic area you'll need to cross over flat grass.
- Step-free outdoor pathways
Seats and resting points
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Broken Head picnic area is flat and step-free, with the following accessible facilities:
- 1 accessible parking spot in the asphalt carpark
- An accessible flush toilet, which you can reach along a concrete path
- An accessible cold, outdoor shower
There's a concrete pathway that runs through the picnic area and hard-packed ground pathways that lead to the beach. To reach the other parts of the picnic area, you'll need to cross over flat grass.
Permitted
Fishing
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Broken Head picnic area is in Broken Head Nature Reserve. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal cultural heritage
Broken Head Nature Reserve is co-managed by NPWS and the Arakwal People, acknowledging the cultural significance of this land to Aboriginal People. Three Sisters, previously known as Cocked Hat Rocks, is an important cultural site representing a story about a young Aboriginal woman who was caught in a strong current when swimming in this area. When her sister attempted to save her, they both drowned and were transformed into stone. This story was told to warn children not to swim in the strong and dangerous currents here.
- Three Sisters walking track (Broken Head) Take the family walking through the rainforest on a day-trip to this spectacular lookout. Find out about its Aboriginal heritage, and after, enjoy whale watching and picnicking by the beach.
Botanical wonders
Whether you’re a botanist or just a nature-lover, it’s not hard to appreciate the incredible biodiversity at Broken Head. This small reserve protects three endangered plant communities: littoral and lowland rainforest, headland grasses and woodlands. There are 240 different plant species here, 12 of which are threatened in NSW and six in Australia, such as the white lace flower rainforest tree, which you might see standing tall along the entrance road in summer dotted with fluffy white ball flowers.
- Three Sisters walking track (Broken Head) Take the family walking through the rainforest on a day-trip to this spectacular lookout. Find out about its Aboriginal heritage, and after, enjoy whale watching and picnicking by the beach.
Rich bird and animal life
Broken Head Nature Reserve is a haven for birdwatchers and animal-lovers. Thanks to the plentiful supply of food on the NSW North Coast, the area is visited by many migratory and nomadic birds, flying-foxes and micro-bats. Three Sisters lookout is a great place for birdwatching and spotting migrating whales in winter and spring. Wandering along the beaches and in the rainforest, you’re sure to meet locals like brush turkeys patrolling the understorey in their search for food. But you might also be lucky enough to spot threatened species like the colourful wompoo fruit-dove, with its spectacular green, purple, and yellow plumage.
- Broken Head picnic area Indulge in some picnicking, swimming, surfing, and birdwatching, while discovering a secluded paradise where lush rainforest meets the beach.
- Three Sisters walking track (Broken Head) Take the family walking through the rainforest on a day-trip to this spectacular lookout. Find out about its Aboriginal heritage, and after, enjoy whale watching and picnicking by the beach.