Saltwater picnic area

Saltwater National Park

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Overview

Enjoy relaxed picnicking or barbecues at this well-equipped picnic area with ocean beaches and walking tracks nearby where you can swim, fish, surf, kayak or birdwatch.

Type
Picnic areas
Accessibility
Easy
What to
bring
Hat, sunscreen, drinking water
Please note

You'll need to bring your own supply of drinking and cooking water.

Saltwater picnic area is a lovely, wide-open space that makes a perfect spot for a barbecue or picnic. Relax under the sheltered picnic table or spread out on the grass under the shady rainforest trees.

There are free gas barbecues to use while admiring the superb views of the rainforest. Be sure to pack the kids' bikes as they will no doubt enjoy cycling around this picturesque picnic spot.

You can swim, surf, sunbathe and fish at the adjacent Saltwater beach, Khappinghat Creek or the nearby Wallabi Beach. Take a walk along Five Islands walking track and remember to keep your eyes open for the intriguing local wildlife, including carpet pythons, monitor lizards and red-neck wallabies.

Saltwater Beach has been a popular recreation spot for more than a century and continues thousands of years of tradition as a seasonal campsite for Aboriginal people.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

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/saltwater-picnic-area/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about the Saltwater picnic area.

Getting there and parking

Saltwater picnic area is in Saltwater National Park. To get there:

  • Take Old Bar Road from Taree/Pacific Highway
  • Drive 10km east and turn right onto Saltwater Road
  • Follow Saltwater Road past the village of Wallabi Point
  • Saltwater picnic area is at the end of Saltwater Road

Road quality

  • Sealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

There are several carparks near the picnic area.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Saltwater National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

Take walks around the headland and through to adjoining Khappinghat Nature Reserve.

Spring

Enjoy whale watching from the viewing platform at Saltwater Point from August through November.

Summer

Swim, surf and sunbathe on the beaches, canoe and kayak in the creek, or enjoy a picnic on the grass under the shady rainforest trees.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

17°C and 29°C

Highest recorded

45.2°C

Winter temperature

Average

8°C and 21°C

Lowest recorded

-5°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

March

Driest month

August

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

280.2mm

Facilities

Amenities

Toilets

There are accessible toilets near the lagoon boat ramp.

  • Flush toilets

Picnic tables

There are accessible picnic tables with roofs set on concrete slabs at the picnic area. There are no pathways to the picnic tables; you'll need to cross over grass to reach them.

Boat ramp

Carpark

Showers

There are accessible outdoor showers at the picnic area.

Step-free access

The picnic area is mostly flat and there's step-free access, but no pathways. You'll need to cross over grass to reach the facilities.

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Beach safety

Beaches in this park are not patrolled, and can sometimes have strong rips and currents. These beach safety tips will help you and your family stay safe in the water.

Fishing safety

Fishing from a boat, the beach or by the river is a popular activity for many national park visitors. If you’re planning a day out fishing, check out these fishing safety tips.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Paddling safety

To make your paddling or kayaking adventure safer and more enjoyable, check out these paddling safety tips.

Accessibility

Disability access level - easy

The picnic area is mostly flat and step-free, but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over grass to reach the picnic area's facilities.

There are accessible toilets, picnic tables and an accessible outdoor shower.

Permitted

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

Saltwater picnic area is in Saltwater National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Spiritually significant landscape

 Headland walking track, Saltwater National Park. Photo: John Spencer

Saltwater Beach and its surrounds are a cultural landscape of great importance to the local Aboriginal Biripi tribe. There are several sites related to the Dreamtime within the park, and the area is declared an Aboriginal Place. Joint management with Aboriginal people and local residents, in association with Saltwater Tribal Council and NPWS, gives this park special local importance. 

  • Five Islands walking track This gorgeous coastal walking track follows a part of the Saltwater National Park coastline that is rich in Aboriginal history with great spots for swimming, fishing, surfing, and sailing, near Taree.
  • Saltwater picnic area Enjoy relaxed picnicking or barbecues at this well-equipped picnic area with ocean beaches and walking tracks nearby where you can swim, fish, surf, kayak or birdwatch.

Striking plant life

Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Saltwater National Park. Photo: John Spencer

Parts of the park are listed as endangered ecological communities and there are a number of rare and lovely plant species to be spotted here. Keep your eyes out on the walking tracks for magenta lilly pilly, a small tree with dark shiny leaves, magenta-coloured fruit and white-flowered wax plant. Pink-flowering pinnate boronia, and the golden flowers of the wallum banksia, among others, can all be seen in Saltwater National Park. The park also supports many marine-dependant species, such as the white-bellied sea eagle, as well as endangered or vulnerable species including the pied oystercatcher, little tern, the flesh-footed shearwater and osprey.

  • Headland walking track This short walk around the headland takes you to a whale watching viewing platform, has Aboriginal history, is near Khappinghat Nature Reserve near Taree.

Surf's up

Wallabi Beach, Saltwater National Park. Photo: Kevin Carter

Saltwater Beach's headland is a highly popular surfing point break used for recreational surfing, as well as club and competition surf events. Take a stroll through a rainforest walking track, and be sure to do a spot of whale watching at Saltwater Point. The adjacent Saltwater Beach and Wallabi Beach are popular surfing and swimming areas.

  • Khappinghat Creek At the flat water Khappinghat Creek, kayak or canoe through undeveloped wetlands, mangroves and rainforest. Swimming and fishing near Taree on the mid-north coast of NSW.
  • Saltwater picnic area Enjoy relaxed picnicking or barbecues at this well-equipped picnic area with ocean beaches and walking tracks nearby where you can swim, fish, surf, kayak or birdwatch.

Unique geology and landscape

Saltwater headland, Saltwater National Park. Photo: Kevin Carter

Saltwater headland, which separates Wallabi Beach and Saltwater Beach, is one of only three headlands between Wallis Lake and the Manning River. Khappinghat Creek, which borders the park, is the largest area of undeveloped wetlands and the only naturally opening and closing estuarine system on the mid-north coast of NSW.

  • Five Islands walking track This gorgeous coastal walking track follows a part of the Saltwater National Park coastline that is rich in Aboriginal history with great spots for swimming, fishing, surfing, and sailing, near Taree.
  • Headland walking track This short walk around the headland takes you to a whale watching viewing platform, has Aboriginal history, is near Khappinghat Nature Reserve near Taree.

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