Wallagoot Lake picnic area and boat ramp
Bournda National Park
Overview
Wallagoot Lake in Bournda National Park is a playground for watersport enthusiasts and nature lovers. Enjoy sailing, paddling, fishing and birdwatching.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Where
- Bournda National Park in South Coast
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- What to
bring - Sunscreen, hat, drinking water
Set up a picnic on the shores of the lake while the kids swim in the protected waters. Launch your vessel from the boat ramp and enjoy waterskiing on the glassy waters, or explore the lake on your sail board or paddle ski.
Wallagoot Lake’s unique aquatic environment is home to a huge diversity of marine life, making it a popular destination for children eager to learn about the ecosystem.
This distinctive waterway also offers excellent fishing and birdwatching. As well as several species of waterfowl, look out for threatened species like the little tern and fairy tern nesting on the foreshores during spring or foraging during summer.
Map
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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/wallagoot-lake-picnic-area-and-boat-ramp/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 Bournda National Park in the South Coast region
Bournda National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to extreme weather or fire danger.
-
Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. This park uses a self-registration fee collection system, please bring correct change.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about the Wallagoot Lake picnic area and boat ramp.
Getting there and parking
Wallagoot Lake is in the northern precinct of Bournda National Park. To get there:
- Travel along Sapphire Coast Drive from either Tathra, Bega or Merimbula.
- Take the Wallagoot Lake Road
- Travel 2.5km along sealed road till you reach the boat club and access to the lake
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Paid parking is available. Please note that it can be a busy place on the weekend, so parking might be limited.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Bournda National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Hike along Kangarutha walking track as the weather cools and spend a day exploring the scenic coastal views that this walk has to offer. Swim along the way at secluded beaches where you'll feel like you have the place to yourself.
Spring
Enjoy the colours of wildflowers and the take in the smells of spring as the park comes alive. Head to the lookout at North Tura, find a sunny spot and look out for whales passing in the distance.
Summer
Discover the water activities on offer. Paddling at Bournda Lagoon, sailing on Wallagoot Lake, or fishing, surfing and swimming at any one of the secluded beaches.
Facilities
- Drinking water is not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
- Firewood is not supplied and may not be collected from the park
- You’re encouraged to bring gas or fuel stoves, especially in summer during the fire season.
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Picnic tables
There are picnic tables and a picnic shelter.
Step-free access
The picnic area is flat and step-free. You'll need to cross over flat grass mixed with sand to reach the lake and facilities.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Wallagoot Lake picnic area is flat and step-free, but there are no paths. You'll need to cross over flat grass mixed with sand to reach the lake's edge and facilities.
Although the toilets at the picnic area have a ramp leading up to them, the toilet cubicles themselves are not accessible or ambulant.
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
Wallagoot Lake picnic area and boat ramp is in Bournda National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Birdwatchers haven
With around 200 species of birds in the area, Bournda is a birdwatcher's paradise. The estuarine wetlands at the eastern end of Wallagoot Lake provide roosting and feeding areas for a large variety of waders and waterfowl. Keep your eyes out for threatened species like the little tern, hooded plover and pied oystercatcher. Bondi Lake is the largest freshwater lake situated behind coastal dunes in the region, and is another important habitat for waterbirds.
- Bournda Lagoon Bournda Lagoon is an ideal spot within Bournda National Park, near North Tura, where kids can swim, fish and go paddling and picnic among the paper barks.
- Kangarutha walking track Kangarutha walking track, in Bournda National Park, is a hiking route with scenic coastal views and birdwatching, picnicking and swimming opportunities along the way.
- Sandy Creek loop track Taking in Bournda Lagoon, Sandy Creek and pockets of dry sclerophyll forest, Sandy Creek loop track is a hike in Bournda National Park on the far South Coast.
Get active
With so much to do, there's no excuse not to get active in Bournda. The beaches and waterways offer a range of options for watersport enthusiasts - waterskiing, boating, paddling, sail boarding, fishing, swimming and surfing. The coastal walk is perfect for hikers and those hoping to spot migrating whales. And for cyclists, the roads throughout the park are an extensive network to navigate on your bike.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 1 History excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 3 Geography excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, Living Culture – a Stage 2 History excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
Ships ahoy
There's plenty of fascinating heritage in Bournda, dating back to the 1830s when European settlement of the district began. Today, you can still see anchor bolts at Kangarutha Point, which was established as a port with Kianinny Bay in 1859. It's also believed the existing track to the point, and parts of the coastal walk, were once used to supply ships anchored there, and transport produce and passengers. Some building remains can also be found around Games Bay, which was cleared for dairy farming by settler Mr Games.
The land of generations
Bournda has been a special place for the Dhurga and Yuin people for thousands of years, with its plentiful food supply and quarry for making tools. As you explore the park and its wildlife, it'll be no surprise that 'Bournda' means 'place of tea tree and kangaroos'.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 1 History excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 3 Geography excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, Living Culture – a Stage 2 History excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Traditional weaving workshop: Bournda Get creative on a traditional weaving workshop in Bournda National Park, near Bega and Merimbula. Learn Aboriginal weaving techniques and see how these ancient skills carry a strong connection to Aboriginal culture.