Coastal walking track
Wallarah National Park
Overview
The Coastal walking track links Caves Beach with the headland just south of Pinny Beach, giving spectacular views over the coastline and ocean along the way.
- Where
- Wallarah National Park in North Coast
- Distance
- 5km return
- Time suggested
- 1hr 30min - 2hrs 30min
- Grade
- Grade 4
- Trip Intention Form
-
It's a good idea to let someone know where you're going. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your trip to your emergency contact.
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- The section of walk between Cave Beach/Spoon Rocks Road and Pinny Beach of not part of the NSW National Parks estate. It is private land and the track is not maintained. The track is currently in poor condition so please walk carefully.
If you only have the time or energy to walk one track in Wallarah, then take the Coastal walking track for the best of everything this park offers. This walk has gorgeous coastal and ocean views.
Look out for passing humpback and southern right whales during winter. You could birdwatch along the way. Enjoy the wildflowers in spring, and experience the various types of vegetation and habitats the track takes you through at their peak. You can easily pick out the cabbage-tree palm; it grows up to 25 metres.
Did you bring your surfboard or fishing rod? The Coastal track also leads to Pinny Beach, which has coarse dark sand and is great for surfing and fishing. Further south is another fishing spot called Shark Hole. Remember to wear a lifejacket when fishing off any rock platform.
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/walking-tracks/coastal-walking-track/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 Wallarah National Park in the North Coast region
Wallarah National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Coastal walking track.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
5km return
Time
1hr 30min - 2hrs 30min
Quality of markings
Limited signage
Experience required
Some bushwalking experience recommended
Gradient
Short steep hills
Steps
Occasional steps
Quality of path
Formed track, some obstacles
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Coastal walking track is in the Pinny Beach precinct of Wallarah National Park. To get there:
- Park at the end of Spoon Rocks Road at Caves Beach
- Walk around the locked vehicle gate and follow the track
- About 300m from the gate, go left at the fork.
- Follow the marked track and interpretive signs
- There is also access from Caves Beach Road, opposite Copper Valley Close.
- Access is also available from the Caves Beach car park off Caves Beach Road, at the southern end of Caves Beach
Parking
Parking is available at the Caves Beach carpark and on Spoon Rocks Road, a short walk from Coastal walking track.It can be a busy place on the weekend, so parking might be limited.
Maps and downloads
Permitted
Fishing
Fishing from a boat, the beach, the rocks 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 and rock fishing safety tips.
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
Coastal walking track is in Wallarah National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Don't just stand there
Do you like to surf, or are you more into fishing? Are you the type who loves to hike, or do you prefer cycling? Are you an ocean-gazer or a forest-walker? Wallarah allows you to do any or all of these activities, so bring your gear and enjoy this natural playground.
- Scenic trail Scenic trail is a challenging mountain bike ride - a steep scenic hike through coastal forest and heathland to views of the rugged coastline and access to Pinny Beach.
- Yondeo trail A scenic walk or cycle on Yondeo trail in Wallarah National Park with places to picnic, birdwatching and whale watching opportunities and fishing at Pinny Beach.
Happy wandering
There are various vegetation communities in Wallarah, including heathland, spotted gum and ironbark forest, open smooth-barked apple forest and palm gully rainforest with a canopy dominated by cabbage-tree palm. Follow the various walking tracks through the park to experience these. Keep an eye out for blooming wattle and the intriguing scribbly gum, whose attractive artwork is, in fact, the tunnelling journey of scribbly gum moth's larvae. By the way, the purple-flowered vine you'll see growing throughout the park is known commonly as happy wanderer.
- Scenic trail Scenic trail is a challenging mountain bike ride - a steep scenic hike through coastal forest and heathland to views of the rugged coastline and access to Pinny Beach.
- Yondeo trail A scenic walk or cycle on Yondeo trail in Wallarah National Park with places to picnic, birdwatching and whale watching opportunities and fishing at Pinny Beach.
Living Aboriginal culture
Bahtabah Local Aboriginal Land Council represents the Aboriginal community in the area that is now covered by Wallarah National Park. Physical evidence of Aboriginal people's lives in the area has remained in the form of middens found just south of Swansea. Only a few middens have been recorded, though it is probable that sand mining along this coast over the years has destroyed a large portion of middens that were there prior to European settlement.
Wild and free
Wallarah has an awesome collection of birds and animals due to the diversity of vegetation and habitats in the park. During the day, look out for sea eagles soaring along the coast, honeyeaters in the springtime flowering heath, lizards lolling on warm boulders, pods of dolphins in the ocean and passing whales during the winter months. At night, you may see the predatory powerful owl, a microbat, or the threatened squirrel glider that glides for up to 50m between trees. Bring along your binoculars to get a closer look at these natural beauties.