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Smoky Cape picnic area

Hat Head National Park

What's nearby

Nearby picnic areas

Little Bay picnic area

Little Bay, a popular beach picnic spot near South West Rocks on the north coast where you’ll find shaded tables and a kangaroo or two.
Gap Beach picnic area

Gap Beach picnic area is in Hat Head National Park. It's a great spot to visit when exploring local walking tracks, but to drive there you'll need a 4WD vehicle.

Nearby things to do

Swim

Front Beach

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Walk

Bridle trail

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Native plants with ocean and island in the distance. Photo: Stuart Poignard

Walk

Green Island walking track

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Jack Perkins track, Hat Head National Park. Photo: Debby McGerty © OEH

Walk

Jack Perkins walking track

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Walk

Little Bay to Gap Beach walking track

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Walk

Monument Hill walking track

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Walk

Powder Magazine walking track

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Walk

Smoky Cape Range walking track

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Group of people with motorcycles on Port Macquarie seawall. Photo © Endeavour Motorcycle Tours

Explore

2-day Port Macquarie motorcycle adventure

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View

Mermaid Pools

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Explore

Smoky Cape Lighthouse tour

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Sunset above the Trial Bay Gaol walls, Arakoon National Park. Photo: Carolyn McPhee © DPIE

Explore

Trial Bay Gaol twilight tour

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View through bars at Trial Bay Goal. Photo: Kim Payne Photography © DPE

Explore

Trial Bay Gaol: Life behind bars kids tour

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Trial Bay Gaol with starscape. Photo: Kim Payne Photography © DPE

Explore

Walk on the dark side: Sunset tour for adults

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Nature Nomads clearing bitou bush, Arakoon National Park. Photo: Nick Cubbin

Volunteer

Arakoon bushcare

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View of Trial Bay Gaol, Arakoon National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

Volunteer

Friends of Trial Bay Gaol

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Nearby camping and accommodation

Stay

Trial Bay Gaol campground

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Stay

Little Bay Cottage

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Stay

Smoky Cape campground

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Smoky Cape Lighthouse Keepers Cottage, Hat Head National Park. Photo: Michael van Ewijk/NSW Government

Stay

Smoky Cape Lighthouse Keepers' Cottages

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Nearby parks

Aerial view of Trial Bay. Photo: Rob Mulally/DPIE

Park

Arakoon National Park

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Park

Hat Head National Park

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Park

Yarriabini National Park

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Park

Clybucca Aboriginal Area

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Park

Clybucca Historic Site

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Park

Fishermans Bend Nature Reserve

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Park

Yarrahapinni Wetlands National Park

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Whale watching top spots

NSW national parks have the best vantage points to see whales during their annual migration, which takes place from May to November. Plan your next coastal adventure.

A humpback whale breaches the water off the NSW coast, near Sydney. Photo credit: Wayne Reynolds &copy Wayne Reynolds

Park info

in Hat Head National Park in the North Coast region
Hat Head National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day.
Buy annual pass

See more visitor info