Cudgen Lake
Cudgen Nature Reserve
Overview
Cudgen Lake, near the coastal villages of Cabarita Beach and Bogangar on the Tweed Coast, is perfect for kayaking, swimming, picnicking and birdwatching.
- Where
- Cudgen Nature Reserve in North Coast
- Accessibility
- Medium
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch.
Just near the coastal villages of Cabarita Beach and Bogangar on the Tweed Coast, Cudgen Lake is a hidden wetland treasure surrounded by floodplain forest and rainforests. Look out over the calm waters and you’ll see majestic Round Mountain in the south and striking views to the west of Wollumbin Mount Warning in the World Heritage-listed Wollumbin National Park.
Great for a family day out, head to Cudgen picnic area and enjoy lunch by the water. The kids will love swimming in the shallow waters of the lake. Launch your canoe or kayak from the boat ramp and head off to explore the nearby creeks. You can also enjoy a day of windsurfing on the lake. Cudgen Lake is occasionally suitable for sailing if there has been a lot of rain for a long time. You can also try your luck fishing, or just sit back and enjoy the tranquility.
The lake and surrounding wetlands is also a fantastic spot for birdwatching. Look out for waterbirds like the Australasian grebe or the white-faced heron.
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/canoeing-paddling-experiences/cudgen-lake/local-alerts
Park info
- in Cudgen Nature Reserve in the North Coast region
Cudgen Nature Reserve is always open but may have to close at times due to flooding or high fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Cudgen Lake.
Getting there and parking
Cudgen Lake is in the central precinct of Cudgen Nature Reserve. It can be accessed via Cudgen Lake picnic area.
To get there:
- Follow the directions towards Cabarita Beach/Bogangar
- If driving south on Tweed Coast Road, turn right into Tamarind Avenue and follow into Willow Avenue, which continues to the picnic area and boat ramp.
- If driving east on Clothiers Creek Road, turn left into Poplar Avenue then left again into Tamarind Avenue and follow into Willow Avenue, which continues to the picnic area and boat ramp.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available in an asphalt carpark at the end of Willow Avenue, including 1 designated accessible parking spot. Bus parking is available.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Cudgen Nature Reserve. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Venture off to explore the lake in your kayak or canoe and paddle along Cudgen Creek.
Spring
Enjoy a peaceful picnic at Cudgen picnic area, with spectacular views across the lake to Wollumbin.
Summer
Escape the holiday crowds and have fun swimming, sailing and paddling on Cudgen Lake.
Winter
Enjoy birdwatching on the lake and watch for migratory birds.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
18°C and 30°C
Highest recorded
42.9°C
Winter temperature
Average
8°C and 22°C
Lowest recorded
-1.4°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
February
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
820.4mm
Facilities
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Boat ramp
Carpark
Step-free access
The picnic area next to the lake is flat and step-free, but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over flat grass to get from the carpark to the facilities.
There's step-free access through the carpark to the boat ramp and lake.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
- The picnic area next to Cudgen Lake is flat and step-free. There's also step-free access through the carpark to the boat ramp and lake.
- There are no pathways at the picnic area – you'll need to cross over flat grass to reach the 3 picnic tables by the river.
- The asphalt carpark at the end of Willow Avenue has 1 accessible parking space.
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
Cudgen Lake is in Cudgen Nature Reserve. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A birdwatcher's paradise
Cudgen is home to plenty of birdlife, making it a great spot for bird watching. The lake and surrounding wetlands are a great place to see black swan and waterbirds like the Australian white ibis or the white-faced heron. You'll also see shorebirds including pied oystercatcher, osprey and sea eagles.
- Cudgen Lake Cudgen Lake, near the coastal villages of Cabarita Beach and Bogangar on the Tweed Coast, is perfect for kayaking, swimming, picnicking and birdwatching.
Good things come in small packages
For a modest reserve, there is certainly an enormous variety of vegetation, ranging from coastal dunes to heath, swamp forests to rainforests, and the beautiful wetlands on Cudgen Lake and surrounding estuaries. Much of the reserve is listed as an Endangered Ecological Community (EEC), including swamp oak, swamp melaleuca forest, littoral and lowland subtropical rainforest, and freshwater wetlands. Cudgen Nature Reserve also provides a great viewing point and stopover point en route to the magnificent rainforest in the World Heritage-listed Wollumbin National Park.
Water sport playground
With the great expanse of Cudgen Lake, nearby creeks and Cabarita Beach all included in Cudgen Nature Reserve, you'll find loads of water sports to enjoy. Go sailing on the lake, or explore by kayak, canoe or paddleboard. Enjoy swimming on the lake or head to Cabarita Beach for swimming, surfing and fishing in the ocean.
- Cudgen Lake Cudgen Lake, near the coastal villages of Cabarita Beach and Bogangar on the Tweed Coast, is perfect for kayaking, swimming, picnicking and birdwatching.