Where

Woko National Park in North Coast

Distance

1km loop

Time suggested

30min - 1hr

Grade

Grade 4

What to
bring

Drinking water, hat, sunscreen

Please note

• Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch
• It can be a busy place on the weekend, so parking might be limited.
• Check the weather before you set out as the road to Woko campground can become boggy when it rains
• There is no mobile phone reception in this park

Starting right from Woko campground, Brush Turkey track is just as interesting as it is convenient. The loop twists through a sampling of the park’s dry rainforest habitat, with brush turkeys foraging in the undergrowth for grubs and insects, giving the trail its name. Their scratching actually serves an important purpose in the ecosystem, turning over soil and encouraging new growth. Bring binoculars for other species: whipbirds, lyrebirds, grey fantails and scrub wrens are all common in the area, making up a memorable chorus.

The trail begins in colonising rainforest, where hibiscus and acacia trees create the shade that then allows for the next stage in flora development. Be sure to take note of how the atmosphere cools as you move into older forest, where a canopy of Port Jackson fig and shatterwood blocks out the sun. By the time you finish the short trail, you’ve been given a good insight into the lifecycle of the Woko area from new shoots to thick established trees.

The track won’t take you long and is perfect for walking with children. You might like to bring a packed lunch and make a day of it, taking advantage of the free barbecues and picnic tables near the river camping sites. Consider bringing your bathers, too, for a refreshing dip in nearby Manning River. 

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Visitor info

Getting there and parking

Best times to visit

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Maps and downloads

Learn more

Rare animals

Woko National Park contains a number of threatened or endangered species, including the brush-tailed rock wallaby, masked owl, and wompoo pigeon. This is, in fact, prime territory for birdwatching, with lyrebirds, brush turkeys, and wedge-tailed eagles regularly spotted in the park. Largely, this is due to the variety of environments encompassed by Woko: the grey fantail, for example, favours the mid-layer of the forest, while the willy wagtail enjoys the openness of the forest edge and spaces created by cattle clearing.

Rich Aboriginal culture

The Biripi people of the Manning Valley were the first to inhabit this area, with several open campsites having been recorded along the ridgelines and peaks of the park. Indeed, 'Woko' is thought to be a local Aboriginal name for the boobook owl. Aboriginal culture engages with the land, waterways, plants and animals of a specific place; the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service works with local Aboriginal communities to protect this heritage for future generations.

Significant forest

Woko conserves 8598 hectares of regionally significant forest communities, including part of one of the most extensive areas of dry rainforest in NSW. The steep hills in the park are occupied by a variety of plants and forest types, from dry sclerophyll forest to subtropical rainforest and eucalypt zones. This makes a walk here particularly fascinating, as you traverse different regions and watch the landscape transform before your very eyes.