Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve
Overview
Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve, on the NSW South Coast near Ulladulla, is ideal for a family friendly day trip with fishing, walking and birdwatching.
Read more about Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve
With golden beaches, lush coastal forests and tranquil waterways, Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve is a little-known jewel on the spectacular NSW South Coast. Tucked in between Ulladulla and Lake Conjola, it offers a perfect nature getaway for families and nature-lovers.
The reserve protects nearly 5km of pristine coastline, dunes and lush coastal hinterland. Here, you can explore remote beaches, tranquil wetlands and lush coastal forests. Enjoy a fun-filled day of beach fishing or walking and cycling the quiet trails through the leafy forests of old man banksias and prehistoric burrawangs.
It’s the perfect spot to commune with nature and enjoy some of the best birdwatching on the coast. The wetlands of Narrawallee Creek and Pattimoores Lagoon are important bird breeding regions and places of refuge for birdlife during times of drought.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/narrawallee-creek-nature-reserve/local-alerts
Contact
- in the South Coast region
Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Ulladulla office
02 4454 9500
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. - Lot 9 Blackburn Industrial Estate, 6 Coller Road Ulladulla NSW 2539
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Email: npws.shoalhaven@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Ulladulla office
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Nowra office
02 4428 6300
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. - 104 Flatrock Road, Mundamia NSW 2540
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Email: npws.shoalhaven@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Nowra office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve.
Map
Map legend
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
FromUlladulla:
- Turn east off Princess Highway at Yatte Yattah onto Lake Conjola Entrance Road
- Turn south onto Thorn Street and follow it to the reserve carpark
Alternatively:
- Turn onto Narrawallee Creek Road from Lake Conjola Entrance Road. Park in the small carpark on your right and walk or cycle from here.
Parking
- Conjola Beach picnic area See on map
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
For information about public transport options, visit the NSW country transport info website.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
The NSW South Coast is renowned as a great spot for whale and dolphin watching, so one of these beautiful giants of the sea could well be joining you on your park visit.
Spring
Enjoy tranquil walking along the park's scenic wetlands, indulging in a spot of birdwatching along the way.
Summer
Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the park's coastal location and enjoy fishing and picnicking by the water's edge.
Winter
Warm yourself up with some scenic walking while wildlife-spotting and birdwatching.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
18°C and 24°C
Highest recorded
44.5°C
Winter temperature
Average
8.8°C and 16.2°C
Lowest recorded
5.9°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
May
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
160.9mm
Facilities
Picnic tables
Maps and downloads
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.
Nearby towns
Lake Conjola (1 km)
Lake Conjola is a deep coastal lake regularly open to the sea which provides a wonderful playground for fishing and boating enthusiasts.
Ulladulla (18 km)
Ulladulla is close to several wonderful national parks. Morton National Park, to the west, is home to Pigeon House Mountain, a local landmark which is a popular climb. Murramarang National Park, between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay, has beautiful coastal walks, beaches and camping sites.
Nowra (57 km)
Nowra is a historic city and the commercial heart of the Shoalhaven. It's on the Shoalhaven River close to beaches and national parks.
Learn more
Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Rare nesting grounds
The beaches are some of the most important nesting and feeding areas for the critically endangered hooded plover and endangered pied oystercatcher. These distinctive birds can be seen nesting during spring and summer. This unique reserve protects a type of swamp forest that is dominated by the swamp mahogany, which in turn is an important food source for several threated species including the swift parrot, regent honeyeater and yellow-bellied glider.
- Conjola Beach picnic area Spend the day at Conjola Beach picnic area exploring remote beaches, bushwalking, whale watching and birdwatching, in Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve, near Lake Conjola Village.
- Narrawallee Inlet walking track Enjoy walking or cycling through the coastal forests of Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve along Narrwallee Inlet walking track, offering great birdwatching and fishing.
Historic remnants
Between the First and Second World Wars, silica was extensively mined near Pattimore's Lagoon. Now protected, you can wander the remains of the silica mining era and discover cuttings, mounds and even an old tram line that is now being taken back by mother nature. In the early 1900s, as well as a small amount of grazing, there was some selective logging of turpentine and blackbutt from the forests. There are still some tall stumps with notches that show where springboards were placed by the axemen.
Diverse landscapes
This unique reserve protects a staggering variety of landscapes in a relatively small area, making it a region of incredible beauty as well as conservation importance. Here you can wander a veritable smorgasbord of woodlands, swamps, lagoons and lakes. Explore the range of landscapes and see if you can spot the changing forests from swamplands to dunes.
- Burrawang track - Conjola Beach to Buckleys Point North of Ulladulla, Burrawang track leads from Conjola Beach to Buckleys Point, offering fantastic fishing and birdwatching in Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve.
- Pattimores Lagoon Near Ulladulla on the NSW South Coast, tranquil Pattimores Lagoon in Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve offers a viewing platform for birdwatching with scenic wetland views.
Ancient fishing grounds
The reserve is situated within the traditional lands of the Wanda Wandian people and the Jerrinja Local Aboriginal Land Council. With nearby creeks, lagoons and beaches, this coastal oasis is likely to have been an important food-gathering area. The reserve protects Aboriginal middens and tool-making sites, as well as canoe and shield-making trees.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents.