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Carrai and Coachwood trails

North Coast, Country NSW

Open, check current alerts 

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Carrai and Coachwood trails.

Getting there and parking

Carrai trail is in Carrai National Park, and Coachwood trail is in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. To get to there:

From Kempsey:

  • Turn off Macleay Valley Way north of Kempsey onto Second Lane
  • Cross the train line and continue to the end of the road
  • Turn right onto River Street which becomes Armidale Road
  • Drive around 19km then turn left on Temagog Road
  • After 8.5km this becomes Willi Willi Road, continue 17.5km
  • Turn left onto Carrai Road. From here, it’s 24km to Coachwood Road or 46.5km to Daisy Plains picnic area.

From Armidale:

  • Take New England Highway south then Oxley Highway east
  • From Walcha continue around 54km
  • Turn left onto Kangaroo Flat Road and follow signs to Werrikimbe National Park
  • Take Mooraback Road, then Racecourse trail through to Coachwood Road
  • From here, Coachwood Road travels 17km to Kookaburra, where it meets Carrai Road.

Road quality

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • All roads require 4WD vehicle

Weather restrictions

  • Dry weather only

Facilities

  • Non-flush toilets and a kitchen hut with open fire are located at Daisy Plains huts in Carrai National Park. Bring your own firewood.
  • The huts also offer basic accommodation on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Please ensure you’re well-equipped.
  • There are no bins so please take your rubbish with you when you leave the park.

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

These 4WD trails are in a remote area. It’s a good idea to advise a family member of friend of your travel plans.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Permitted

Bushwalking permitted. Keep well back from cliff edges, lookouts and waterfalls at all times, especially when taking photos. Please stay on tracks, be aware of your surroundings and footing, and ensure children are supervised.

Camping

Permitted at Daisy Plains hut. Free camping is not permitted along this route.

Cycling

Mountain biking is permitted on public roads.

Prohibited

Camp fires and solid fuel burners

Gathering firewood

Horses

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.

If you're travelling through a national park or reserve on a public road you can have pets inside your vehicle. However, you must keep them inside your vehicle while driving through national parks or reserves. You must also comply with any conditions in the park’s plan of management, and you cannot stop to visit the park or use park facilities (unless for safety reasons, or to use publicly accessible toilets).

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

Carrai and Coachwood trails

Operated by

Park info

  • in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park in the North Coast and Country NSW regions

  • Oxley Wild Rivers National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

  • There are 3 areas in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park where you'll need day use vehicle permits: Halls Peak campground and picnic area, Riverside campground and picnic area, and Youdales Hut campground and picnic area. Day use vehicle permits can be bought online or by calling the National Parks Contact Centre on 1300 072 757. If camping, permit fees are included in the campground fee.

    Contact us for permits