Overview
Book the kids in for an afternoon in the ocean breeze spotting seals and sea birds in Wyrrabalong National Park. This monthly guided walk on the Central Coast lets kids aged 5 to 15 become a junior ranger for a day.
- When
Tours run on Saturdays once a month, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Dates and times are displayed when making an online booking.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Grade
- Easy. Suitable for adults and children 5 years and over.
- Price
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Child (5 to 15 years) $15 per person. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Accompanying adults free.
- Entry fees
- Price includes park entry fee
- Meeting point
- Crackneck Point lookout
- What to
bring - Drinking water, clothes for all weather conditions, hat, insect repellent, binoculars, sunscreen, suitable clothing, sturdy shoes, raincoat
- Bookings
- Bookings required. Phone 1300 072 757 for more information or book online. The tour is also available on request for groups. Email us for more information.
Get the kids to don their hats and trusty binoculars for an afternoon of seaside exploration. They’ll set off from the stunning Crackneck Point lookout with an experienced NPWS Discovery Ranger on a 2-hour scenic coastal walk. Junior rangers will discover diverse wildlife and take part in fun, hands-on experiences.
As kids trot along the coast, they’ll have the chance to spot dolphins, seals and flocks of local seabirds. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden wonders along the rock platforms and shoreline, and don’t forget to bring your binoculars for the best views.
Through interactive wildlife-spotting challenges, nature games, and creative activities, children can develop a deeper understanding of the coastal environment and the important role we all play in preserving it. It’s the perfect thing to do on the Central Coast if your little ones love animals and the outdoors.
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/guided-tours/junior-ranger-wyrrabalong-coastal-adventure-tour/local-alerts
Operated by
- NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
Park info
- in Wyrrabalong National Park in the Sydney and surrounds region
Wyrrabalong National Park is open from 5.30am to 8pm during daylight saving and 5.30am to 6pm rest of year.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Junior ranger: Wyrrabalong coastal adventure.
Getting there and parking
Crackneck Point lookout is in the southern section of Wyrrabalong National Park. To get there from Bateau Bay:
- Take Bateau Bay Road for about 500m.
- Turn right onto Burrawong Street.
- Take the first right to Hilltop Street and follow it to Crackneck Point at the end.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available at Crackneck Point lookout.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Learn more
Junior ranger: Wyrrabalong coastal adventure is in Wyrrabalong National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal culture
North Wyrrabalong forms part of traditional Country of the Awabakal People, with south Wyrrabalong (cut off from the north by The Entrance channel) being Darkinjung Country. The park has a rich Aboriginal history and protects many significant cultural sites, including an extensive midden at Pelican Point. You can take a guided tour with Nyanga Walang to find out more about local Darkinjung history.
- Junior ranger: Wyrrabalong coastal adventure Book the kids in for an afternoon in the ocean breeze spotting seals and sea birds in Wyrrabalong National Park. This monthly guided walk on the Central Coast lets kids aged 5 to 15 become a junior ranger for a day.
Red gum forest
The northern section of Wyrrabalong National Park protects the largest stand of Sydney red gums, or Angophoras, on the Central Coast. Explore the red gum forest and enjoy the shade of these magnificent native trees along the Red Gum trail in north Wyrrabalong. See how the forest changes depending on the season – trunks change from orange in summer to pinkish-grey in winter. Visit around December to see the trees adorned with white flowers, and spot honeyeaters in the branches in wintertime. The park is also an important haven for a variety of wildlife, including a number of threatened migratory birds that visit the coastal strip between Forresters Beach and Blue Lagoon in the park’s southern section. There’s even a population of marine turtles in Tuggerah Lake – if you’re lucky, you might see a loggerhead turtle; they have a large head in proportion to the rest of its body.
- Junior ranger: Whale tales at Wyrrabalong Hey junior whale watchers! These school holidays have fun whale watching at Crackneck Point lookout in Wyrrabalong National Park, near The Entrance. Learn how to spot whales on their annual migration.
- Junior ranger: Wyrrabalong coastal adventure Book the kids in for an afternoon in the ocean breeze spotting seals and sea birds in Wyrrabalong National Park. This monthly guided walk on the Central Coast lets kids aged 5 to 15 become a junior ranger for a day.
- Lillypilly loop trail The easy Lillypilly loop trail is a lovely rainforest walk on the NSW Central Coast. Enjoy birdwatching and scenic views over Tuggerah Lakes.
- Pelican Beach Road lookout Pelican Beach Road lookout offers scenic views over The Entrance and Pelican Beach and is a great spot for whale watching. The beach is popular for fishing and surfing.
Whale watching
The park's spectacular coastal lookouts - both north and south - are ideal vantage points for whale watchers. Bring your binoculars to Crackneck Point lookout in whale watching season and prepare to be astounded. Whales are frequently seen breaching and tail-slapping nearby. And watch for the blow as they surface for air - there's really nothing like it.
- Tandem paragliding on the NSW Central Coast Take a tandem flight with Cloudbase Paragliding and be treated to a stunning bird’s eye view of Wyrrabalong National Park on the NSW Central Coast.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
The curious pelican is Australia’s largest flying bird and has the longest bill of any bird in the world. These Australian birds are found throughout Australian waterways and the pelican uses its throat pouch to trawl for fish. Pelicans breed all year round, congregating in large colonies on secluded beaches and islands.
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Brown-striped frog (Lymnastes peronii)
One of the most common frogs found in Australia, the ground-dwelling brown-striped frog lives in ponds, dams and swamps along the east coast. Also known as the striped marsh frog, this amphibian grows to 6.5cm across and has a distinctive ‘tok’ call that can be heard all year round.
Plants
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Cabbage palm (Livistona australis)
With glossy green leaves spanning 3-4m in length and a trunk reaching a height of up to 30m, the cabbage tree palm, or fan palm, is one of the tallest Australian native plants. Thriving in rainforest margins along the east coast of NSW, in summer this giant palm produces striking spikes of cream flowers which resemble cabbages.
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Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)
Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.