Broadwater Beach picnic area

Broadwater National Park

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Overview

Broadwater Beach picnic area is a great picnic area with birdwatching opportunities and the beach just nearby for swimming, surfing and fishing.

Type
Picnic areas
What to
bring
Drinking water

Ready to take a break from the road and need a good picnic area? Broadwater Beach picnic area couldn’t feel further from the highway despite being only a short diversion. Perhaps you’re a local or staying in the area for a while and have time to relax over a leisurely picnic lunch before exploring the park or taking advantage of the nearby beach and go swimming, surfing or fishing.

Plants found around the picnic area are mainly coastal banksia, tuckeroo (also called carrotwood and beach tamarind), pandanus, heath and midgen berry. Bring your binoculars for birdwatching, as the birdlife around the picnic area is abundant, especially in spring when the wildflowers are blooming brightly.

Midgen berry is traditional bushfood; the sweet dotted berry melts in your mouth and has a gingery flavour. Something to add to your picnic. After lunch why not take in the views from the nearby Broadwater inland lookout.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

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/picnic-areas/broadwater-beach-picnic-area/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about the Broadwater Beach picnic area.

Getting there and parking

Broadwater Beach picnic area is in the northern precinct of Broadwater National Park. To get there:

  • From Broadwater, travel approximately 2km south along the Pacific Highway
  • Turn left into Broadwater-Evans Head Road
  • Continue east onto Broadwater Beach Road for approximately 2km
  • Turn left onto Finns Trail and follow to the picnic area.

Please note - only registered vehicles are permitted on public access roads.



Road quality

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available at Broadwater Beach picnic area – access is via a walking track. Bus parking is available.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Broadwater National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

Enjoy a beach walk in the milder weather, birdwatching as you go.

Spring

Wildflowers at this time of year will just about knock your walking socks off with their vivid and varied colours This is the peak season for seeing migrating whales swimming closer to shore with their new calves .

Summer

When the weather's hot, the best thing to do is go swimming or have a surf.

Winter

This is the peak season for northern migration of whales.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

19.1°C and 27°C

Highest recorded

41.7°C

Winter temperature

Average

10.4°C and 19.2°C

Lowest recorded

2.7°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

March

Driest month

September

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

449mm

Facilities

Drinking water is limited or not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

Carpark

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Beach safety

Beaches in this park are not patrolled, and can sometimes have strong rips and currents. These beach safety tips will help you and your family stay safe in the water.

Bushwalking safety

If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

  • For your safety, please do not approach the bee sites within the park.

Fishing safety

Fishing from a boat, the beach or by the river is a popular activity for many national park visitors. If you’re planning a day out fishing, check out these fishing safety tips.

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

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

Broadwater Beach picnic area is in Broadwater National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Bandjalung People

Aerial view of Broadwater National Park. Photo: D Largin

The traditional custodians of this northern coastal area of NSW, of which Broadwater National Park is now a part, are the Bandjalung People. Bundjalung National Park lies just south of Broadwater. These people continue, today, to actively celebrate their rich culture and heritage. Notable Bandjalung People include musician Troy Cassar-Daley, boxer Anthony Mundine, Australian Aboriginal leader Warren Mundine and chef Mark Olive. This park is one of a group where the Bandjalang People's native title rights have been recognised in only the third determination of native title rights in New South Wales. Native title rights come from the Bandjalang People's traditional laws and customs and legally recognise the Bandjalang People's connection to Country. This means that these lands will continue to be places of ceremony, learning and inspiration for generations to come. Find out more.

Memorable landscapes

Inland lookout over Broadwater National Park: Photo: L Walker

There's a surprisingly wide variety of vegetation landscapes in this park including coastal heathland, coastal swamp, open eucalypt forest, wetlands and littoral rainforest. Banksia is particularly prevalent as is paperbark. There's also a healthy display of wildflowers during spring, which include swamp lilies, sun orchids, Christmas bells and golden bush peas.

  • Broadwater inland lookout It’s just a short walk to Broadwater inland lookout for superb scenic views from Broadwater Headland out to the Pacific Ocean with opportunities for birdwatching and whale watching.

Wartime stories

Airforce Beach, Broadwater National Park. Photo: Murray Vanderveer

Airforce Beach seems like an unlikely name for a pristine stretch of sand near a national park, but during World War II, the airfield at Evans Head was used as a training ground. No. 1 Air Observers School was stationed there until it disbanded in 1943.

Winged things

A pair of Brahminy Kites (Haliastur indus), Broadwater National Park. Photo: D Largin

Broadwater is a refuge for migratory shorebirds, a hunting ground for birds of prey and habitat for a broad range of birds that inhabit the park's various plant communities. These include threatened species such as pied oystercatchers, little terns and beach stone curlews. White-bellied sea eagles can also often be seen trawling the coastline. This raptor is widely revered by Aboriginal people in many parts of Australia. An opportunistic carnivore, you may be lucky enough to see one of these birds seizing waterborne prey in its talons as it flies low over the water. Its honking call could easily be mistaken for that of a goose.

  • Broadwater Beach picnic area Broadwater Beach picnic area is a great picnic area with birdwatching opportunities and the beach just nearby for swimming, surfing and fishing.
  • Broadwater inland lookout It’s just a short walk to Broadwater inland lookout for superb scenic views from Broadwater Headland out to the Pacific Ocean with opportunities for birdwatching and whale watching.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • An eastern ground parrot bird's green and yellow colouring camouflages it amongst grassland. Photo: Lachlan Hall © Lachlan Hall

    Eastern ground parrot (Pezoporus wallicus wallicus)

    The eastern ground parrot is a beautiful, ground-dwelling native bird that lives in low heathland habitat along the NSW North and South coasts and escarpments. It’s listed as a vulnerable species in NSW.

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