Wilson River picnic area
Willi Willi National Park
Overview
Wilson River picnic area near Wauchope is the ideal place to begin your driving or walking adventures. Bring a picnic, explore rainforests on a walking track and swim near the waterfall.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Where
- Willi Willi National Park in North Coast, Country NSW
- Accessibility
- Easy
- What to
bring - Hat, sunscreen, drinking water
- Please note
- There is limited mobile reception in this park
Deep in the forest of Willi Willi National Park, Wilson River picnic area is a great base to explore much of what this park has to offer. There’s a choice of three scenic walking tracks, through sub-tropical and warm temperate rainforest, along the river, and to a sparkling waterfall and plunge pool.
You’ll find walks of various lengths at this picnic area. Botanic walk is a gentle, 300m loop while Palm Grove walk returns over 1km with an easy grade, leading from the Wilson River picnic area through blue gums and lush green ferns to Glade picnic area beside Wilson River.
Waterfall walk is the longest track at 3.5km, and is for those who prefer a moderate challenge. On this lovely walk, you’ll pass close to a magnificent strangler fig, then through sub-tropical and warm temperate rainforest, to a waterfall and pool. If all else fails and you’d prefer to just relax simply roll out a picnic blanket, strike up the free gas barbecues for a good old sausage sizzle, and while away the hours in this idyllic picnic area.
Map
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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/wilson-river-picnic-area/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Willi Willi National Park in the North Coast and Country NSW regions
Willi Willi National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about the Wilson River picnic area.
Getting there and parking
Wilson River picnic area is located on Willi Willi National Park, to get there:
From Wauchope:
- Take the Beechwood Road to Beechwood
- Then turn onto Bellangary Road
- Turn onto Hastings Forest Way
- Turn into Wilson River Road to reach the picnic area
From Kempsey:
- Take the Armidale Road from West Kempsey
- After 35km turn onto Carrai Road at Toorooka near Willawarrin
- Turn onto Coachwood Road at Kookaburra
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to Wilson River can become slippery and boggy when it rains.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles (no long vehicle access)
Weather restrictions
- 4WD required in wet weather
Parking
There's parking at the picnic area in a gravel carpark.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Will Willi National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
Birds are plentiful in the rainforest so it's a great time for birdwatching.
Summer
Meander along the cool Waterfall walk where you can take a refreshing swim.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
26°C and 28°C
Highest recorded
42.2°C
Winter temperature
Average
16°C and 20°C
Lowest recorded
-5.1°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
July
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
234.6mm
Facilities
You'll need to bring your own drinking and cooking water.
Toilets
There's an accessible non-flush toilet south of where the picnic tables are, along Wilson River Road.
- Non-flush toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Carpark
Step-free access
The picnic area is mostly flat and step-free, but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over flat grass to reach the facilities.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
Wilson River picnic area is flat and step-free, but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over flat grass to reach the facilities.
The picnic area has accessible toilets and picnic tables.
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
Wilson River picnic area is in Willi Willi National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
An ancient story
Today’s lush rainforests are direct relations of the ancient forests of Gondwana within the Antarctic Circle. Around 80 million years ago, the ancestral continent broke up and Australia started moving north, which eventually reduced most of the rainforests to a narrow strip along south-eastern Australia. As well as World Heritage-listed rainforests, the park protects a diversity of vegetation, including old growth eucalypt forests and open heath. This diverse vegetation provides food and shelter for a medley of creatures; small ground mammals and bats, the endangered Hastings River mouse, the yellow-bellied glider. Australia’s largest marsupial carnivore, the spotted-tailed quoll, also calls Willi Willi home.
- Botanic walk A short stroll not far from Wauchope, Botanic walk heads through World Heritage rainforest and is great for birdwatching and relaxing with the family over a picnic.
Ground beneath our feet
The geology of Willi Willi National Park is for the most part mudstone, sandstone and conglomerate, making the terrain exceptionally steep and rugged. These rocks are more resistant to erosion than the sedimentary beds, making them the cause of such rippled landscapes and the spectacular angles of the park.
- Hastings Forest Way touring route See Gondwana rainforest, go camping, birdwatching and enjoy amazing scenery on a scenic drive through Hastings Forest Way touring route near Port Macquarie and Wauchope.
- Waterfall walk This medium-difficulty trail, not too far from Kempsey, walks you through flourishing World Heritage-listed rainforest of Willi Willi National Park. You can also picnic by waterfalls and swim in a natural pool.
- Wilson River picnic area Wilson River picnic area near Wauchope is the ideal place to begin your driving or walking adventures. Bring a picnic, explore rainforests on a walking track and swim near the waterfall.
The land provides balance
The name Willi Willi National Park is derived from the local Dunghutti Aboriginal word 'willai' meaning possum. The repetition of the word indicates a plural form translating roughly as “many possums”. Dunghutti Aboriginal Nguloongooras (wise elders) would perform secret ‘increase rituals’ on sacred mountain tops such as Kemps Pinnacle, near the western boundary of the park, to extend their food supply. Placing limits on certain species during seasonal variations allowed for a natural increase in food resources. It was the wish of their great deity, Woormprahl, for them to create this balance with nature.