Woolgoolga Beach and Headland

Coffs Coast Regional Park

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Overview

Woolgoolga Beach and Headland has the best whale watching in the Coffs Region, plus great surfing, fishing and picnics and scenic views.

What to
bring
Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
Please note
  • Woolgoolga Beach is managed by Coffs Harbour City Council
  • Signage on the headland is low mounted (approximately 30cm off the ground), so be careful when walking in low light.

Treat the family to a day by the sea at Woolgoolga Beach and Headland.

Woolgoolga, also known as ‘Woopi’, is renowned for its swimming, surfing, fishing, diving and snorkelling. There’s a small park nearby with play equipment and plenty of shade for a picnic.

Up on the headland, you find scenic walking tracks and jaw-dropping coastal views that stretch to Yuraygir National Park and the dunes and rolling hills of the Coffs Coast and hinterland.

Between May and October, Woolgoolga Headland is the place to be for the best whale watching in the Coffs region. Be sure to take your binoculars for up close views of these amazing creatures and don’t forget to tweet about what you’ve seen.

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/swimming-spots/woolgoolga-beach-and-headland/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Woolgoolga Beach and Headland.

Getting there and parking

Woolgoolga Headland is in the northern part of Coffs Coast Regional Park, just south of Arrawarra.

To get there from the Pacific Highway, turn east at the roundabout onto Beach Street and then continue about 1.5km to the Woolgoolga town centre.

Road quality

  • Sealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available at Woolgoolga Headland. It can be a busy place on the weekend, so parking might be limited.

Best times to visit

Spring

Head to one of the Park's headlands for stunning coastal views and to watch whales.

Summer

The beaches of the park are your playground - go swimming surfing, snorkling and more.

Winter

A great time to walk the Solitary Islands coastal walk.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

17°C and 29°C

Winter temperature

Average

5°C and 20°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

March

Driest month

August

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

388.2mm

Facilities

Amenities

Toilets

  • Flush toilets

Picnic tables

Barbecue facilities

  • Gas/electric barbecues (free)

Boat ramp

Carpark

Drinking water

Showers

  • Cold showers

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.

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 and you’ll need to take note of Solitary Islands Marine Park zonings.

Pets

Pets and domestic animals are permitted on Woolgoolga Back Beach.

Certified assistance animals are allowed in all areas of this park. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the OEH pets in parks policy for more information.

Prohibited

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

Learn more

Woolgoolga Beach and Headland is in Coffs Coast Regional Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Life’s a beach

Surfer at Ocean View Beach, Coffs Coast Regional Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

Golden beaches are the park’s premier attraction. Here, everything revolves around the water – whether you’re swimming and surfing in it, or walking and fishing beside it. Spend your days discovering the headland walking tracks, boat ramps, parklands and playgrounds. And no matter where you go, you’re bound to find a perfect spot for a beachside picnic. There are also plenty of dog-friendly areas at Coffs Coast Regional Park – just another of its popular features. Take your dog for a walk along one of the coastal paths, plus, there are several beaches with leash-free zones, meaning your pooch can zip about and enjoy the sand and sea as much as you do. The leash-free area around Corindi and Pipeclay beaches is a local favourite.

  • Arrawarra Headland Soak up views of Solitary Islands Marine Park from Arrawarra Headland and Beach near Coffs Harbour. Fishing, surfing, swimming – it’s all here waiting for you to enjoy.
  • Diggers Beach Located opposite the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, Diggers Beach is excellent for surfing and learning to surf, plus fishing, swimming, birdwatching and beach walking.
  • Emerald Beach Positioned near Look-at-me-now Headland, 20km from Coffs Harbour, Emerald Beach is a local surfing hotspot. Visit also for fishing or swimming, or for barbecues in the picnic area.
  • Mullaway Beach and Headland Head south from Arrawarra to discover beautiful Mullaway Headland and Beach, near Coffs Harbour. Make the most of its picnic area and barbecues, go fishing or swimming.

Whale watchers

Sitting under a tree by Woolgoola Beach. Photo: Rob Cleary

Coffs Coast Regional Park is a fantastic place to enjoy watching these majestic creatures on their long coastal journey. Look-At-Me-Now Headland near Emerald Beach is a great vantage point, but locals agree Woolgoolga Headland is your best bet for glimpsing humpbacks. In fact, it’s also known as ‘Whale Watch Headland’. Plan a trip between June and October to see this inspiring sight.

  • Whale watching at Woolgoolga Join our NPWS guides for a free whale watching experience on the Coffs Coast. It's whale watching season – see how many whales you can spot out deep! Great for all ages.
  • Woolgoolga Beach and Headland Woolgoolga Beach and Headland has the best whale watching in the Coffs Region, plus great surfing, fishing and picnics and scenic views.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • White-bellied sea eagle. Photo: John Turbill

    White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

    White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.

  • Brown-striped frog. Photo: Rosie Nicolai/OEH

    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.

  • Yellow-tailed black cockatoo. Photo: Peter Sherratt

    Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

    The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.

  • Echidna. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

    One of only 2 egg-laying mammals in the world, the short-beaked echidna is one of the most widespread of Australian native animals. Covered in spines, or quills, they’re equipped with a keen sense of smell and a tube-like snout which they use to break apart termite mounds in search of ants.

  •  Blue Tongue lizard. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

    Eastern blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scinciodes)

    The eastern blue-tongue lizard, one of the largest skinks in Australia, is found throughout most of NSW. When threatened, the eastern blue-tongue lizard displays its blue tongue in a wide-mouthed intimidating show. Not an agile animal, they feed on slow-moving beetles and snails.

Environments in this park

Education resources (1)