Headland walking track
Saltwater National Park
Overview
This short walk around the headland takes you to a whale watching viewing platform, has Aboriginal history, is near Khappinghat Nature Reserve near Taree.
- Where
- Saltwater National Park in North Coast
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Distance
- 0.7km return
- Time suggested
- 15 - 30min
- Grade
- Grade 3
- Please note
- It's a good idea to put sunscreen on before you set out and remember to take a hat and drinking water
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch or whale watch
Headland walking track is a short, leisurely stroll that takes you through lovely rainforest to the headland. Experience amazing views out over Saltwater Beach, Khappinghat Creek and Pacific Ocean.
If you're an eager whale-watcher, you'll love to walk to the viewing platform to spot humpback and Brydes whales migrating from May through November. The whole family can learn more about these majestic marine mammals from the information boards at the end of the track.
Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for other interesting, endangered or vulnerable species, such as the little tern and pied oystercatchers. On Wallabi Beach, look up to spot glorious white-bellied sea eagles that often soar overhead. If you're particularly lucky, you might even see an osprey as it plummets into the ocean to catch fish.
Map
Map legend
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/walking-tracks/headland-walking-track/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 Saltwater National Park in the North Coast region
Saltwater National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Headland walking track.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
0.7km return
Time
15 - 30min
Quality of markings
Clearly sign posted
Experience required
No experience required
Steps
No steps
Gradient
Flat: The walk is flat along its length with a handrail at the end where the lookout is.
Quality of path
Formed track, some obstacles: The walk is along a 1.2m wide firetrail, which is hard-packed ground up to the lookout at the end.
At the lookout area, the track becomes a wooden boardwalk with wooden handrails on either side.
Getting there and parking
Headland walking track starts at Saltwater picnic area in Saltwater National Park. To get there:
- Take Old Bar Road from Taree/Pacific Highway
- Drive 10km east and turn right onto Saltwater Road
- Follow Saltwater Road past the village of Wallabi Point
- Saltwater picnic area is at the end of Saltwater Road
Parking
There's a bitumen carpark at Saltwater picnic area where the walk begins. It can be a busy place on the weekend, so parking might be limited.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Saltwater National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Take walks around the headland and through to adjoining Khappinghat Nature Reserve.
Spring
Enjoy whale watching from the viewing platform at Saltwater Point from August through November.
Summer
Swim, surf and sunbathe on the beaches, canoe and kayak in the creek, or enjoy a picnic on the grass under the shady rainforest trees.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
17°C and 29°C
Highest recorded
45.2°C
Winter temperature
Average
8°C and 21°C
Lowest recorded
-5°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
August
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
280.2mm
Facilities
There are accessible toilets, accessible outdoor showers and accessible picnic tables at Saltwater picnic area, where this walk begins.
Seats and resting points
There's a bench at the lookout at the end of the walk. It does not have a backrest or armrests.
There's also a bench seat with a backrest at Saltwater picnic area, at the start of this walk.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
- The walk is along a flat, 1.2m wide firetrail, which is hard-packed ground up to the lookout at the end. At the lookout area, the track becomes a wooden boardwalk with wooden handrails on either side.
- There's a bench seat at the lookout. It doesn't have backrests or armrests.
- There are accessible toilets, outdoor showers and picnic tables at Saltwater picnic area where this walk begins.
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
Headland walking track is in Saltwater National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Spiritually significant landscape
Saltwater Beach and its surrounds are a cultural landscape of great importance to the local Aboriginal Biripi tribe. There are several sites related to the Dreamtime within the park, and the area is declared an Aboriginal Place. Joint management with Aboriginal people and local residents, in association with Saltwater Tribal Council and NPWS, gives this park special local importance.
- Five Islands walking track This gorgeous coastal walking track follows a part of the Saltwater National Park coastline that is rich in Aboriginal history with great spots for swimming, fishing, surfing, and sailing, near Taree.
- Saltwater picnic area Enjoy relaxed picnicking or barbecues at this well-equipped picnic area with ocean beaches and walking tracks nearby where you can swim, fish, surf, kayak or birdwatch.
Striking plant life
Parts of the park are listed as endangered ecological communities and there are a number of rare and lovely plant species to be spotted here. Keep your eyes out on the walking tracks for magenta lilly pilly, a small tree with dark shiny leaves, magenta-coloured fruit and white-flowered wax plant. Pink-flowering pinnate boronia, and the golden flowers of the wallum banksia, among others, can all be seen in Saltwater National Park. The park also supports many marine-dependant species, such as the white-bellied sea eagle, as well as endangered or vulnerable species including the pied oystercatcher, little tern, the flesh-footed shearwater and osprey.
- Headland walking track This short walk around the headland takes you to a whale watching viewing platform, has Aboriginal history, is near Khappinghat Nature Reserve near Taree.
Surf's up
Saltwater Beach's headland is a highly popular surfing point break used for recreational surfing, as well as club and competition surf events. Take a stroll through a rainforest walking track, and be sure to do a spot of whale watching at Saltwater Point. The adjacent Saltwater Beach and Wallabi Beach are popular surfing and swimming areas.
- Khappinghat Creek At the flat water Khappinghat Creek, kayak or canoe through undeveloped wetlands, mangroves and rainforest. Swimming and fishing near Taree on the mid-north coast of NSW.
- Saltwater picnic area Enjoy relaxed picnicking or barbecues at this well-equipped picnic area with ocean beaches and walking tracks nearby where you can swim, fish, surf, kayak or birdwatch.
Unique geology and landscape
Saltwater headland, which separates Wallabi Beach and Saltwater Beach, is one of only three headlands between Wallis Lake and the Manning River. Khappinghat Creek, which borders the park, is the largest area of undeveloped wetlands and the only naturally opening and closing estuarine system on the mid-north coast of NSW.
- Five Islands walking track This gorgeous coastal walking track follows a part of the Saltwater National Park coastline that is rich in Aboriginal history with great spots for swimming, fishing, surfing, and sailing, near Taree.
- Headland walking track This short walk around the headland takes you to a whale watching viewing platform, has Aboriginal history, is near Khappinghat Nature Reserve near Taree.