Dooragan National Park
Dooragan National Park near Port Macquarie features excellent trails and walks suiting all levels of fitness, possibilities for picnics, and even hang gliding. The scenic views from Dooragan Summit picnic area are breathtaking.
Read more about Dooragan National Park
Dooragan National Park is the perfect place to relax and unwind, while enjoying the view over a casual picnic and watching the passing parade of wildlife. Located west of Laurieton - a pretty coastal village - the views from Dooragan Summit picnic area are exceptional, stretching far over Queens Lake and North Haven. Easy accessibility makes it a fantastic destination to bring guests and visitors to the region.
Several of the park’s walks, including Laurieton track, take you through spectacular blackbutt forests which mingle with enormous old stumps, reflecting the old days of timber harvesting in the park. The trails are buzzing with the sounds of the park’s wildlife residents and, in summer, the echo of cicadas can almost be overpowering.
Dooragan National Park is so diverse, it’s not unusual to see colourful hang-gliders launching from the popular North Brother summit, or even wedding parties posing for photos on their big day.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/dooragan-national-park/local-alerts
Contact
- in the North Coast region
Dooragan National Park is open sunrise to sunset but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Port Macquarie office
02 6588 5555 for general enquiries only, no bookings.
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm. - 22 Blackbutt Road, Port Macquarie NSW 2444
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Email: npws.hastingsmacleay@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Port Macquarie office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Dooragan National Park.
Map
Map legend
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Port Macquarie via Ocean Drive:
- Travel south out of Port Macquarie on Ocean Drive for around 33km, following signs via Lake Cathie, Bonny Hills, and then to Laurieton.
- At Laurieton, turn towards Kew and continue on Ocean Drive for around 0.5km.
- Travel 5km up Captain Cook Bicentennial Road
From Port Macquarie via Pacific Highway:
- Follow Oxley Highway for approximately 9km west to Pacific Highway
- Turn east off Pacific Highway, 22km south at Kew, and follow Ocean Drive east for about 7km.
- Travel 5km up Captain Cook Bicentennial Road
From Taree via Pacific Highway:
- From the northern end of the Taree bypass on Pacific Highway, travel north on the highway for around 39km to Kew.
- Turn east off Pacific Highway at Kew and follow Ocean Drive east for about 7km towards Laurieton
- Travel 5km up Captain Cook Bicentennial Road
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
For information about public transport options to Taree, Laurieton or Port Macquarie, visit the NSW country transport info website.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Dooragan National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
A colourful burst of wildflowers spring into bloom under the forest canopy, particularly in the open, grassy forest. Hill-topping butterflies start to use the summit area of the mountain, and on warm calm days, they spend all day dancing around near the lookout. .
Summer
This is the best time for north-easterly winds, favoured by hang-gliding enthusiasts. Watch the amazing spectacle of these masters of the sky launching themselves from the summit.
Winter
This is the best time to tackle the strenuous Laurieton track, with the weather cool enough to make the exercise a pleasant way to keep warm, and a great time to hear lyrebirds chortling away in the cool gullies nearby.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
23°C and 26°C
Highest recorded
40.2°C
Winter temperature
Average
16°C and 20°C
Lowest recorded
-5°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
310.6mm
Maps and downloads
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.
Nearby towns
Laurieton (2 km)
Located at the base of North Brother Mountain in Dooragan National Park, Laurieton is one of the villages that make up the Camden Haven area on the North Coast of NSW. Laurieton is 30km south of Port Macquarie and offers an idyllic holiday spot for families, nature-lovers and anyone who enjoys a holiday by the beach.
Port Macquarie (42 km)
Vibrant Port Macquarie is surrounded by beautiful waterways - the Hastings River, canals, creeks, bays and the Pacific Ocean. The city also has a five-star collection of golden-sand beaches stretching from Port Macquarie Beach to Town Beach and north along the 16-km swathe of North Beach.
Taree (60 km)
Taree is a major mid North Coast city, ringed by superb beaches. It's situated on the Manning River and set against rolling hills.
Learn more
Dooragan National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
The lifeblood of Laurieton
Sixty or so years after Captain Cook passed by, the forests of North Brother Mountain and good access to waterways for easy transport and shipping, meant that timber harvesting contributed to the establishment of the Camden Haven area, and pioneer settlements developed around them.
- Laurieton track This challenging walk from Laurieton town to scenic Dooragan Summit picnic area on North Brother Mountain is not to be missed. The views are some of the best across northern New South Wales.
Soar like an eagle
Popular for almost 30 years as a hang-gliding site, most park visitors leave launching themselves off the summit to the professionals, and just enjoy watching the awesome spectacle as experienced pilots lift off from and soar around the lookout area.
- Rainforest loop This relaxing walk close to Laurieton and Port Macquarie loops through rainforest to a remote lookout with coastal views, before returning to Dooragan Summit picnic area.
Dreamtime stories
The local Aboriginal people tell a Dreamtime story of three brothers in the Birpai tribe who were killed and buried where the mountains stand. The youngest of the three brothers was Dooragan, hence the park's name. Coincidentally, 'Three Brothers' was also a name given to the three mountains by Captain James Cook as he sailed past in 1770, without any knowledge that the local Aboriginal people referred to them in such a similar way.
A choir of birdsong
While most visitors may see certain species around the lookouts - like cheeky magpies, currawongs and kookaburras - those with an ear for birds will find the forest has a greater diversity than their eyes would have them believe. Occasionally, a lucky birdwatcher may spot the dramatic flash of rainbow colour as a wompoo fruit-dove darts from place to place in search of rainforest fruits. Overhead, resident wedge-tailed eagles demonstrate their clever use of up-drafts, watching for where their next meal might come from.
- Laurieton track This challenging walk from Laurieton town to scenic Dooragan Summit picnic area on North Brother Mountain is not to be missed. The views are some of the best across northern New South Wales.
- Rainforest loop This relaxing walk close to Laurieton and Port Macquarie loops through rainforest to a remote lookout with coastal views, before returning to Dooragan Summit picnic area.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Dooragan National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents.
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
Contact
- in the North Coast region
Dooragan National Park is open sunrise to sunset but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Port Macquarie office
02 6588 5555 for general enquiries only, no bookings.
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm. - 22 Blackbutt Road, Port Macquarie NSW 2444
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Email: npws.hastingsmacleay@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Port Macquarie office