Yuraygir

Yuraygir National Park is the longest stretch of protected coastline in New South Wales, extending approximately 65 kilometres along the far north coast between Grafton and Coffs Harbour. Covering approximately 22,692 hectares, the park protects an extraordinary diversity of coastal habitats including rocky headlands, sandy beaches, coastal lagoons, swamp wallum heath, and coastal rainforest from Angourie in the north to Red Rock in the south. The park's extensive and intact coastal landscape is among the finest protected coastlines in Australia.

Yuraygir National Park supports exceptional coastal and coastal hinterland wildlife. The park provides critical habitat for the endangered eastern ground parrot on the wallum heath communities. The endangered koala is present in coastal woodland. Little penguins breed in burrows on the headlands. Australian fur seals haul out on offshore rocks. Humpback whales migrate along the coast in winter. The coastal lagoons attract diverse waterbirds. Dolphins use the estuaries and bays. The park is one of the most important coastal wildlife parks on the mid north coast.

Wallum heath with diverse banksias, tea-trees, and wildflowers dominates the sandy coastal ridges. Subtropical and warm temperate rainforest communities occupy sheltered gullies and headlands. Coastal lagoon margins support paperbark wetlands and swamp communities. Coastal scrub with she-oak and coastal wattle occupies headland positions. The beach and dune communities include spinifex and coastal pioneer vegetation. The diversity of coastal vegetation communities over 65 kilometres of coastline is exceptional.

Yuraygir extends over complex coastal geology including Devonian and Silurian granite and metamorphic headlands and Quaternary coastal sediments forming the beaches, dunes, and lagoons. The rocky headlands provide critical structure for seabird and mammal habitat. The coastal lagoons are drowned river valleys.

Warm subtropical coastal climate. Annual rainfall approximately 1,400 to 1,600 millimetres. Warm humid summers, mild winters. The subtropical location ensures a warm climate year round.

The Yaegl and Gumbaynggirr peoples are the traditional custodians of the Yuraygir coast. The park is named after the Yuraygir Aboriginal nation. Middens, art sites, and other cultural evidence are found throughout the park.

Yuraygir National Park was gazetted in 1980, protecting the extensive and largely undeveloped far north coast. The park's length and diversity make it one of the most significant coastal parks in NSW.

The Yuraygir Coastal Walk is a multi-day walk extending the full length of the park through diverse coastal habitats. Angourie, a famous surf break, is located at the northern end. Red Rock beach at the southern end provides camping and swimming. The lagoons at Wooli, Plumbago, and Brooms Head provide diverse coastal experiences. Whale watching in winter from headlands is excellent.

Multiple camping areas throughout the park. Access from the Pacific Highway at multiple points. Grafton and Coffs Harbour provide visitor services. The park extends from approximately 580 to 540 kilometres north of Sydney. A national parks pass applies.

The eastern ground parrot is a critical conservation priority, with wallum heath management focused on maintaining appropriate fire regimes. Bitou bush control is extensive across the dune systems. Koala habitat management contributes to the regional conservation program. Managing the increasing visitor numbers while protecting the extensive coastal habitats is an ongoing challenge.