National park · Australia
Wyrrabalong National Park
Entry is free — no park fee and no permit for walking. The two sections are 15–20 min apart by car and cannot be linked on foot, so pick one: The Coast walking track (3 km one-way) from Bateau Bay, or the Lillypilly loop (3.5 km) at Magenta.Entry is free — no park fee and no permit for walking. The two sections are 15–20 min apart by car and cannot be linked on foot, so pick one: The Coast walking track (1.9 mi one-way) from Bateau Bay, or the Lillypilly loop (2.2 mi) at Magenta.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
6 km²2 sq mi
approximate
Established
1992
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 6 km²2 sq mi
- One of the smallest national parks in New South Wales: about 480 ha in the northern section (The Entrance to Norah Head, plus Terilbah and Pelican islands in Tuggerah Lake) and about 120 ha of coast from Shelly Beach south to Forresters Beach (check).
- Established
- 1992
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Sydney
Wyrrabalong National Park is one of the smallest national parks in New South Wales — about 6.2 km² split into two pieces that are not joined: a 480 ha northern section on the peninsula between The Entrance and Norah Head, which holds the last significant patch of coastal littoral rainforest on the Central Coast, and a 120 ha southern strip of clifftop from Shelly Beach to Forresters Beach. There is no entry fee and no permit, so the decision is not whether to pay but which car park to use and what time to start: The Coast walking track (3 km one-way) from Bateau Bay before 9:00 in summer, or the Lillypilly loop at Magenta in the late afternoon. The two sections are 15–20 minutes apart by car and cannot be linked on foot, so pick one per visit rather than trying to do both in a day.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1992.
Size and age
6 km²2 sq mi · national park since 1992
One of the smallest national parks in New South Wales: about 480 ha in the northern section (The Entrance to Norah Head, plus Terilbah and Pelican islands in Tuggerah Lake) and about 120 ha of coast from Shelly Beach south to Forresters Beach (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Sydney.
Why go
- The last significant patch of coastal littoral rainforest on the Central Coast, in a park you can walk end to end in an afternoon.
- Clifftop views from Crackneck Point over Shelly Beach and Bateau Bay — a whale-watching spot in the migration months.
- Free entry and no permit: the only cost is parking at a couple of trailheads.
- Part of the Tuggerah Important Bird Area, so water and woodland birds are the main wildlife draw.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanSummer; walk early or late (check)
- FebWarm; afternoon storms possible (check)
- MarMilder shoulder season (check)
- AprUsually clear and dry (check)
- MayCrisp walking weather (check)
- JunCool; whale migration window starts (check)
- JulCool and windy on the clifftops (check)
- AugCool; whale season (check)
- SepMild, fewer people than summer (check)
- OctWarm and usually dry (check)
- NovWarm; weekends busier (check)
- DecSchool holidays; car parks fill early (check)
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humpback whales offshoreJun–Nov · Northbound June–August, southbound September–November; lookouts give the best angle. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Water and woodland birds (Tuggerah Important Bird Area)All year · Best around the lake islands and the rainforest edges. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Coastal rainforest plants in flower and fruitSep–Nov · The littoral rainforest is the reason the park exists. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Snakes and ticks in warm monthsNov–Mar · Stay on tracks, wear covered shoes, check yourself after the walk. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Sydney
M1 motorway north to the Central Coast, then A49 to Bateau Bay or The Entrance; about 1.5 h without traffic.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From The Entrance
Drive or bus north on A49 Wilfred Barrett Drive to the Magenta and Pelican Beach Road trailheads.
10–15 min
From Terrigal
South along the coast road to the Shelly Beach and Crackneck Point end of the southern section.
20–25 min
From Central Coast plan
Where to base, how to use the trains and what else is on this stretch of coast.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Southern coastal section | About 120 ha from Shelly Beach to Forresters Beach: clifftops, blackbutt and spotted gum, Crackneck Point lookout. | Open; walk in from Bateau Bay or Shelly Beach car parks. |
| Northern section | About 480 ha of the peninsula between The Entrance and Norah Head, including the littoral rainforest and the Lillypilly loop. | Open; trailheads off A49 at Magenta and Pelican Beach Road. |
| Terilbah and Pelican islands | Islands inside Tuggerah Lake, part of the Tuggerah Important Bird Area. | No visitor facilities; bird habitat, keep your distance. |
Sketch map
- 1Crackneck Point lookout · Viewpoint≈-33.394, 151.483Map ↗
- 2Bateau Bay / Shelly Beach trailhead · Gate≈-33.401, 151.478Map ↗
- 3Lillypilly loop trailhead, Magenta · Trail≈-33.293, 151.533Map ↗
- 4Pelican Beach Road lookout · Viewpoint≈-33.298, 151.551Map ↗
- 5Red Gum trail, northern section · Trail≈-33.290, 151.546Map ↗
- 6The Entrance · Town≈-33.341, 151.498Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entry fee for this park; no permit or ticket is needed to walk in. |
| Parking at trailheads | Free | vehicle | Parking charges vary by car park and are set by the local council, not the park; read the sign at the entrance on arrival (check). |
| Guided or commercial tour | AUD 60–150 | person | Optional; no guide is needed for the marked tracks (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Camping no permit
Commercial filming or an organised event permit or guide
Park rules
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the national park, including on the tracks and beaches inside it; some adjoining council beaches differ (check).check
- Camping and fires
- No camping and no fires anywhere in the park; day use only (check).check
- Stay on the marked tracks
- Clifftop edges are unstable and the rainforest understorey is easily damaged.
- Wildlife
- Do not feed birds or approach them on the lake islands; keep drones away from nesting and roosting sites.
- Drones
- Recreational drone use needs permission from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (check).check
Where to stay
Near the park
The Entrance and Long Jetty
Motels, holiday units and caravan parks closest to the northern trailheads.
Near the park
Bateau Bay and Shelly Beach
Beachside units and holiday houses a few minutes from Crackneck Point.
Near the park
Terrigal
Hotels and apartments with restaurants, 20–25 min from the southern section.
Safety
Cliff edges and unstable rock medium
Heat and no shade medium
Bushfire high
Swimming medium
Accessibility
- The Crackneck Point lookout and the Pelican Beach Road lookout are reached by car with short, mostly level walks.
- The Coast track and the Lillypilly loop are natural-surface tracks with steps and roots; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
Visiting lightly
- Carry out everything you bring; bins are limited at trailheads.
- Stay on the track through the littoral rainforest — it is the last significant patch on the Central Coast.
- Park once and walk between lookouts instead of driving between car parks.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Wyrrabalong National Park?
Nothing. There is no entry fee and no permit for walking in. The only likely cost is parking: some trailhead car parks on the Central Coast are pay-and-display, so read the sign when you arrive (check the current rate).
What are the best hikes in Wyrrabalong National Park?
The Coast walking track, 3 km one-way through the southern section past Crackneck Point, and the Lillypilly loop, a 3.5 km circuit at Magenta that goes through the coastal rainforest. The Red Gum trail is a short northern-section walk to add on.
When is the best time to visit Wyrrabalong National Park?
March to May and September to November: mild, usually dry, and quieter than the December–January school holidays. June to August is cooler but is the whale migration window from the clifftop lookouts.
Can I take a dog into Wyrrabalong National Park?
No. Dogs are not allowed in the national park, including on the tracks and the beaches inside it. Check the rules for adjoining council beaches if you are travelling with a dog.
Can I camp in Wyrrabalong National Park?
No. There is no camping and no fires in the park; it is day use only. Base yourself in The Entrance, Bateau Bay, Terrigal or another Central Coast town.
Do I need a parks pass for Wyrrabalong?
No. This park has no entry fee, so a NSW parks pass is not needed for walking here. Passes matter for parks that charge vehicle entry; see the national park passes page for how the systems differ.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Sources
- officialNSW National Parks and Wildlife Service — Wyrrabalong National Park
- officialNSW National Parks — The Coast walking track
- officialNSW National Parks — Lillypilly loop trail
- officialNSW National Parks — Crackneck Point lookout
- secondaryWikivoyage: Wyrrabalong National Park, revision 4965583 (CC BY-SA 4.0)