Local walks
Hallidays Point walks
The network of walks in Hallidays Point was established in 1995. The walks extend from Khappinghat in the north to Darawank Nature Reserve in the south through forests, along rocky shores, over headlands, through parks and along lagoons.
Click to download the Hallidays Point walks brochure
Use this guide to find out about the walks and for information about the local environment. Most of the rainforest walks do not allow dogs, even on a lead. Please obey the signs and help protect native animals. Dogs are permitted on a lead on the tracks to all beaches except Shelley Beach.
Black Head Flora Reserve and Black Head Lagoon
The 21 hectare Black Head Flora Reserve connects rainforest reserves at Red Head and Black Head. The native vegetation has high conservation value and supports a variety of plants and animals. Rehabilitation of this reserve began in 2004 and continues today. The track starts mid way along Black Head Beach or can be reached from an easement road at the eastern end Hope St at Red Head. The track ends at Baywood Dr.
Click to download the Black Head Flora Reserve walk brochure
The track is flat and winds through tall flooded gum and swamp mahogany favoured by Koalas. There is an impressive stand of hard corkwood along the track which eventually reaches the wetland reserve at Baywood Drive. A self guide leaflet is available at the Library. Dogs are not permitted on this track.
Follow Baywood Drive until you reach the roundabout and travel east on the Black Head Lagoon track - an easy level walk and safe for children on bicycles. The track follows the lagoon until it reaches the picnic area at Black Head beach. Dogs are permitted on a lead.
Black Head Rainforest Walk and Pebbly Beach
This track starts from the head land at Black Head. There are two lookouts -the northern most is in need of an elevated platform to get a good view north of Razorback, a dramatic sea stack and a large tilted rock platform with pools and a cave. At low tide you from reach there from Black Head rock pool. From the second lookout you can see a chasm eroded by wave action on softer rock. Dogs are not allowed on this track.
The track meanders through littoral Rainforest down to a small footbridge and continues south to Pebbly Beach which has two small sea stacks and two clearly defined notches or caves cut by wave action. There are many small rock pools and a pretty sandy beach. The track continues south across the rocks to Back Beach.
Across the bridge from Back Beach, the track follows a small estuarine lagoon and then goes up some steps to a wind-sheared brush box forest. The track wanders through littoral rainforest finally reaching the Bowling Club car park. It is common to see Brush Turkeys in this reserve. Dogs are not permitted on this track.
Back Beach and Darawank Nature Reserve
South from the car park you cross a small vehicle bridge and the road continues to the second car park and vehicle access to Nine Mile Beach and Tuncurry. Cars are not permitted north of the beach access at Diamond Reef. A sand road continues into Darawank Nature Reserve.
These tracks include a mix of beach walks, headlands with great ocean views, easy winding trails through littoral and rainforest areas with native flora and fauna to keep the adventures full of charm and character.
Diamond Beach to Shelley Beach
The southern beach access at Diamond beach winds through remnant littoral rainforest and crosses a small estuarine lagoon. Continue south along the beach past rocky outcrops to the stairs that go up the escarpment and lead to a network of short walks and two impressive lookouts. At the south eastern point of the reserve there is a steep unformed track that goes to Shelley Beach. This area was replanted in 2014.
Continue on the walk through Seascape by road, and just before reaching Red Head Road, there is a pedestrian gate that opens into the Red Head Koala Corridor. Dogs are only permitted when passing from one gate to the other and must be on a lead. To protect wildlife no dogs are allowed on the Koala track and all gates must be kept closed.
Red Head Rainforest and Shelly Beach
Red Head Rainforest to Shelley Beach loop trail starts from the end of Red Head road where there is parking or by Scenic Avenue on foot. Dogs on leads are only allowed on the track from Scenic Ave via the steps to Black Head Beach. To protect wildlife dogs are not allowed on any other parts of this track.
The dominant vegetation on the headland is littoral (coastal) rainforest. It has a dense canopy and little sunlight filters to the leafy forest floor. The upper parts of the tree canopy are stunted by the prevailing saltly winds and vary in height from one metre on the seaward side to ten metres or more in protected areas. This reserve protects over 100 different plant species, 50 of which are rainforest trees. There are 25 species of vines.
The track winds east through the rainforest and slopes down to Shelley Beach. That features an extensive rock shelf with pools and abundant marine life. Shelly Beach has a beautifully preserved raised pebble beach, dating from 5,000 years ago, when melting of polar icecaps raised the sea level three metres higher than it is today. Return via the west track at the location sign. This part of the track passes through Koala corridor and winds gently up to Red Head Reserve, a small park at the end of Red Head Road.
Red Head Koala Corridor
The Red Head Koala Corridor is 600 metres long and joins the main road at the Seascape entrance just north of the roundabout. There is a raised walkway around some ponds and a footbridge across a small watercourse. There are formed steps. Regeneration work on this corridor began in 2013.
Moor Creek and Khappinghat walks
Moor Creek has a beautiful coastal Swamp Heath that bursts into flower in spring. Other walks head north through Khappinghat Nature Reserve to Khappinghat Creek or Saltwater.
