Red Rock is the northernmost village on the Coffs Coast, and definitely worth a visit if you enjoy nature and the outdoors. Situated about 40km north of Coffs Harbour, Red Rock is an easy half-hour drive from the city, or just over 10 minutes from Woolgoolga.

The quiet village is nestled on the estuary of the pristine Red Rock River, at the southern end of Yuraygir National Park. It’s a fantastic place to go fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, surfing or body-boarding, swimming, snorkelling, picnicking or just lazing on the beach or in the grass.

Red Rock is named after the stunning red rock formations (made of jasper) at the mouth and headland of the estuary. The headland offers great panoramic views of the National Park and the estuary, islands and Pacific Ocean. It’s a good whale-watching spot when the humpback whales pass the coast between June and October each year.

For thousands of years, Aboriginal people used to gather at Red Rock for ceremonies, initiations and to exchange resources. They valued Red Rock for the quality of its ochre, which was used in ceremonies and initiations, and its bountiful supply of fish and oysters. A cairn on Red Rock headland commemorates lives lost in a massacre of local Gumbaynggir people early last century, and women are advised not to proceed beyond the cairn out of respect for traditional beliefs.

The foreshore area and headlands around Red Rock were declared a public recreation reserve back in 1903, and the area around the mouth of the river is still a popular recreation spot, especially on weekends and in summer.

The recreation area is an idyllic, sheltered location for a picnic while you enjoy the great views up and down the river. With a children’s playground, benches, shaded picnic tables and plenty of grass to run around on, it’s a great spot to play ball games or fly kites with your family and friends. There also is a boat launching ramp and an amenities block.

The adjacent Red Rock Caravan Park has more than 100 camping sites as well as self-contained cabins, barbecue facilities and a general store where you can get some take-away food and drinks.

If you want to stretch your legs and see a bit more of the stunning natural environment, make sure you don’t miss the delightful 800m boardwalk that loops around through the mangroves along the river, just west of the boat ramp. You’re likely to see a number of common as well as vulnerable and threatened species of shorebirds along the way.

On your way to or from Red Rock, just 1km out of Corindi, you’ll pass the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Corporation on Red Rock Road, where you can stop and try some authentic bush tucker at the café or browse the gallery for unique Aboriginal artworks, all hand-crafted by local Gumbaynggir people.

For more information about Red Rock and surroundings, or to find accommodation in the area, contact the Coffs Coast Visitor Information Centre on 1300 369 070 or email tourism@coffscoast.com.au

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