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Moonee Beach Nature Reserve
Moonee Beach Nature Reserve is a narrow coastal reserve stretching some 8km from Bare Bluff near Sandy Beach in the north to Moonee Beach in the south, encompassing a number of beaches, headlands and coastal vegetation.
One of the highlights of the reserve is Look At Me Now Headland at Emerald Beach. It is an important historic and mythological site to local Gumbaynggirr people. A short barrier-free walking track (200m return) leads around the headland from the car park.
The headland offers fantastic views over the coast, the ocean and out to the Solitary Islands, including South Solitary with its striking white (deserted) lighthouse. The headland’s resident eastern grey kangaroos are often seen grazing, resting or hopping around and you may spot migrating humpback whales between June and November.
Emerald Beach’s northern headland, just on the other side of Shelly Beach, is Dammerels Head, where you can see graves of victims of a collission at sea in 1886 and a memorial to the Dammerel family, who first operated the historic signal station which provided communication between South Solitary Island lighthouse and the coast.
From Sandy Beach Reserve in the north, a walking track crosses Bare Bluff blowout to Fiddamans Beach and Diggers Point. You can also walk all the way along deserted Moonee Beach (5km) from Look At Me Now Headland to Moonee Beach Reserve, or vice versa. To reach Moonee Beach, you have to cross Moonee Creek, so try to do that around low tide.
The entrance to Moonee Creek is quite shallow and ideal for swimming and canoeing. The estuary is part of the Solitary Islands Marine Park.
You’ll find picnic sites and caravan parks at Emerald Beach and Moonee Beach.
Things to see and do
- Walking: Stroll along unspoilt Moonee Beach or follow the short walking tracks at Bare Bluff, Dammerels Head and Look At Me Now Headland.
- Swimming, surfing, scuba diving: Go for a swim or surf at Moonee Beach, Shelly Beach or Fiddamans Beach, take a dip in Moonee Creek or go scuba diving around Look At Me Now Headland.
- Canoeing, kayaking, rowing: Take a dinghy, canoe or kayak out and paddle along the quiet estuary of Moonee Creek while being surrounded by nature.
- Lookouts: Take the short walk up onto one of the headlands and enjoy superb views along the coastline. Watch for migrating humpback whales between June and November!
- Exploring: Discover the historic and culturally significant pioneer and Aboriginal sites at Look At Me Now Headland and Dammerels Head.
- Bird-watching: All along the coastline and the estuary, there’s a good chance to see gannets, terns, white-bellied sea-eagles, ospreys and brahminy kites hunting for fish.
- Camping: You can stay overnight at one of the privately owned caravan parks at Moonee Beach or Emerald Beach.
Getting There
Moonee Beach: Turn east off the Pacific Highway onto Moonee Beach Road, 13km north of Coffs Harbour.
Dammerels Head and Look At Me Now Headland: Turn east off the Highway at Emerald Beach, 20km north of Coffs Harbour.
Bare Bluff: Access via Sandy's Drive from Sandy Beach village, signposted off the Highway 23km north of Coffs Harbour.
Enquiries
For further information, contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service – Coffs Coast Area Office on (02) 6652 0900 or visit: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
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